Information about Proposed
Ara Macao Resort and Marina
Placencia Belize

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27 June 2007:  A phone call was received today from an independent contractor employed by Ara Macao asking (demanding?) that the historical information on this Website about Ara Macao be taken down because it is "misleading and inflammatory."  I have reviewed the information presented here, and all of it reports events as they occurred during the Ara Macao EIA approval process.  This entire process was a very significant one for the Placencia Peninsula and surrounding areas.  It occupied public debate for over an entire year, it brought Peninsula communities and people together, and ultimately has made everyone on the Peninsula much more aware of environmental and development issues.  It also raised issues that continue to need to be answered, such as the capacity and recharge rate of the aquifer that provides water to the people of the Peninsula.  For these reasons alone, the information provided here is important for the Peninsula, historically, environmentally, sociologically and economically. 

1 June 2007:  Justice Awich of the Belize Supreme Court denied PCSD's application to proceed with judicial review of the approval of Ara Macao by the Belize Department of the Environment.  Justice Awich also assessed legal costs against PCSD.  PCSD did not have the funds to appeal Justice Awich's ruling, although PCSD does believe that Justice Awich's ruling was in error.  A copy of the judicial decision will be made available when a digital copy can be obtained.

2 April 2007:  On Monday, 2 April 2007, the Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development (PCSD) filed a lawsuit asking the Belize Supreme Court to overturn the decision of the Belize Department of the Environment (DOE) approving the Ara Macao Resort and Marina development at the northern end of the Placencia Peninsula. PCSD also asked the court to grant an injunction to prevent Ara Macao Development Ltd. from proceeding with the development.

PCSD’s suit is based, in part, on DOE’s failure to comply with Belize’s environmental regulations.

PCSD also maintains that DOE unreasonably and irrationally approved the development because it did not have critical information about environmental issues such as downstream beach erosion, effect of the development on the Peninsula’s marine environment (such as lobster, conch and coral reefs), and whether Ara Macao and other new developments could quickly use up the water supply that provides Placencia, Seine Bight, Maya Beach, Independence and Big Creek with drinking water.

PCSD also argues that DOE’s approval failed to protect the public’s access and use of the 66’ public reserve on the beach surrounding the development, and that the development violates zoning for the area under the Mango Creek/Placencia Special Development Area, as recognized by Belize law.

A court date has been set for 20 April 2007 for judicial consideration of PCSD’s claim.

Donations to the Ara Macao litigation fund may be made by depositing funds into the PCSD account at Atlantic Bank, account number 100158838.

Donations may also be made by check made payable to the Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, General Delivery, Placencia, Belize.

Money may also be wire transferred to PCSD, using the following wiring instructions:

Bank of New York
36-63 Main Street
New York, New York 11354
ABA#: 021000018

For credit to Atlantic Bank
Swift Code: IRVTUS3N
Atlantic Bank Account No: 8900545925

For further credit to
Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, Atlantic Bank Account no. 100158838

Please note that if wiring from the US, this is NOT an international wire.  The funds are wired to Bank of New York which, in turn, transfers them to PCSD in Placencia.

The Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development is a Belize non-profit corporation and grass roots community organization of Placencia Peninsula residents concerned with the rapid, and often poorly planned and executed, development of the Peninsula. PCSD seeks to bring information about proposed developments to Peninsula residents to ensure that all developments are environmentally sustainable with respect to the fragile eco-systems of the Peninsula and its communities and cultures.

Please contact PCSD at 610-4718 or info@placenciadocuments.info for further information.

 


 


Pictures from Public Consultation,
Proposed Ara Macao Resort and Marina
Seine Bight Village, 3 May 2006
(photos courtesy Juan Caducio, Placencia Village)

 

 

The proposed Ara Macao Resort and Marina project on the Placencia Peninsula is very controversial. 

We urge everyone interested in this proposed development to review the information in the links provided above.

Questions about the proposed development may be addressed to:

 

Proposed Scarlet Macaw (a/k/a Ara Macao) Site Plan

(Fact Sheet)

  • Occupancy:  12,892 people when full (Seine Bight, Placencia and Maya Beach have a 2006 population of about 2,000 people

  • Dredging:  1.2 million cubic yards to be dredged to create marina and canals

  • Erosion Control to Protect Marina:  two 50 meter (164 feet) breakwater jetties to be constructed into the Sea

  • Buildings:  250 buildings, including 296 villas, 458 condos (in 4-story buildings), 260 room hotel, 59 golf course houses, 7500 square foot restaurant, 106,250 square foot casino and night club that will hold up to 1,000 people (local use of casino and night club to be discouraged

  • Marina: 67 acres (dredged) for up to 400 boats of up to 100 feet

  • Garbage:  100,054 pounds of garbage per week (at only 70% occupancy) to be disposed of in Placencia dump

  • Water:  will use 2,275,000 to 3,526,150 gallons per week at only 50% occupancy (4,550,000 to 7,052,300 gallons per week at full occupancy), developer say they will be able to pump this much water from two wells on the property

  • Vehicles:  up to 600 additional vehicles using Placencia Road