Manama, Bahrain, 18 January 2009: Undersecretary of Public Works Affairs at the Ministry of Works, HE Nayef Omar Al-Kalali, today received international consultants, WS Atkins and Partners who presented to the Ministry their proposal on the implementation of the Ministry’s recently launched dredging and land reclamation technical manual. The incorporation of the manual within Volume 4 (Marine Spatial Planning) of the Kingdom’s National Development Planning Strategies (NDPS) has been recommended as part of a framework for wider marine environment strategies.
According to Mr Al- Kalali, a proposal for an integrated approach to land reclamation procedures and an Integrated Coastal and Marine Management (ICMM) Framework was outlined by Aktins during the meeting.
“The implementation of Volume 4 of the NDPS including the guidelines outlined in the dredging and land reclamation technical manual will ensure land that is reclaimed from the sea for infrastructure purposes is managed in a sustainable manner,” said Mr Al Kalali.
Principal Coastal Consultant from Akins, Jonathan McCue, presented the proposed approach to ensuring the optimal use of land, marine waters and marine resources and the implementation of the elements of the dredging and land reclamation technical manual.
A number of clear actions were recommended by Atkins as part of Volume 4 and these are to have a clear vision statement for Bahrain’s coastal and marine environment; to define the coastal management area to which future coastal zone management policies for the Kingdom will apply and to create and implement a series of setback policy guidance notes.
“One of the aims of the Atkins proposal is to ensure that the protection of Bahrain’s biodiversity becomes integral to all development strategies and that the management of the marine environment becomes formalized. The manual - as part of the collective solution - will help to achieve this and this will also improve environmental quality standards and the environmental impact assessment process and will hopefully lead to ecotourism opportunities as well as conserve marine habitats and species,” said Mr Al Kalali.
Other early actions recommended by Atkins are streamlining Bahrain’s marine licensing system, enforcing the use of GIS, setting up Area Action Plans for pilot schemes to test marine spatial plans (in Fasht Al Adham, Tubli Bay and the Southwest coast of Bahrain) and creating and implementing a communications plan for marine initiatives to generate awareness and provide information on necessary procedures for relevant parties.
The vision for Bahrain’s coast is to make the most of the ‘islandness’ of Bahrain, and to have a valued, appreciated and safeguarded coast where development and the use of resources is sustainable and where the natural environment is protected and enhanced to keep its essential and unique place in Bahrain’s heritage.
The next step will be to present the Atkins proposal to the Planning and Urban Development Authority in order to approach the consultants for a detailed proposal for Volume 4 (Marine Spatial Planning) of the Kingdom’s National Development Planning Strategies (NDPS).
About the Ministry of Works
The Ministry of Works is a dynamic, leading professional organisation that builds public infrastructure for the betterment of Bahrain. It is socially responsible and works to shape the future through partnerships. It is a high performance, project management based organisation whose use of strategic management, best practice and innovative technologies make it a leader in its field and enable it to provide integral support to the Bahrain Government's 2030 vision.
