Kingston, Jamaica: Work is steadily progressing on the Caymanas Estate Sewage Conveyance System in St Catherine. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) which is leading the project as part of its capital infrastructure portfolio of works is now doing civil engineering works and constructing box culverts to facilitate the laying of pipelines through contractors Y.P. Seaton & Associates Company Limited.

The project which is valued at J$624 million will see some 7.4km of force main pipeline being constructed inclusive of two sewage lift stations conveying sewage to the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant, St. Catherine. The system is designed to accommodate sewage from all developments planned for the area. Individual development blocks will be responsible for constructing its own sewage conveyance to link into this primary facility.

Funding was arranged by the UDC stemming from the sale of recent assets inclusive of Lot 21, Oceana Hotel, Jamintel, Machado Complex in downtown Kingston and Forum Hotel in St. Catherine.

Already the project which has secured the relevant permits and partnership agreements from the National Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA), the National Works Agency (NWA) and the National Water Commission (NWC), is generating local employment for various categories of workers within the St Catherine area.

The infrastructural works form part of the Caymanas Estate Development Plan (CEDP) which outlines a broad development concept for lands owned by the UDC and Alexander Hamilton. The CEDP seeks to capitalize on the opportunities that already exist within Caymans Estate Development Area (CEDA) such as a mixed use recreational/residential/commercial planned unit development in harmony with the environment.

The Caymanas Estate property straddles the parishes of St. Andrew and St. Catherine, with at least 90% of its lands in St. Catherine. This land is approximately 4,332 hectares or 10,703 acres.  The estate lands have functioned as a green belt to the burgeoning centres of Kingston and St. Andrew to the east, Portmore to the south and Spanish town to the west.

The UDC has had primary responsibility for the development of the Caymanas area since 1986 and the development of the area is directly in line with the Corporation’s purpose as the government’s leading urban and rural development agency.