Europa Point and Football Stadium

ESG Press Release 17^th April 2015

The ESG would like to add its views to the on-going public debate by politicians and media on the issue of the Football Stadium located at Europa Point. At our committee meeting this week it was agreed that we would re-issue our press statement, published in March 2014, containing our concerns over the many environmental impacts posed by this project, to set the record straight, from our point of view.

We believe the issues are not of design, or political, but of location with the many environmental impacts this major project could have: issues of

 Traffic/pollution/the brutal conversion of a valued unique and open landscape/ effects on the UNESCO bid/major litter threat in protected marine environment and more –

 The ESG urges for the outcome of the DPC meeting on this application, which directed the GFA to present information on the extensive environmental impact assessment for this location, as well as on all alternatives considered, to take place without further delay. This is a matter that concerns a great majority of our community. It is hoped that Gibraltar is mature enough to make the right decision on this and that the GFA can focus its energy on an appropriate site.

**See following link for ESG March 2014 full statement on environmental concerns

(http://www.esg-gib.net/?s=Europa+Point+Football+Stadium&input.x=0&input.y=0&input=Go)

ESG Press Release on Europa Point and Football Stadium   11^th March 2014

Key elements – Landscape – Carbon Footprint – Traffic issues – Community Amenity – Tourist Value – Renewable Energy – Sewage Treatment Plant – Impact on UNESCO bid – Alternative Site –

The ESG has also studied plans for the proposed football stadium at Europa Point and considers it to be a far from ideal location.  In environmental terms, the stadium would radically transform an open, peaceful area important for both tourism and the local community. This brutal conversion cannot, in our view, be softened by any redesign. The group also agrees with the Heritage Trust and the many voices from our community, that another site must be found.

Apart from the impact on the special landscape at Europa, the matter of mobilising thousands of people to and from the border right across Gibraltar, using our already busy roads raises serious concerns. Several key roads would need to be closed for long periods on a match day and the knock-on effects on other road systems would be significant. Add to this an unpredictable border and these suddenly become important issues that will have a major bearing on whether the logistics, however well planned, are executable.  The pollution created by the large numbers of large diesel buses would be highly problematic, particularly within the Dudley Ward tunnel system.

Moving on to the actual stadium the ESG is also concerned about its carbon footprint, during construction and once operational. Water consumption alone will be significant, especially if real grass is to be used. The group also urges that rainwater collection and renewable energy technology is built into the basic design to meet the stadiums energy requirements and to offset part of its footprint created by the high volume of fresh water needed to support the grassy terrain.

Europa Point will also see a Sewage Treatment Plant built near the Mosque that could produce some smell, however well controlled. The two GSM antennae currently placed at the furthermost point near the lighthouse would require moving with these possibly relocated to the top of the new stadium, potentially causing health and safety concerns.

Another matter for consideration is how a large stadium such as that proposed will impact on the special coastal area contained within the UNESCO bid. This includes Gorham’s Cave.

The ESG understands the heavy weather conditions at Europa Point are influencing the design of the proposed stadium as well as the materials that can be used. As well as the sea spray and intense sunshine there is always a constant strong breeze/winds prevalent in the area. Littering associated with large-scale events poses a significant environmental hazard by way of lightweight rubbish being blown into the surrounding seas.

There is insufficient information as to why alternative sites such as the Victoria Stadium, or the East Side reclamation cannot be used instead. It is hoped that the East Side location will be given the utmost consideration, as it is widely believed to meet the needs of a new football stadium. Even though there will likely be an additional time period involved before completion, if the east side replaces Europa Point, the benefits to Gibraltar as a whole are very significant and worth the wait. The ESG believes the GFA should be offered a design based on this site. An alternative “home” stadium in Portugal would need to be implemented during this interim period.

The ESG hopes that as landlords, the Gibraltar Government, will respond to the many concerns raised by the ESG and others in the community and agrees to offer the GFA an alternative site.

ESG Radio Newsletter 16^th April 2015 –        Key words:      DPC, Football Stadium, LNG

We would like to focus our newsletter on a number of issues relevant to our local environment. Firstly- the next DPC meeting looms with a dizzying agenda of applications on demolitions, antennae installations and fresh construction proposals. Police Barracks, Flat Bastion Road, Marina Bay and Plata Villa are some of the projects to be discussed as well as a fresh round of mobile mast and other antennae installations. Knowing the public interest that exists in these projects we would like to remind those listening that the public are welcome to attend these sessions. Meeting takes place on Wednesday 22^nd April as from 9.30am at the John Mackintosh Hall, Charles Hunt Room. The Marina Bay apartments and Super Yacht berthing facilities will once again have a dedicated meeting as from 2.00pm that same day. You can check the DPC agenda for details at: Town Planning Gibraltar, DPC link.

