jme
Well-Known Member
The EIA looked at longer term impacts than just those from construction, i.e. shade cast by the pier killing off coral (some species of which are endangered), or the build up of sand at the pilings impacting the sea floor, etc.Interesting - to me the disruption is going to be the actual construction of the pier which would be the same either way.
I definitely think it was a mistake. I’m also wondering why Disney wanted to work with the Bahamas if they were going to be so picky - why not just buy another island?
Here you can read the Full Report which is very thorough and detailed into their findings and mitigations. Likewise you can read the full Environmental Management Plan which details their long-term post-construction efforts, which includes things like species relocations, debris cleanup, etc.
As far as other islands, I'll quote my earlier post:
Earlier in the same Public Meeting they also talk about why they chose Lighthouse Point, Eluthera noting that they looked at several other locations nearby, including Egg Island in Eluthera and Morgan's Bluff in Andros and some locations in the Berry Islands - and after initial EIA they didn't want to move forward with those because they would all require dredging and destruction of coral reefs.
Edit to add: I misread - all of those other properties are within the Bahamas. I'm not sure if non-Bahamian islands were considered.