Six land bank projects completed |14 February 2020

The press conference (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

The Land Bank Project Committee, within the Ministry of Habitat, Lands, Infrastructure and Land Transport, yesterday held a press conference to update the media and public on the progress of the land bank projects.

With the launch of the ministry’s second round of registrations for land applicants, it was also an opportunity to provide more information on the exercise and the procedure which comes along with that.

Present at the press conference yesterday were principal secretary for lands Fanette Albert, principal secretary for infrastructure Yves Choppy, director of survey Julien Alexis, director for contract management in the department of infrastructure Jitesh Shah, director for electricity at the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) Ravin Sunasee and his colleagues Daniel Hassan (electricity division) and Franky Dupres (water and sewerage division).

According to PS Albert, the government presently has 24 land bank projects in the pipeline which will yield around 434 residential plots, and these are dispersed across the three main islands: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

Some of these land bank projects have seen some delays, some are still either in the design phase or in the process of implementation.

Nonetheless six among these land bank projects are completed – which means all necessary infrastructure such as roads have been constructed and surveys finalised.

These are Anse Corail, Takamaka (six plots), Dame Le Roi 1, 2 and 3, Baie Lazare (where seven, eight and nine plots are available respectively), Barbarons, Grand Anse Mahé (26 plots) and Le Niole, Bel Ombre (14 plots).

The ministry is targeting to conduct drawing of plots for applicants who were successful in the first rounds of the registration exercise – which debuted in 2017 – during the first quarter of this year, which means before the end of March.

A total of 1846 persons submitted their land applications during the first exercise, out of which only 184 were deemed successful, as of December 2019.

“However we do have some persons who might be added to the list due to the appeal results that are coming in, so we are projecting that this figure might increase to around 200 successful applicants,” PS Albert added.

Other land bank projects that are yet to be fully completed are located at:

• Ex Mellon, Pointe Larue –24 plots. Road completion set for July 2020 and there is an expected change in road alignment due to recently constructed Airtel tower.
• Dan Bamboo Anse Royale – 65 plots. The project is at road design phase and the road is expected to be completed in December 2020.
• Ex-Zelia, Anse Boileau – 4 plots. At planning submission phase and road completion is due in August 2020.
• Anse Louis, Anse Boileau – 63 plots. At tender phase, road completion set for October 2020.
• Lo Lanmar, Beau Vallon – 8 plots. Road infrastructure is underway and hoped to be completed by May 2020.
• Nouvelle Vallée, Beau Vallon – 13 plots. Contractor is mobilising for construction of feeder roads, road completion set for next month.
• Sorento, Beau Vallon – 10 plots. At tender award phase, road completion set for October 2020.
• La Gogue, Glacis Phase 1 and Anse Etoile Phase 2 – 50 plots. For Glacis Phase 1, most access are completed but the ministry is facing challenges such as narrow access way and limited space for contractors to stock material, hence negotiations with private landowners have been initiated. Meanwhile Anse Etoile Phase 2 is at design stage.
• Cap Ste Marie, Anse Boileau – 9 plots. Negotiating alternative access with Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA), road completion set for November 2020.
• Ile Perseverance – 35. Widths of plots have been re-adjusted on plan and will be implemented once approval is granted, road completion set for April 2020.
• Machabée, Glacis –16 plots. Presently at tender approval and cooling off phase, road to be completed by June 2020.
• Dan Limon, Port Glaud – 4 plots. Bill of quantities preparation phase, road completion set for July 2020.
• Takamaka (T1124) – 7 plots. Completed and plots at survey phase.
• Takamaka (near school) – 11 plots. At design phase, road completion set for August 2020.
• Fond Azore, Baie Ste Anne Praslin –18 plots. Access under completion by Seychelles Land Transport Authority (SLTA) and road to be completed next month.
• Salazie, Baie Ste Anne Praslin – 5 plots. Road details at planning submission phase.
• Sogis, Baie Ste Anne Praslin – 11 plots. Negotiation with private owners for access permission.
• L’Union Estate, La Digue – 9 plots. At survey phase and road completion set for April 2020.

Elsie Pointe