Public Consultation on Amendment to National Protected Area at Long Beach

16 October 2022

Government

End of public consultation period

On Friday 07 October, a public consultation on a draft Policy to amend the boundaries of the National Protected Area at Long Beach concluded.

The proposed change is driven by the fact that the only suitable site for an urgently required new wastewater plant for Georgetown lies just within the land side edge of the current protected area. In order to allow the wastewater treatment plant to be constructed, the boundary of the Long Beach Nature Reserve would need to be adjusted.

An environmental impact assessment for new wastewater treatment plant has been carried out by the Conservation and Fisheries Directorate. This has shown that, with appropriate mitigation in place, the construction and operation of the treatment plant at the preferred location would not have a negative impact on the natural features of the Long Beach Nature Reserve.

Following completion of the consultation period on Friday 07 October, no responses were received and therefore the proposed changes was accepted.

Copies of the draft policy amendment are available online through the AIG website via https://www.ascension.gov.ac/public-document/policy-on-amendments-to-national-protected-areas or through the Administrator’s Office in Georgetown.