By Rita Shirley LeBleu
(Editor’s note–The Cameron Pilot covered the Monday, Apr. 27, Cameron Parish Police Jury special meeting from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the story from that portion of the meeting published last week. This article covers the remainder of the meeting.)
Residents in Cameron, are speaking up about how their small community is being erased. They expressed some of those concerns Monday, Apr. 27, at a special meeting. Citizens set the agenda and were allowed to speak to the CPPJ administration and staff without time limits.
“This town, heritage and culture are being erased,” said Brandon DeBarge. “On top of that you’re watching the estuary being destroyed.”
He said Venture Global “is not being a good neighbor.” For example, the LNG Export facility that has been operational since 2022 and has begun work on a second facility, has already taken one important area – Davis Road – a place where the community gathered for Fourth of July celebrations, where fishing boats could launch and where dolphins were watched.
“When they revoke Wakefield Road, you won’t be able to see the water,” he said. “Seeing a sunset over the marsh means something to this community when you’re born on the water.”
Alex Benoit, Cameron Parish Superintendent of Road Crews said he spoke to Brett Wallace, Venture Global Senior Construction Director, and was told that Venture Global “has no plans of closing Wakefield, except maybe for an hour for construction in six to eight months.”
DeBarge is a commercial fisherman. The fishing, the crabbing, the oysters, the snapper he catches 110 miles offshore start with a healthy estuary, he said, and the six-foot levy is much different in function, than what was there before, a salt grass ridge.
He wonders how shrimpers will be able to anchor in the Loop when the season begins because of the amount of barge traffic.
David Sorrels does not live in Cameron, but he leases land for his oyster farm and Wakefield Road is the only way in and out. The road was shut down last year and Sorrels was told that Venture Global was doing something with the bridge. He drove down the next day to find the road was still closed. His thought about disappearing Cameron is, “it’s already gone.”
Anthony Theriot said that fishing guides don’t share a true picture of what’s happening in Cameron because it would hurt their business, but they’re not paid for the catch.
He noted that the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) representative took eight months to come to Cameron to see the result of the dredge incident, and he wants them and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPPRA) to explain to fishermen how long it will be necessary for them to “ride this out.”
Mark Daigle asked Katie Armentor to follow up with the LDNR representative regarding a response promised after the representative, Daigle and McGee surveyed the situation by boat.
Ryan Jordan, who told about how RV parks on each side of his property was affecting his quality of life at the last Agenda meeting said there is still sewer waste on his property. When he reached out to Sarah Roy, Venture Global, a truck arrived shortly thereafter and pumped out the liquid but left solids.
His problems with dealing with the offending RV park caused him to look into the RV park to the west. It has no vents and no sewer cleanouts. Sewer hookups are not sealed. However, it was signed off on.
He was told that there are a lot of things in Cameron Parish not up to code.
In his research of permitting requirements, Jordan was able to find out that the Police Jury can require an already permitted RV Parks to install a fence, even though it was not in the ordinance at the time the RV park was constructed – if the concern is a safety issue.