🏖️ Controversial Boggy Sands Beach deck application resurfaces

An application to build a wooden deck on the remains of a controversial cabana on Boggy Sand Road has been submitted. The deck, which has already begun construction without planning permission, is intended for use by residents of the nearby luxury Sands Residence condo development. The site is located within a marine conservation area, and the Department of Environment (DoE) has previously advised against any structures being built there. The application has reignited tensions between the Central Planning Authority (CPA) and the National Conservation Council. 🌊

The original structure, a two-storey, partially glass cabana, was intended as a recreational area for the condo complex, but was poorly designed and built too close to the ocean, leading to its failure. The site has a history of erosion due to hard structures like seawalls being built on the active beach. Despite not having planning permission, developers began constructing the wooden deck late last year. The DoE has expressed concerns about the safety of the remaining concrete base and seawall, as well as the potential threat to the marine environment from remedial work. 🏗️

The application is set to be heard by the CPA on Wednesday. The DoE has warned that the site's proximity to the sea and associated wave activity make it vulnerable, and that climate change predictions for the region suggest the site's vulnerability will increase. The department has also stated that a major storm could cause further damage to the structure, potentially washing debris into the protected marine area. The DoE has suggested that the CPA could require the demolition of the structure if it is deemed unsafe. 📑