Thank you, Sir,
Welcome to the first of my update statements from the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure.
These are undeniably challenging times for us. Yet, in the face of such challenges, I am pleased to say that it immediately became clear to me that the new members of the Committee are resolute in their commitment to serve our community, including our valued neighbours in Alderney.
As a committee we will not shy away from scrutiny or difficult conversations. We are showing that we are prepared to challenge where necessary, and we are equally prepared to listen and learn.
We recognise the financial constraints facing the States and the reality that we cannot offer unlimited services. Nonetheless, we are determined to ensure that the many and varied services we do provide are delivered efficiently, with resources targeted where they are most needed and where they will have the greatest impact. We approach our responsibilities with both realism and hope.
We also recognise that progress cannot be achieved in isolation.
The Committee is committed to working in partnership with fellow Members of the Assembly, with other Committees, Boards, and Authorities.
We welcome constructive feedback and collaboration. If a proposal we bring forward can be improved, we are open to that conversation. While we may not always reach perfection and compromise will sometimes be necessary, we are determined to get things done in a way that reflects the collective will of this Assembly.
Looking ahead, the Committee’s work this term will be focused on seven main themes:
- Infrastructure
- Energy Transition & Security
- The Natural Environment
- Climate Resilience & Adaptation
- Sustainable Transport & Mobility
- Ensuring we meet our regulatory & international obligations
- Land Use Policy
These priorities reflect our commitment to concentrate on what is needed most, investing public money wisely and delivering in a timely and proportionate fashion.
We are embarking on several new pieces of strategic work, in partnership with several other committees, these include:
The development of a Strategic Infrastructure Plan for the Island, which will help the States, as a whole, determine what the Island will need in the future and plan accordingly. The parameters of this work are still to be established, but it will be a collaborative effort with other committees, as it will reach across many aspects of our mandates. And at a less strategic level, how to best support development at Leale's yard.
A plan to assess fuel importation and its storage, combined with an east coast strategic flood defence.
The Marine Spatial Plan, which will guide sustainable use and protection of our marine environment, while giving confidence to any developers of a proposed offshore wind farm.
We will begin to explore tailored and proportionate approaches to bringing contaminated land back into use, recognising that a stricter approach is appropriate for household gardens, while other uses, such as car parks, may allow for more flexibility.
I would also like to see a recognition of the biodiversity of potential development sites before they are cleared and how a net gain can be realised and implemented in a structured proportionate way.
Alongside these new initiatives, we continue to deliver workstreams required under the Government Work Plan and BAU. A few examples are ongoing delivery of the Electricity Strategy, progressing the Pathway to Net Zero, implementing the States’ Strategy for Nature, and maintaining or upgrading critical infrastructure such as roads, coastal defences, and on-island public transport.
By balancing new strategic priorities with the effective delivery of our existing commitments, the Committee will remain focused on what is needed most, ensuring public resources are invested wisely and that progress is both timely and proportionate.
The Committee continues to support the work of the Guernsey Development Agency in bringing forward a plan for the delivery of its strategic vision for the Bridge. Critical to this is the preparation of strategies for future fuel importation and its storage and east coast flood defences.
The Fuel Importation and Storage Strategy will consider the options for the provision of infrastructure related to the import and storage of fuels to enhance reliability and security of supply and to reduce the impact of the existing Public Safety Zones around the Bridge. It is expected that the Fuel Importation and Storage Strategy will result in new methods for the import and storage of fuel which reduce overall risk and release land for development opportunities.
The East Coast Flood Defence Strategy will build on technical studies and surveys along the east coast to provide detailed flood risk forecasts into the long term and establish options for flood mitigating infrastructure, which are proportionate, affordable and deliverable. It is intended that the East Coast Flood Defence Strategy will provide a foundation to support the Assembly to prioritise a programme of sustained infrastructure investment to protect critical areas of the Island from future physical risks as part of a coordinated infrastructure planning process.
Whilst some may recall with affection, the carefree days of the 1970s and 80s, when Gabriels ruled the High Street, well Fountain Street, and life felt simpler, our island has changed, and so have the demands placed upon our infrastructure.
The Committee recognises that adapting our roads to meet modern needs is not always easy, nor universally welcomed. However, it is necessary.
We must ensure our roads are safe and accessible for all:
For our children walking to school, for our elderly navigating busy junctions, for those living with disabilities, and for each of us who rely on these networks daily.
Initiatives such as School Streets have shown that thoughtful change can deliver real benefits, improving safety and enhancing community wellbeing.
In parallel, we must not lose sight of the strategic importance of development in the north of the Island. The need for housing in that area remains pressing, and the Better Transport Plan for the North, developed to support such growth, deserves renewed attention as we work to support our colleagues in the Committee for Housing. It is a sound and forward-looking initiative, and we will work to ensure it is once again recognised as a key part of our infrastructure strategy.
Continued road infrastructure improvements will be a priority for this committee.
