Home > Projects > Coastal Infrastructure Programme > Crane Beach Improvements Project > Environmental and Social Impacts

Crane Beach South is a wide, sandy beach which has a heavily vegetated sand dune in the background, extending from the Crane hotel to the headland which separates this beach from Crane Beach North. The southern most section of Crane Beach North is backed by sparsely vegetated cliff face. This beach is generally narrower than the South Beach. Moving further north, some dune vegetation is apparent though this is less extensive than on the South Beach.

Marine investigations at Crane Beach indicate that the nearshore area is shallow (2-3m deep) and consists exclusively of coarse sand that slopes seaward, and is virtually devoid of any coral life or resident fish life. The substrate remains homogeneous until 150-200m offshore, after which small clumps of brown algae appear randomly scattered across the sandy substrate. Amidst the extensive  sand/ algal beds are small coral heads, which have recruited to the remains of relic coral. These support juvenile reef fish. Algal coverage peaks 200-250m offshore, and remains present until the substrate slopes upwards to become the barrier reef. In the shallower sections of the barrier reef (300m offshore) wave energy is generally high and limits the size and species complement of corals, however in the deeper sections coral abundance and diversity peaks with the most common corals.

Potential environmental and social construction impacts are likely to be caused by:

1. The physical placement of structures resulting in loss of sessile benthic communities under the breakwater. (There is virtually no coral or fish life as discussed above.)
2. Potential increase in turbidity and related sedimentation levels on marine biota during construction.
3. The noise, dust, traffic effects of the large numbers of truckloads of construction materials estimated to be delivered the project site over the six month construction period.
4. Restricted access to the beach during the construction period due to closure of the access road.

Potential opertational impacts of the project are likely to result from:

1. Alteration of natural onshore/ offshore sediment transport processes by the submerged breakwater to be constructed in the nearshore environment.
2. Potential creation of habitat for marine organisms by the placement of the nearshore submerged breakwater.
3. The improvement of lateral access to the beach.
4. The improvement of public access to the beach.
5. Increased amenity/ recreational value of the area.

Mitigation and monitoring measures have been recommended to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts arising as a result of the implementation of the project.

1. The technical specifications which guide the Contractor's activities during the construction period will address the need to utilise best practices in handling construction materials and equipment, and to minimise sedimentation impacts to the marine environment during the construction period.
2. The contractor will be required to implement suspended sediment control if turbidity levels 150m from the construction area exceed 29 NTUs above background levels.
3. Consultation will be undertaken with residents, hotel owners and beach users when determining the most appropriate scheduling of construction works to minimise effects of noise, dust and inconvenience to beach users.
4. In the post-consruction phase, a rigorous monitoring programme will be undertaken to determine if any unexpected changes have occured.