Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit at Totally Barbados

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Barbados Beaches and Boardwalk

Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit

The Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit is a government research agency focused on coastal conservation through shoreline monitoring, stabilization and enhancement in Barbados.

The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) is a specialized government unit focusing on:

» Coral reef monitoring

» Evaluation of coastal Town and Country Development Planning Office (TCDPO) applications,

» Beach erosion and accretion monitoring

» Oceanographic monitoring

» Updating the inventory of coastal structures

» Regulation of marine research

» Public education on CZM

» Coastal conservation project designs and management

Here at the CZMU we are dedicated to advancing the knowledge, use, development, conservation and management of the coastal zone and its resources. This is our underlying functional responsibility, as the Barbados coast is essential to the lives of all Barbadians.

Rockley to Coconut Court Waterfront Improvement

The project extends along approximately 1.2 km of prime ocean frontage on the south coast stretching from Rockley Beach westward to Sierra Hotel in Hastings.

Prior to the completion of the project beaches were either narrow or nonexistent. Development was close to the water and in some instances encroached on active beach. Much of the shoreline was protected with vertical concrete walls and Armour stone structures, most of which were in disrepair.

The foreshore is littered with coral rubble, making swimming hazardous. Many of the hotels have fallen into disrepair, a result of their inability to attract visitors where there is no beach or swimming area. Barbados beaches and bays at Totally Barbados provide the link to see the boardwalk.

The goal of the project was to develop a continuous, useable and accessible beach along the south coast of Barbados, stretching from Rockley to Hastings. This would allow access from Rockley Beach down to the Hilton Hotel on either boardwalk or beach.

The new beaches and coastal access have provided the seed for economic revival along the south coast. Learn more about Barbados at Totally Barbados and www.coastal.gov.bb.

The boardwalk construction included using IPE hardwood from Brazil, five headlands, six spurs, 14,000 m³ of sand and one offshore breakwater.

The boardwalk is protected by a concrete stepped revetment with granite boulders protecting the footing of the revetment along its entire length. The granite boulders were procured from Canada, and are denser and more resilient than the local limestone, making it ideal for use in coastal works.

Four of the five headlands are landscaped with seating areas where the view of the ocean is spectacular. The boardwalk provides an area where one can exercise by taking a jog or leisurely stroll, and serves as an alternate access for pedestrians using this section of the coastal road. Visit Barbados beach photos, photo gallery at Totally Barbados for more information.

Holetown Beach Improvement Project

Holetown beach, on the west coast is recognized as one of Barbados's most popular tourism beaches.

However, the beach is narrow and along some portions of the coastal strip there is little or no beach. The project site is between Villas on the Beach to the north and a private residence Las Palmas (adjacent to the Beachlands property) to the south in Holetown, St. James.

The primary objective of the Holetown Beach project is to improve the amenity value of the beach through the creation of continuous lateral access, stabilization and enhancement of the beach width between the existing bays within the project area. The key components of the proposed design include:

1. the construction of two headlands fronting the Regent Hotel and the Baku property;

2. the nourishment of beach between these two headlands with 2500m³ of sand;

3. the construction of a concrete walkway which traverses the two headlands into the adjacent bays;

4. a landscape plan for the area fronting the project site.

The concrete walkway will be protected by a granite boulder revetment. The project will span approximately 500m of shoreline.

Coastal Zone Management Unit
Bay Street
St. Michael
Barbados
Visit: via the Web

For reservations call (246) 228-5950/1
Located in St. Michael, South coast
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