Government Conservation Officer Jeremy Madeiros fears in-fill work by the developers of the new Tucker's Point Club could pollute underground caves.

He is to lobby the Planning department in a bid to get the work stopped.

Developers Bermuda Properties plan to raise one of the holes on a fairway by using rubble removed from the old Marriott Castle Harbour hotel in Hamilton Parish.

Mr. Madeiros said: "Clean rubble I don't have a problem with but it's those sites where they are using a lot of heavy waste material including metal, plastic pipes, fibre-glass insulation -- all manner of things.'' He said when it settled it would be a bit unstable.

"When it starts leaking and rusting it could percolate down through the ground into the cave system underneath.

"I have talked with Planning about it and I am writing a memo. Hopefully we will be able to resolve it.

"I would particularly like to see them remove those materials and take them to the Airport dump.'' Development manager Mark Orchard said he couldn't comment in detail until he had seen the details of what Mr. Madeiros was saying.

He stressed that the in-fill work was still in the early stages and that stripped materials would be mixed in with straight forward rubble to make it stable.

He said: "We are doing everything in accordance with the codes and regulations. If he has a different opinion then right now I don't understand it.'' His team has completed the removal of asbestos from the site while demolition teams have now started ripping out wiring and furnishings from the 220-bedroom property in preparation for pulling down the hotel.

Mr. Orchard said he is hoping to begin demolition of the hotel by early next year, before construction can begin on the luxury Tucker's Point Club.

The 108 bedroom hotel -- complete with world class spa, and adjoining residential and golf and tennis developments -- will be run by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and is scheduled to open toward the end of 2003.

"We are pressing on in anticipation of beginning construction of the new hotel, and this is the next phase of the development. We are on schedule,'' Mr. Orchard told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Mr. Orchard said of the three wings of the hotel, only one had asbestos, which needed to be pulled out carefully, double-wrapped in plastic bags and taken to the Government quarry.

He said the asbestos had been removed from all the guest rooms and public areas except one dining room.

Workers are now ripping out other materials such as wires, and furnishings before demolition of the hotel begins.

"We'll be taking down one floor at a time and slowly lowering the building,'' said Mr. Orchard.

Some of the removed material for which the developers, Bermuda Properties, have permission, will be used in re-grading the golf course.

Other material will go to the dump at the Airport, while hazardous materials will go to the Government quarry or the Tynes Bay incinerator.