The barge that will be used as a temporary wharf for the domestic fleet of vessels has been towed into Port Vila last Saturday morning by the Tugboat Roimata II.
According to the Vanuatu Project Management Unit (VPMU) that is responsible for the Lapetasi Project, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is near completion.
“The Environment Unit and the VPMU have engaged a private consultant to conduct an EIA since last year,” an Environment Unit Officer confirmed to Daily Post.
He said the EIA is still in process and will soon be finalized and expected to be followed by a second public consultation.
Both Units have agreed that despite the barge’s arrival, no work will be carried out until the EIA is completed. Whether the proposal be implemented now rests entirely on the outcome of the EIA.
A public consultation has been conducted August last year where environmental concerns have been raised but it is expected that during the second consultation the consultation will explain the EIA itself.
“The quality of the environment especially in terms of marine the whole place has already been quite disturbed,” explained a representative of the Vanuatu Project Management Unit.
She said the concerns that the impact of the arrangement could be quite significant and irreversible are misleading because it is only a temporary arrangement.
The arrangement is expected to proceed for up to two years while the Lapetasi project is implemented.
“It could be less than two years because it hinges on the Lapetasi Project which will also coincide with the Inter-Island Shipping project and could be completed less than two years,” said the VPMU rep.
She informed that the EIA is expected anytime soon.
“Out aim is to get as much as possible done since the barge has arrived so it’s between today Monday and Friday next week.
“But otherwise the EIA legislation is strictly being observed.”
Meanwhile both the Labetasi Project and the Inter-island Shipping Project has delayed as they were expected to start by the last quarter of last year 2014.
But according to the VPMU, the awarding of contract will be issued this year followed by the works to implement the projects.
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