The first ever National Strategy on Sea Defences, Flooding and Coastal Erosion goes before Tynwald for approval this month.
The strategy means the Island is ‘better placed to understand the potential for damage resulting from weather and climate incidents and to defend homes, business, facilities and sites of significance’, said Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture.
The strategy was requested by Tynwald in October 2015 – ahead of flooding that caused widespread damage to large parts of the Island in December 2015.
Evidence from environmental engineers JBA Consulting Isle of Man forms a vital part of the strategy.
Using sophisticated mapping techniques, the experts assessed the potential impact of coastal, river and surface water flooding and coastal erosion on the Island and identified areas most at risk.
Areas where homes, facilities and infrastructure are concentrated and areas of environmental importance were then given a priority weighting.
The resulting strategy will
- Raise awareness of the risks of flooding and coastal erosion and engage stakeholders in effective and appropriate adaptation
- Manage and reduce the impact of flooding and coastal erosion on communities, infrastructure and the environment
- Prioritise investment to balance the urgency and impact of risks.
Provided Tynwald approves the strategy, a working group will be set up, with membership from Government Departments and Manx Utilities, to create and implement an action plan to protect the Island.
The public will be consulted on the way forward.
Minister Ronan said bodies including the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture, Department of Infrastructure, Manx Utilities, local authorities and individual property owners all have a role in safeguarding against and dealing with damage caused by flooding and coastal erosion.
‘It was clear to me that the Isle of Man didn’t have an overall national strategy for the flooding and coastal erosion that are increasingly affecting our homes, businesses and infrastructure.
‘Work was started on this well in advance of the Tynwald resolution of last year.
‘This strategy means that for the first time we have a comprehensive assessment of where the immediate risks lie, where there are longer term concerns and where to target our efforts and resources,’ the Minister said.
‘December’s floods were a reminder to us all of the cost, both in monetary and human terms, of a sudden bad weather incident.'
‘This strategy will leave us better prepared to plan and prioritise to avoid such impacts in future.’
For more information, visit www.gov.im/seadefences
