Details of an $8 million "environmentally friendly'' resort slated for construction at the west end by next season were unveiled yesterday.

And eco-development guru Stanley Selengut's "green'' proposal for Daniel's Head in Somerset could eventually lead to all of Bermuda's waste being recycled and used on Island.

The Bermuda Land Development Company -- who are in charge of development at the former Canadian Naval Base -- are presently in the throes of negotiating a development agreement with Mr. Selengut's company Campers Villages LLC.

The aim is to have the facility up and running by the summer of 1999.

This will allow it to capitalise on the global attention that the environment -- and how to sustain it -- will receive due to the millennium.

"We hope to be in the planning stage by June and under construction by the fall with the plan being to open in the summer of 1999.'' His proposal includes the construction of 125 units known as eco-tents in an environmentally friendly setting which encourages the natural habitat to restore itself and thrive.

"You might ask a developer, `Why choose to build an eco-campground rather than a more traditional hospitality facility?'.

"Over the last 24 years we have found a large number of people who desire a nature based community related vacation experience,'' said Mr. Selengut.

The site will create about 40 full-time jobs and Mr. Selengut said Campers Villages LLC would handle job training themselves, particularly in the field of solar engineering.

He added that US universities were also considering opening up courses in sustainable development and training for these would be provided at his facilities.

He said there were two key issues which made Daniel's Head an ideal location for his operation. His resorts -- there are four with a fifth on the way in Hawaii -- are starting to be known as study sites for students and an ideal location for workshops. However, his facilities do not have classroom space.

Daniel's Head has buildings already on location which could be used for this purpose.

And part of the theory behind sustainability is to grow your own food near where you use it and while his other sites have been so barren that they prevent this, the Somerset site had the water and soil needed.

Bermuda is ideal for the development, he continued, because it was close to the northeastern US where the majority of his followers -- middle class, highly educated, physical people -- were.

The seasons here are also different to those in the Virgin Islands which should encourage business during the peak season.

Off season business will be encouraged through workshops with different themes and a variety of different camps offering internship possibilities.

Mr. Selengut's partner Lew Geyser was quick to point out however that Bermuda was doing itself a disservice by referring to its off season in a derogatory manner.

"It's absolutely gorgeous here at this time of the year,'' he said. "It is just as nice as California's weather.'' Mr. Selengut added: "Luckily the weather here never gets intolerable.'' The eco-warrior began his career in sensitive development 23 years ago when he built Maho Bay Campground on St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

It features elevated walkways which protect vegetation from pedestrian traffic and light inexpensive "tent cottages'' which fit amongst existing trees and plants.

Fresh water is imported and after being used for drinking, washing and flushing, is recycled for irrigation.

In 1991 a workshop on sustainable design at Maho Bay prompted Mr. Selengut to incorporate the concepts of solar and wind power, recycled building materials, building ecology and responsible waste disposal into his next development, also on St. John, called Estate Concordia.

He also enforced the idea of ecological restoration in which native animals and plants can be returned to a site.

Instead of clear cutting the land as in conventional development, Mr. Selengut used his self sustaining eco-tent with its small footprint and elevated walkways -- which are built first so workmen can traverse the slopes and not damage vegetation.

All building materials are made from recycled materials such as wood scraps, newspaper, cardboard, glass bottles, old tyres, plastic and sawdust.

Solar panels and a windmill are installed early so construction equipment could be energised by them. Later they are used to power refrigerators, overhead fans, water pumps, and electric lights. A cistern, solar hot water heater and a composting toilet add further conveniences without environmental impact.

The tents themselves are made space-age fabrics which are super reflective, keeping the insides cool, and also provide a perfect surface for water collection.

Local architect John Gardner said initial discussions had been held with the Planning Department and one of the concerns raised was for the eco-tents to fit in with other Island buildings.

To this end, white material will be used for the roofs and coloured fabric on the sides.

The buildings will also be able to withstand hurricanes although vacationers will be evacuated when a storm is known to be bearing down on the Island.

Mr. Selengut noted that when Hurricane Marilyn breezed through the Virgin Islands, his facility was up and running again within nine days while neighbouring hotels were closed up to a year to 18 months later.

Once the site is constructed, the emphasis turns to restoring the habitat to its past glory through native plant landscaping, and the use of plants and trees that will attract and support native birds and wildlife.

Attention wouldl also be directed at creating products from trash, a practice Mr. Selengut said he believed was key for Island nations which import so much material that becomes waste.

Converting this trash to usable products created further jobs and lowered costs, said Mr. Selengut.

Tiles could be created from bottles, nails could be recycled from steel parts and old tyres could be used to make flooring.

While this could not all be done on site yet, he continued, the final plan was to be able to convert the Island's entire trash stream.

Stanley Selengut ENVIRONMENT ENV