Careful planning by people experienced with the challenges and consultations with those most likely to be affected by these changes offer the best chance to solve both problems effectively. Before construction begins, those matters should be settled to the satisfaction of all.
It's been more than a decade since any serious effort was made to upgrade the facilities at Maracas Beach, but a major refurbishment project is now set to proceed in December.
That's going to mean a lockdown of the popular attraction for at least nine months, but the description of what's in store for visitors to the revamped beach suggests the wait will be worth it.
The Government also announced that the project, originally contracted with the Beijing Liujian Construction Company in 2009 at a cost of $233 million, will now be handled by the Ministry of Works for $89 million.
The project, a scaled down version of the project first discussed in public consultations in January 2007, appears to have dispensed with the plans for a boardwalk, but will build an expanded car park, replace the failing waste treatment plant and reconstruct the public toilet facilities and administration building.Traffic flow and points of congestion at the existing facility will be addressed by a rethinking of the space to accommodate the needs of visitors while allowing a free flow of traffic for those who are bypassing the popular beach on their way to points beyond.But that also means it's been seven years since it was agreed there was need for construction of a sand retention system, for a new wastewater treatment plant and for a long overdue widening of the North Coast Road.
Problems with the management of the Maracas Beach facility have been acute since the turn of the century and problems with the wastewater have been a serious problem for even longer.
In 2002, it was normal for vendors to cut their own drainage into the sand each day to get their waste water to the river. Sludge from the malfunctioning wastewater treatment plant would flood the carpark, seep into the sand or worse, filter into the river and concentrations of faecal coliforms were reported to have reached dangerous levels before any action was taken to refurbish the plant.
It is unclear just how poorly the rebuilt wastewater treatment plant for the beach is currently functioning, or how well its discharge is being treated before it is released.
Nor has the Government's ambitious plans explained how sewage from the nearby village is being handled under the new plans, which will also be critical in ensuring the offshore waters are actually as pristine as they normally look.
The developments announced for a space that's so well patronized are welcome, but the project must also consider how these improvements can be made sustainable, ensuring that the people who provide services at the facility can work alongside administrators to keep Maracas beach a safe and welcoming destination.Furthermore, the closing of Maracas Beach should not mean that people visiting points beyond should suffer unnecessary inconveniences when construction materials and heavy equipment traverse the narrow roads to and from Maracas.Maracas Beach is not an isolated destination. It is a community that brings enthusiastic visitors, vendors and a community together in a scenic space that deserves best efforts to ensure it lives up to its reputation.
Careful planning by people experienced with the challenges and consultations with those most likely to be affected by these changes offer the best chance to solve both problems effectively. Before construction begins, those matters should be settled to the satisfaction of all.