Falklands : Transport Advisory Committee Report (08/06/06)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 08.06.2006 (Article Archived on 23.06.2006)
Find out what happened during this vital meeting.
COMMITTEE NEWS (08/06/06)
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee was held in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat at 1330hrs on Thursday, 08 June 2006. Present were Cllr. Mike Rendell (Chair), Cllr Ian Hansen, Mr. Fraser Wallace, Mr. Andrew Newman, Mr. Raymond Evans, Mr. Marshall Barnes, Mr. Julian Morris, Mr. Manfred Keenleyside, Mr. Bob Hancox, Mr. Jon Clark, Mrs. Alison Ingles, and Mrs. Trudi Lee (Minutes). It was announced that Mr. Robin Pitaluga had resigned from the Committee due to not having to time to devote to it.
After declarations of interest and confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 15 March 2006 matters arising from those minutes were discussed.
Mr. Bob Hancox gave an update of the Road Programme and said the Murrell Road was complete on 11 May but needs to be capped and that will take place next season. Funds were found for the Greenfield road. Expressions of interest are sought from contractors and the bids close next week. A paper about the road to Port Sussex goes to EXCO and be considered at the end of the month. Capping of the East Road will commence next season. Culvert replacement goes well on the Malo River and quotes are sought for the bridge. Savings will be made if the materials are shipped through alternative routes and they will be checked out. There is no change in the progress of the road at Port Edgar and Philomel to East Bay paperwork has gone to EXCO. Shallow Harbour is on-going and beyond that there is no change, neither is there any change in the infrastructure.
A number of farmers have been consulted about road construction. They were asked about roads to their shearing sheds. Some farmers want the road to stop at their gate but do not foresee the problems getting big shipments from their shearing (or killing) Sheds to market. Add to this the fact that farms change hands and problems arise when the road building kit, at a cost of £10,000.00 had to be brought back to build an extended road. This needed to be checked out.
Mr. Hancox visited Saunders Island on 31 May. David Pole Evans wants a proper road to help with his tourism project. He has a JCB with a mechanical problem but it could be fixed for upgrading the road. The mandate for the Transport Advisory Committee, at the moment, is for roads to populated settlements and not for roads that are only used part of the year and go where there is no population. It would be looked into.
Julian Morris updated the committee on the Task Status Review – Internal Transport Review. He said that tariffs needed to be reviewed but information about coastal shipping. Perhaps it should be done in tandem with the Tamar and the tender. Vessel size and costs need to be figured into the amount of the tariff. Manfred Keenleyside mentioned that all key ports need to be surveyed. This could not be done this season
Andrew Newman mentioned that the tariff for FIGAS hadn’t been raised since 1994 and it needed to be raised because Aviation fuel had gone up from 61p to 92p per litre.
The main discussion in Marine structures dealt with the condition of the Public jetty and how it could be improved to handle more tourists. There must be safe access for tourists as some ships next season will be carrying 3,000 people.
The coastal shipping tender has five bids one is for partial service and four for full service. Only two will go through to the next round.
Finally Raymond Evans’ idea about using landing craft on Pebble Island received a positive hearing with the benefits of being able to move freight and animals as well as people to road heads (or similar) on the main islands a benefit. There will be more discussion next time.
Correction: The name of the new Business Advisor at FIDC is Nuala McKay and not Nulla McKay and the name of the Financial Controller Designate is Ms. Jeanie Morton and not Mrs Jeannie Morton. The “Falklands Finest Scheme” is on the back burner and not the “Mark of Origin.”
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