Development of the Local Area Plan is part of a wider project by the PPU, which is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

With technical and coordinating assistance from the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), the project includes a training component for PPU Officers and others in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) computer software and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) equipment.

Two CIP young professionals, Paolo Mazza and Shawn Yu, are based in Grenada for 11 months.

Mr. Mazza and Mr. Michael Donnelly, of the Faculty of the Centre of Geographic Sciences at Nova Scotia Community College, are conducting the training from the Land Use Division GIS Computer Room on the Third Floor of the Ministerial Complex. Mr. Donnelly is in Grenada for two weeks under the auspices of the CIP to provide training and technical support to the PPU.

This includes the simulation exercise utilising the Botanical Gardens. The participants spent part of Monday studying the contours of the Gardens, using Global Positioning Systems equipment that captures the location of drains, culverts, ditches, the direction of water flows, catch basins and other characteristics.

This information is uploaded on to a computer customised map of the Botanical Gardens.

“We’re creating a hydrology model that simulates the run-off in the Botanical Gardens and hope to apply that technology to Greater Grenville,” Mr. Donnelly explained.

The watershed of Greater Grenville has three waterways draining into Grenville. Moreover, roads, houses and other buildings in and around Grenville prevent natural ground water filtration.

Greater Grenville comprises about 4,500 acres and is bordered by Conference in the north, Soubise in the south and Mirabeau in the west. In the context of the 2003 National Physical Development Plan, Grenville is defined as the Regional Centre for the north east.

“We will use the data collected today to enhance the drainage model for Greater Grenville,” Mr. Massa added.

Participants in the two-day training session include officers from the PPU; National Water and Sewerage Authority; Land Use Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands; the Ministry of Communication, Works and Transport; and the ARD.