The community and economy of Guernsey benefit greatly from our exceptional land and marine environments. I am pleased to confirm that the United Kingdom's membership in the Convention on Biological Diversity has just been extended to Guernsey, fulfilling a States’ resolution. Our participation in this Convention underscores Guernsey's commitment to environmental protection, enhances our international reputation, and supports our ambitions in green finance and access to free trade agreements.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a significant year for our marine environment, with several initiatives spearheaded by the Committee. Early in the year, we will launch the Marine Biosecurity Plan, offering advice and guidance to safeguard our seas from invasive non-native species and any diseases that could jeopardise our blue economy and environment. Additionally, we will lead the development of a Marine Spatial Plan for Guernsey, which will bolster our marine governance, support a sustainable blue economy, enhance marine protection, and aid the States' investigations into the feasibility of offshore wind development.
I am pleased to highlight the Nature Commission's growing contribution to our natural environment. Last year, over 4,500 students engaged in their environmental education program. In August, they introduced the “Nature Opportunities for Business” initiative, an online tool enabling businesses to invest in or volunteer for charity-led conservation projects. And this month, launched the People and Nature Survey, which will help us understand the importance of green spaces to Islanders and the challenges related to accessing them - key measures for the States' Strategy for Nature.
The Pathway to Net Zero policy letter was agreed by the States in April. This confirmed that, if delivered, the States’ existing policies and plans will enable the Island to meet its interim climate target of a 57% reduction in 1990 carbon emissions. To ensure success, it is important to monitor both the implementation and impact of these policies throughout the first seven-year review period.
While climate mitigation remains a key focus, we recognise that climate adaptation is becoming increasingly important. Work is underway to develop an island-wide climate adaptation plan, drawing on best practice from other jurisdictions but tailored to Guernsey’s unique circumstances.
The Committee continues to prioritise its energy policy. We are reviewing options for the regulation of offshore renewables to ensure market certainty and value for money, with a policy letter to be brought to the States in the near future. This is important in supporting the Offshore Wind workstream.
Implementation of the Electricity Strategy is ongoing, in collaboration with the Committee for Economic Development and the States’ Trading Supervisory Board.
Finally, improving energy efficiency, particularly in buildings, is a cost-effective way to address both energy and climate challenges. Work in this area will continue, in partnership with other committees, to enable the States to reach a decision on the best approach.
In May, the UK and EU reached a Common Understanding, committing to negotiate a UK–EU Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement.
This agreement aims to establish a "common SPS area" for trade in animals, plants, and related goods. The UK/EU "reset" is making progress, with political agreement to create the common SPS area, implement dynamic alignment, and reduce controls. While this development is expected to ease the movement of goods, the detailed rules are still under negotiation and have yet to be enforced.
For Guernsey, as a Crown Dependency, we are reliant on the UK to negotiate our inclusion in any new SPS arrangements. This is likely to require that we align animal and plant health legislation and controls with the EU, which the UK has also committed to and which, pre-Brexit, was the case for legislation relevant to products that were imported or that were traded with the EU.
Officers are actively involved in liaison and negotiation to present Guernsey in the strongest position that would allow freer movement of SPS goods, including for exports from Guernsey into the EU, whilst maintaining appropriate controls on animal and plant health. Under the proposed SPS regime, many movements of animals, animal products, plants, and plant products would take place without the need for checks at the border controls.
Officers continue to update my committee, and others, as the UK-EU negotiations progress to ensure that there is political oversight, and that Deputies are briefed on the benefits and any potential risks that may arise.
This is just one small bit of work we need to fit alongside the regular updates currently needed to animal and plant health legislation post-Brexit to ensure the flow of goods.
Turning to coastal defence, the Committee continues to deliver essential works across the Bailiwick.
In Alderney, remedial works have been undertaken on the breakwater. A sonar survey of the superstructure rubble mound was completed this summer, with results being analysed by States’ engineers. The 2025 Dive Contract was completed at the end of September, with further works being carried out on the seaward-facing wall.
In Guernsey, we are progressing with a range of ongoing projects such as repointing at Route de La Lague South and Portelet Piers. Smaller revenue-funded projects, such as maintenance of slipways and coastal steps, are also ongoing.
Completed projects include La Saline, Fermain North, Salerie Piers, Route de La Lague North, and Admiral Park North Sheet Piles. Preparatory works have started for the next phase of rock stabilisation and maintenance at Petit Port Steps, and other 2026 repointing projects.
Earlier I mentioned my family’s heritage, Gabriels stores in Fountain Street and, anyone who visited it back in the day, knows that I observed from an early age how to run something economically and still give the public what they need. I will try, within our means to deliver that for Guernsey.
In closing, I wish to emphasise that the Committee is fully aware of the responsibility entrusted to us by this Assembly, by Islanders, and the Bailiwick. We are committed to delivering what is needed most, in a manner that is timely, proportionate, and mindful of the expense to the public.
We will continue to collaborate with colleagues across the States, listening to constructive feedback and adapting our approach where necessary. Our focus is on practical progress, on projects and policies that make a real difference to our community, both now and for future generations.
I am grateful for the support and engagement of fellow Deputies, stakeholders, and the public. Together, we can ensure that our island remains resilient, sustainable, and well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
I told my mirror this morning that I was ready to deliver this speech – it responded with silence though, I hope I can elicit some questions about the E&I mandate from members.
Thank you.