La Mivoie Flooding Row: MP Bérenger Demands Full Environmental Review

A dispute over a planned residential and sports development at La Mivoie, in the Rivière-Noire area on Mauritius's west coast, has escalated into a broader debate about environmental oversight — with opposition MP Joanna Bérenger accusing the government of missing the point. **What is the La Mivoie project?** The site at La Mivoie involves three parcels of land earmarked for a mix of uses: approximately 45 residential units (apartments and villas), padel and tennis courts, and a clubhouse. The project sits in a coastal area near a river, making its environmental footprint a matter of public concern. **What did the Environment Minister say?** Environment Minister Rajesh Bhagwan defended the process in parliament, citing an on-site inspection carried out on 25 September. According to the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) — the government body responsible for managing protected natural areas — no classified wetlands were identified on any of the three sites. The river itself was measured at roughly 50 metres from the first two sites and around 100 metres from the third. Bhagwan also clarified that no environmental permit has yet been granted. The application for the 45-unit housing component is still under review, and a Preliminary Environmental Report (PER) — a formal environmental assessment required under Mauritian law for developments of this scale — is expected to be requested as part of that process. **Why isn't Bérenger satisfied?** Joanna Bérenger, a member of parliament for the Front Militant Progressiste (FMP), a party within the current ruling alliance, insists the minister has answered the wrong question. Her concern, she says, was never solely about the presence of wetlands — it was about flood risk. She argues that the land designated for the courts, clubhouse, and residential units sits within a flood-prone zone, and that proximity to a river combined with the scale of construction raises serious safety and planning questions that a standard PER may not adequately address. Bérenger is calling for a **Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)** — a broader, higher-level review that evaluates the cumulative environmental impact of multiple related projects together, rather than assessing each one in isolation. This tool is commonly used internationally for large or complex developments where piecemeal approvals could mask wider ecological or safety risks. **What this means** The La Mivoie case touches on a recurring tension in Mauritian development policy: how to balance investment in real estate and leisure infrastructure with environmental protection and climate resilience, particularly in coastal and flood-vulnerable areas. If Bérenger's call for an SEA gains traction, it could slow or reshape not just this project but set a precedent for how similar mixed-use developments near watercourses are assessed going forward. For residents, investors, and planners, the outcome matters — flood-zone construction without rigorous review can have lasting consequences for safety and insurance liability. The debate also signals that environmental scrutiny is coming from within the governing majority itself, not just the opposition benches. Source: ION News