First addendum to the environment impact assessment for Koodoo Domestic Airport extension and development of Airport Hotel at Koodoo Island, G. A. Atoll

Abstract

This is the first addendwn to the EIA report for Kooddoo Domestic airport extension and development of an Airport Hotel at Ga Kooddoo, GA Atoll. This addendum is prepared to address the changes brought to the concept plan of the Airport Hotel and the alternative sand borrow sites recommended in the EIA report. Major changes to the airport hotel concept include the change in nwnber of water villas from 25 to 43, re arrangement of water villas from semi-circular shape to arc-shape with double rows of water villas on the southern ann of the arc. With this change the total number of the rooms in Kooddoo Airport Hotel will increase to 68 rooms. In addition to this the size of the VIP lounge is increased and owner's villa is added at the southern end of the Hotel. With the above changes the total built up area of Kooddoo airport hotel will be increased from 13.41% to 15.43%. The alternative sand borrow site recommended in the EIA report, which was located as on the eastern lagoon of the island, was changed to two sites on southern and northern end of Kooddoo Island, adjacent to the proposed reclamation area respectively. The main reason for changing the alternative borrow area is because of the shallow lagoon depth and swell conditions on the eastern side of the island, which would require cutting an entrance channel for operation of the dredger. Cutting an entrance channel on the eastern side would have irreversible impact to the reef and island and logistical difficulties for the proponent. Baseline data collected during the initial survey nere seen to be sufficient for the purpose of the addendum, thus no additional data was collected for this report. Impact assessment due to the changes were also observed to be more or less similar, but the impact footprint of the development will be changed to include the dredging area on the northern end of the island. However, with proper implementation of the mitigation measures, anticipated impact of dredging could be limited and contained in the work area without widespread dispersion of suspended sediment plume. Therefore the proposed changes will not alter the over-all aspect of the project.