Changing the landscape while preserving the environment:
BIMINI, September 20, 2006 – Bimini Bay Resort + Casino, the newly-opened vacation destination that will soon be home to a Conrad Hotel and Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed links golf course, takes the intimate island’s ecological welfare very seriously. “Bimini’s natural landscape is what attracted me to the Bahamas 20 years ago,” states Gerardo Capo, the resort’s Miami-based developer. “We are creating both a sustainable resort experience and a dedicated Preserve that will be kept in its natural state for generations to come,” he added.
Although initial development plans were approved by the Bahamian government, Bimini Bay Resort + Casino went a step further and spent approximately $1 million on outside consultation by enlisting the assistance of several authorities on sustainable development including London-based Acona Ltd. and Applied Technology & Management, Inc., headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia.
As a result of their environmental assessments and reviews, it was determined to scale back the development significantly, allowing for a substantial portion of mangrove forest to become a specially-designated Preserve. “Mangroves serve as a nursery for marine life and waterfowl,” says Capo. “Preserving these habitats is key to ensuring that guests will always be able to enjoy birding and fishing, for which the island is known. We look forward to bringing fishing tournaments back to Bimini.”
This is something Ansil Saunders, local master bone fisherman and guide, is counting on. He states, “There is plenty of bone fishing here in Bimini. This past summer I caught 50 one day, then 42 and 30 the other day.”
Additionally, each day the company carries out extensive environmental tests while building additional restaurants, shops, villas and condominiums, to guarantee minimal impact. When dredging a section of the bay to make way for a channel allowing larger boats easier navigation, the developer utilized that land to create nearly 50 acres. While another developer could have continued building condominiums, Capo opted to preserve the island’s rich natural resources by constructing an environmental-friendly golf course at the northern tip of the island. He turned Robert Trent Jones, Jr., known as the “father of environmental golf design” to lead the effort. As a result, The Devil’s Triangle Golf Course will be a links-style, protecting as many mangroves as possible. This design will require less irrigation and chemicals than extensively manicured and heavily fertilized courses..
Although initial development plans were approved by the Bahamian government, Bimini Bay Resort + Casino went a step further and spent approximately $1 million on outside consultation by enlisting the assistance of several authorities on sustainable development including London-based Acona Ltd. and Applied Technology & Management, Inc., headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia.
As a result of their environmental assessments and reviews, it was determined to scale back the development significantly, allowing for a substantial portion of mangrove forest to become a specially-designated Preserve. “Mangroves serve as a nursery for marine life and waterfowl,” says Capo. “Preserving these habitats is key to ensuring that guests will always be able to enjoy birding and fishing, for which the island is known. We look forward to bringing fishing tournaments back to Bimini.”
This is something Ansil Saunders, local master bone fisherman and guide, is counting on. He states, “There is plenty of bone fishing here in Bimini. This past summer I caught 50 one day, then 42 and 30 the other day.”
Additionally, each day the company carries out extensive environmental tests while building additional restaurants, shops, villas and condominiums, to guarantee minimal impact. When dredging a section of the bay to make way for a channel allowing larger boats easier navigation, the developer utilized that land to create nearly 50 acres. While another developer could have continued building condominiums, Capo opted to preserve the island’s rich natural resources by constructing an environmental-friendly golf course at the northern tip of the island. He turned Robert Trent Jones, Jr., known as the “father of environmental golf design” to lead the effort. As a result, The Devil’s Triangle Golf Course will be a links-style, protecting as many mangroves as possible. This design will require less irrigation and chemicals than extensively manicured and heavily fertilized courses..
posted by Bahama Mark at
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