Longue Hougue repairs 'urgent'

The work has been listed for emergency spending under the States Capital Prioritisation Programme, but Treasury has said it is too early to provide estimated costs to fix the damage.

Treasury warned that extensive failure of the rock armour or core material behind it would allow the sea to erode the reclamation site and potentially affect any facilities built on it.

Facilities earmarked for the site include a plant for processing food waste and a transfer station for preparing materials that are not recycled for export.

Longue Hougue's damage, which is to the bund surrounding the site, was caused by the storms earlier this year.

'It is not being suggested that the bund is near to catastrophic failure; only, that a failure of the defences could be catastrophic,' said a Treasury spokesman.

'This possible impact is why it has been decided to repair the damage.

'Work is under way to analyse the damage and develop repair options. Until this work is complete and a preferred option has been finalised, the department will not be in a position to provide a budget estimate for the repairs.'

The repair work is included in Treasury's Capital Prioritisation Report, where it has been listed as one of the new emergency and urgent projects.