'Slipway work will be monitored to minimise habitat impact'

The building of a new slipway in an important environmental site on Island will be monitored closely to minimise any impact on habitats.

That's according to government as work is due to start this week on a new slipway at Derbyhaven which is used during emergencies and exercises at Isle of Man Airport.

The project is aiming to replace the current ramp which, officials say, is no longer suitable for the airport fire station's rescue boat.

The slipway is located in an ecologically important area, within Langness, Sandwick and Derbyhaven Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and bird sanctuary, and Langness Marine Nature Reserve.

Derbyhaven bay is an intertidal mudflat and an extremely important feeding and roosting habitat for migrating and wintering wildfowl and waders.

The work, officials say, has been scheduled to avoid creating a disturbance during the main migrating and wintering period, and bird breeding season with the work hoped to be finished by the end of next month.

According to government, Department of Infrastructure officials have been working alongside Fisheries and Ecosystem Policy teams at the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture over monitoring, processes and timescales for the initiative.

Speaking about the project, Infrastructure Minister, Tim Baker MHK, says: "The development of this project has been a collaborative approach, both across government and with environmental stakeholders. 

"This will lead to the best possible solution to meet the airport’s operational requirements whilst considering the needs of the surrounding area."