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4.6 The Deputy of St. John of the Minister for Economic Development regarding waiting lists across all harbours and marinas:
I sincerely hope it is the Minister that answers, Sir. Would the Minister detail the number of people on waiting lists across all harbours and marinas, and advise whether the waiting list figures have reduced since 2009 and if so, by how many?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean (The Minister for Economic Development):
I would be delighted to take this question. There are currently 174 people on the waiting list for berths in the Elizabeth Marina, the St. Helier Marina and La Collette Basin. The waiting list numbers have indeed reduced since 2009 when they were at 242. We suspect that this is as a direct result of the economic climate and the fact that by re-configuring the marinas we have been able to increase the number of available berths. We are starting to find that people on the waiting lists are not taking up berths as they are offered. Effectively people are not buying or upgrading their boats due to the current economic climate. As a result Jersey Harbours are conducting a review of the lists and have recently written to all those on the waiting lists asking for them to re-confirm that they are still interested in a berth.
- The Deputy of St. John :
As marina fees have been increasing well above the cost of living in recent years, are our harbours not killing the goose that lays the golden egg by increasing fees above the cost of living year on year, given we are in times of hardship right across the board? Would it not be better to have some income than no income given the numbers are falling? How many more increases does he anticipate in the next couple of years if the financial climate does not improve?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
Yes, the Deputy is right insofar as mooring charges are being increased. There is a differential though between the main harbours and outlying harbours. I should point out that outlying harbours have increased significantly. The most recent increase has been 20 per cent, but from a very low point. They are in no way covering their costs. They would need to rise by something in excess of 500 per cent to get anywhere near cost-recovery in the outlying harbours. The main marinas however have not been raised by anything like that. They have been largely matching inflationary increases.
- Deputy J.G. Reed of St. Ouen :
The Senator has been kind enough to answer part of the question. However, the question did ask for the number of people on waiting lists across all harbours around the Island. Perhaps he would enlighten us on that part?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
I do not have the exact figures of all the individual outlying harbours. What I can tell the Deputy is that there are, in fact, waiting lists at all harbours ranging from between one and 8 years. In some cases, I believe Rozel in fact is even in excess of 8 years, so there is quite a significant number of people who are still wanting spaces, despite the fact that we have increased the berthing and mooring charges in those areas?
- The Deputy of St. Ouen :
Can I ask the Senator, the charges in the outlying harbours, are they significantly different to that charged in the marina?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
Indeed they are, they are significantly different, and I think as I made the point, we would have to increase them in excess of 500 per cent if we get anywhere near cost recovery. But to give the Deputy an idea, an average berthing charge in an outlying harbour is £120 a year as opposed to starting at a couple of thousand pounds in the main marinas.
- Senator T.J. Le Main:
I would like to ask if the Deputy of St. John is paying the right fees for his £1 million boat.
The Bailiff :
No, Senator, I know that was said in jest but you are not allowed to refer to the personal affairs of other Members.
The Deputy of St. John :
Yes, with that I was going to declare that I do have a boat in the marina and I pay my dues without objecting unless there is a query, but just to keep the record straight that I am a boat owner but this question was put in for the general boat users of the Island not for myself, and therefore it was ...
The Bailiff :
Do you have a final question, Deputy ?
The Deputy of St. John :
Yes, Sir. No, I have not, Sir, I will just thank [Laughter] the Minister for his ...