What isn’t up for discussion yet but is seeing on-going public debate by politicians and via the media, especially social media, is the issue of the Football Stadium at Europa Point. At our committee meeting this week it was agreed that we would re-issue our press statement on environmental concerns, published in March 2014, posed by this project, to set the record straight from our point of view. We believe the issues are not of design, or political, but of location with the many environmental impacts this could have: you can see traffic/pollution/gridlock/the brutal conversion of a valued unique and open landscape/ effects on the UNESCO bid, and much more, and it is crucial that the outcome of the last DPC meeting on this which directed the GFA to present information on an environmental impact assessment for this location, as well as on all alternatives considered, takes place, without further delay. This is a matter that concerns a great majority of our community. It is hoped that Gibraltar is mature enough to make the right decision on this and that the GFA can focus its energy on an appropriate site.

Another matter that has surfaced recently is that of LNG, that’s Liquid Natural Gas, ship-to-ship transfers, or STS’s. We have seen two take place so far and we have raised our concerns publicly on this new activity in our waters, which started without any prior warning, information or announcements made. Following on from televised debates in which we participated and discussions at the House on the safety risks posed by LNG as a fuel, and as storage, for the new power station, the sight of giant LNG tankers carrying out this new activity in our waters in the midst of the on-going debate truly beggars belief, however safe the authorities consider it to be. The publics concerns need to be responded to with facts and information and not simply assurances.

The ESG strongly believes there continues to be room for concerns and questions that need to be answered in respect of Gibraltar’s preparedness regarding an LNG incident and also and importantly, the economic benefits that LNG STS transfers brings our community today in light of additional safety risks they carry, however small some may consider these to be. Contrary to what has been said, this type of activity is not widely carried out.

Following meetings to be held with different authorities the ESG will issue further statements soon.

Thank you for listening. Please visit our website for all past press statements and news of our many campaigns. All Radio Newsletters are also published online: check this out at: esg-gib.net. Email us with any comments or questions at esg@gibtelecom.net

ESG Radio Newsletter –

Key Words:- Development and Planning, Capt of the Port departure, The Marriott Hotel, Football Stadium, CUTW

We’d like to run through a number of issues we have recently focused on as we believe these are of public interest.

When talking about development its possibly helpful to you to note down upcoming Dev and planning meetings as there are an unusual number of these coming up over the next few weeks. Five in fact, between now and the end of April. This is because apart from the usual high number of moderately sized applications there are also a few large-scale proposals, which take up a lot of time and discussion at these sessions. So, notebook ready?

OK, General meetings will be held on the 18^th March at the later time of 10.30am, and then on the 27^th March and 24^th April at the usual time of 9.30am.

For the Mariott Hotel application, this will see a focused DPC session at 3.30pm on the 21^st March. The final one to mention here is the Football Stadium presentation that will take place on the 8^th April, also at 9.30am. This info will also be posted on our website as from tomorrow. As per, Town Planning will post agendas for all mtgs a week beforehand accessible by the public from their website. All meetings to be held at the John Mack Hall. Please contact us if you have any queries or need more information.

This week the ESG has released two press statements – one relates to the announcement made in the media of the decision by the Captain of the Port, Captain Roy Stanbrook, to leave Gibraltar. This is in the midst, as many of us are aware, of a growing number of major developments occurring within and in close proximity to the Port, and of the actual relocation of much of the Ports administration and offices to the Retrenchment Block area. Clearly a steady and experienced Captain is needed to oversee and manage these projects which come within the Ports authority, and it is therefore seen as a huge loss to Gibraltar that his decision to leave has come at the present time. We have, and continue to publicly call for a holistic plan for the port area as best planning practices demand. We take this opportunity to thank Captain Stanbrook for his help and co-operation whenever we have sought it and wish him all the best.

The other issue is the football stadium which carries significant public interest. We have welcomed the project directors efforts to provide information of the proposed stadium, and at the proposed site- the reason why we have made our views public is that there is a strong perception within the community that this is a fait accomplait – a done deal – if only because this is the only site that is understood to have been made available by Govt. as landlords. We believe there are considerable environmental impacts from the proposed location at Europa Point and call for all options to be assessed for suitability and environmental implications before any further decisions are taken.  For a closer look at our environmental concerns please visit our website at esg-gib.net for the full article. Also a reminder that the DPC will be meeting to consider this proposal on the 8^th April at 9.30am. GBC will also be holding a Viewpoint programme next Thursday 20^th March to discuss this issue. Promises to be lively and we call upon all those interested to phone or email in to GBC and ensure the widespread public feeling on this issue is reflected.

That’s it for now – we shall have a CUTW special in two weeks time, be sure to catch it! This year’s key date is the 20^th September, celebrating our tenth year of clean up action on the Rock!

Visit our website which also publishes our radio broadcasts and all press releases – here it is again esg-gib.net – you can email us on esg@gibtelecom.net or call us on 200-48996 or 54960000 and we shall be happy to take your queries.