Archived decisions

Contact: Alison Crang Tel 01489 576387 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the activities and events relating to the environment of the River from November 2007.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That this report be noted.

3. Pollution Preparedness and Response

3.1 In line with requirements of the Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP), the AHM(E) submitted the annual return of changes to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Key points were the approval of the revised OSCP until 2012, the Tier 2 exercise successfully undertaken in line with legislative requirements, oil spill management training undertaken by the AHM(E), and the confirmation that no Tier 1 or 2 pollution incidents occurred in 2007.

3.2 A log of all pollution incidents that occurred (all were minor) on the Hamble Estuary in 2007 were submitted to the Emergency Planning Team as part of the County's annual response to the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea concerning various forms of pollution on the shore/ river /estuary.

4. Recycling scheme update

4.1 The AHM(E) gave an interview to RYA TV about the progress of the recycling scheme on the River Hamble and the aim of the Harbour Authority's trial. This should appear on the RYA website in the next month.

4.2 Eight volunteers have been identified to take part in the RHHA trail "Get on Board and Recycle" which start on 15 March 2008. Participants consist of racing crews, families and charter/training boat operators. The motor or sailing boats taking part are kept in the River Hamble on either a mid-stream mooring or in a marina. Some of the participants already recycle on board but others have never done so and therefore expectations among participants vary widely and cover a range of opinions held by the boating public. The web pages are currently being entered on the RHHA website and explain what can be recycled at various locations across the Solent. This information will be updated as the trial proceeds. The introductory web pages for the participants are being prepared and the first of their monthly blogs will be entered onto the website in April.

4.3 Various meeting have been held with marina operators, local authorities, the RHHA and The Green Blue to progress the wider scheme across the River. Shore-side facilities where the boating public can dispose of recyclables are being identified and/or improved. A leaflet is currently being drafted for distribution in early summer which will show the type and location of recycling bins across the Solent to enable crews to plan their waste management during a trip.

5. Conferences & Workshops

5.1 The AHM(E) gave a presentation at the Solent Forum's conference `Decision Making in the Coastal Zone" on 15 January. The aim of the conference was to provide an overview of the consents, permissions and other considerations that apply to development in the marine environment. The AHM(E)'s presentation focused on the work of the River Hamble Streamlined Consents group, which is unique in the UK and provides pre-application advise on all required consents for all scales of development within the River Hamble. The group has been highlighted nationally as best practise. The conference was attended by an audience that included the various consenting authorities, consultants, developers and members of the public. All the presentations can be found at http://www.solentforum.org/events/past_papers/

5.2 The AHM(E) attended a conference in London "Coastal Futures" which gave updates on a wide variety of topics relating to the marine environment including the Marine Bill, lessons learnt from Napoli incident, benefits of coastal partnerships, Water Framework Directive, marine conservation and fisheries.

5.3 The AHM(E) attended the Environment Agency's Water Framework Directive (WFD) River Basin District catchment workshop for East Hampshire. Harbour Board member Dr. Susie Tomson also attended as one of the representatives for the RYA. The aim of the workshop was to enable stakeholders to help develop the River Basin Management Plan, as required by the WFD, by discussing and proposing local actions needed to solve the environmental pressure and problems affecting the catchment. Involvement in this work is a major opportunity for the Harbour Authority to drive improvements to the quality of the local water environment, including cleaner waters, used wisely; better habitats for aquatic wildlife; protected natural landscapes; and more opportunities for recreation.

6. Environmental Projects

6.1 The AHM(E) is working closely with environmental officers from The Environment Agency, Natural England, Eastleigh and Fareham Borough Councils and the Marine and Fisheries Agency, as well and local stakeholders, on number projects that will ensure ongoing compliance with our legislative responsibilities and/or bring about environmental improvements to the River Hamble. These include:

· Dredging practices in relation to water quality and fisheries

· Water quality, particularly copper levels

· Bank side enhancement opportunities

7. Pending Harbour Works Consents

7.1 The following applications for Harbour Works Consent are currently being processed and assessed by the harbour office and will be submitted to the next Management Committee meeting for their recommendations to the Harbour Board:

Organisation: Warsash Sailing Club, Shore Road, Warsash
Title: Replace ageing dinghy pontoon and associated piles with new.
Description: Replace ageing dinghy pontoon. Existing pontoon: 23.00m x 7.96m. Replacement 23.00m x 9.72m. Replace 6 No. associated piles relating to this pontoon installation.

Organisation: Eastlands Boatyard, Coal Park Lane, Swanwick
Title: Additional 118 Metres of pontoon for 20 boats inshore of the existing pontooning.
Description: The pontoon will be restrained by tubular steel piles and will only ground at extreme low waters. Proposed mitigation will be a net increase to the SINC

Organisation: Myrtle Cottage, Lands End Road, Bursledon
Title: Landing Pontoon at Myrtle Cottage
Description: A 12m mooring pontoon is proposed 13m off the land similar to adjacent sites. The pontoon will be restrained using tubular steel piles and connected to the land by a bridge. It is further proposed that mitigation for the pontoon resting on the mud at low water will be provided elsewhere on the river as part of this proposal.

8. Impact Assessments

8.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment, in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, has not been undertaken.