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Plans for the sustainable growth of the Seychelles over the next 25 years reached a key milestone as the final Charette to discuss the preferred growth strategy got under way yesterday.
Around 120 stakeholders including government ministers and officials gathered in the capital, Victoria, for the third in a series of Charettes hosted by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), which is overseeing the Seychelles Strategic Plan.
The three-day meeting, which ends on Wednesday (13thMay), is the last opportunity for planners and other stakeholders to reach consensus on the details of an urban development framework for the Indian Ocean island nation.
It commenced with a welcome address by Minister Christian Lionnet from the Ministry of Housing and Land Use.
Under the direction of Abu Dhabi’s Leadership, the UPC is providing technical assistance for the project, which began in May 2014, and will set out the urban development framework for sustainable growth of the Seychelles up to 2040.
The Charette, titled ‘How Will We Get There?’, builds on the foundations of the first two charettes held in September last year and January this year. It represents the final opportunity for technical stakeholders from different government ministries and elected officials to discuss, develop and agree the key elements of the Seychelles Strategic Plan, which includes a framework plan for Mahé, and a master plan for Victoria.
Stakeholders will have to agree key assumptions underpinning the Plan (e.g. population projections, household size, etc.), test and agree the strategies and policies that underpin the Plan, and the actions for implementation.
Within this, the framework plans, policies and actions (such as delivery mechanisms, responsibilities, priorities and potential issues), will be agreed for the Mahé Framework Plan.
A draft master plan for Victoria, including policies and actions, will also be agreed, which encompasses the detailed design for three key areas in Victoria, including Market Street, Waterfront and Plaisance/Mont Fleuri. This will illustrate linkages/connections, circulation, streetscape improvements, façade improvements and the open space network.
The Charette will give stakeholders the opportunity to review and test the three Plans and most importantly provide their input on how these Plans can be implemented in the short, medium and long term. This input will help form the Implementation Plan, a holistic document that defines the actions that are required to ensure the policies set out in the Seychelles Strategic Plan are realised, and to ensure successful implementation.
The Seychelles Strategic Plan will cover all of the islands that comprise the Seychelles, with a particular focus on the main island of Mahé. The Strategic Plan will provide a blueprint for urban development and sustainable growth of the Seychelles over the next 25 years.
Amer Al Hammadi, Executive Director, Planning & Infrastructure Sector, UPC, said: “The third and final Charette will review and test the three draft Plans including the strategies, framework plans and policies contained within them. It will also focus on refining the Victoria Master Plan and undertaking detailed design of areas within the capital city to help realise its potential to 2040. Stakeholders will also consider how the three Plans can be delivered and implemented.
“From this, the overarching Seychelles Strategic Plan will be finalised, which we expect to complete by June.
“This has been an extremely rewarding project for the UPC to be involved in, and we’ve enjoyed collaborating with the Seychelles government. We’re proud to have been able to share all that we have learned from our experience in planning Abu Dhabi, and that those learnings will benefit the people of the Seychelles.”
Christian Lionnet, the Seychelles Minister for Land Use and Housing, commented: “The Seychelles will really benefit from the preparation of such a detailed plan, which will set the urban development framework for sustainable growth of the Seychelles up to 2040.
“The Plan preparation process has enhanced stakeholder ownership and has provided Government Ministries with the necessary technical skills to implement and update the Plan as and when necessary. It has been a tremendously rewarding project and I am excited for the next phase of implementation.
“On behalf of the President of the Republic of Seychelles, President James Michel, I seize this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council for their support,” he added.
The Plan will set out the urban development framework for the sustainable growth of the Seychelles over the next 25 years, and will address priorities for the nation such as; facilitating economic growth and diversification, protecting the environment by ensuring development is undertaken in appropriate locations and in a sustainable manner, appropriate allocation of land for residential and economic use, protecting the character and heritage of the Seychelles, and preserving and enhancing its social and cultural aspects, to ensure a high quality of life for all.
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