Appendix 1
Previous Council Decision
1.
At its special meeting held on 2 December 2014, the Development and
Infrastructure Committee noted:1.1
that, since 2009, work had been ongoing to investigate matters associated
with wave overtopping at Barrier No 2, during which a number of options had
been rejected, as detailed in section 5.3 of the report by the Executive
Director of Development and Infrastructure;
1.2
that, in December 2011, the Council resolved to carry out a high level
hydraulic modelling study to find a solution to the wave overtopping at Barrier
No 2, noting that the study would also explore the potential for the solution to
incorporate or facilitate renewable energy capture;
1.3
that, following a tendering exercise, JBA Consulting was commissioned to
carry out the study, referred to at paragraph 1.2 above, with work
commencing in June 2013;
1.4
that, following consideration of the consultant’s interim report, in July 2014,
the Council resolved to carry out further design analysis, numerical modelling
and refinement in order to determine the optimum solutions to wave
overtopping and tidal energy capture at the Churchill Barriers;
1.5
the consultant’s summary report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report by the
Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, which provided a
summary of the work carried out to refine a refacing solution to the wave
overtopping problem at Barrier No 2 and options for tidal energy capture;
1.6
the wider context to the study, referred to at paragraph 1.2 above, in terms of
initial developer interest and co-operation with other European projects on
potential renewable energy capture proposals for the Churchill Barriers, as
detailed in section 6 of the report by the Executive Director of Development
and Infrastructure;
1.7
the improved procedures which were being put in place to advise the public
of potential barrier closures, as detailed in section 7.2 of the report by the
Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure;
1.8
that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was undertaking a study to
provide improved coastal flood forecasting for Orkney including improved
forecasting of wave overtopping at Barrier No 2;
1.9
the options for a solution to the wave overtopping at Barrier No 2 with the
option to incorporate renewable energy capture, as outlined in section 10 of
the report by the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, as
follows:1.9.1
a wave overtopping solution only at Barrier No 2, at an estimated
cost of £13m to reface the eastern side of the barrier;
1.10
2.
3.
1.9.2
a wave overtopping and tidal energy generation scheme, at an
estimated cost of £24.5m, for a bridge and refacing solution which
would allow a concession for deployment of free stream tidal turbines
by an energy developer; or
1.9.3
a wave overtopping and tidal energy generation scheme that could
be brought forward through a concession type arrangement with a
tidal energy developer; and
that, alternatively the Council could concentrate on improved forecasting and
warning systems, as detailed in section 7.3 of the report by the Executive
Director of Development and Infrastructure, rather than proceeding with a
substantial capital project.
The Committee recommended:2.1
that, prior to selecting a preferred option, the Executive Director of
Development and Infrastructure should investigate developer interest in
progressing a wave overtopping and tidal energy scheme at Barrier No 2,
which could take the form of a bridge or a tidal barrage with bridge deck on
top, as partial replacement for a section of Barrier No 2;
2.2
that the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure should prepare
a Stage 1 Capital Project Appraisal (CPA) in respect of a technical solution
for electronic warning signs at strategic locations to provide information to
highlight the risk of overtopping and likely closures at the Churchill Barriers,
at a cost of up to £30,000, to be met from the Development and Infrastructure
revenue budget for 2014/15; and
2.3
that the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure should submit
a report, to the meeting of the Committee to be held on 26 March 2015,
detailing a work programme for the action, referred to at paragraph 2.1
above, and the Stage 1 CPA, referred to at paragraph 2.2 above.
The Committee recommended to the Policy and Resources Committee that powers
be delegated to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, in
consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee, and the three
members representing the East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray electoral
ward, to acquire, as an exception to the CPA process, or through a lease
arrangement, the second hand concrete caisson which had been offered to the
Council, for the purpose of conducting trials in respect of wave overtopping at
Barrier No 2 in the first instance, after which the concrete caisson could be
considered for alternative port uses, together with exploration of other alternative
low cost solutions to wave overtopping, including use of decommissioned oil rigs.