Developers Southlands Ltd. have extended an olive branch to protestors by encouraging them to have a say on an Environmental Advisory Board for the South Shore resort. At a press conference yesterday, developers said they would set up a board to "provide positive input on environmental matters".

Craig Christensen, who owns Southlands Ltd. with Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault, also revealed it was the Ministry of Tourism who had "encouraged" the project back in 2005.

Mr. Christensen said: "The process started in early 2005 at meetings with the Ministry of Tourism who encouraged us to consider building a new hotel. We decided to pursue the tourism option, and retain the 37-acre lot as a whole rather than build individual houses on the existing sub-divided lots."

Last night, the Bermuda National Trust called on Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield to use her powers to demand developers contribute towards creating another area of public open space as a "trade-off".

"Large-scale development on greenfield sites has been recognised to be an unsustainable practice and as we are all dependent on the Island's beauty and open spaces, we have to protect the remaining sites.

"If this is not possible, the National Trust feels that newly-protected inalienable lands must be secured as a compromise," it said in a statement.

Yesterday, the developers were keen to emphasise respect for the environment. Mr. Christensen said: "We appreciate, and are sensitive to the natural beauty of Southlands and its importance to the surrounding area and Bermuda.

"To this end we are forming an Environmental Advisory Board and will be seeking members of the Bermuda public who have the ability to provide positive input on environmental matters."

Appealing to campaigners to come on board, he said: "We would like to grab some of the Islanders concerned to be a part of what we are doing and to provide advice where they can."

Stuart Hayward, chairman of Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce, last night welcomed Mr. Christensen's comments.

"I think it's a good gesture," he said. "I would need to know more about it, what they're looking for advice on and whether it's more than an Advisory Board in name, but we have always wanted to have input, and if we were invited we would certainly welcome that."

Yesterday, Mr. Christensen said that Jumeirah Southlands would aim to meet the standards of "green conscious" tourists.

"Our design, construction and on-going operations will address these important matters," he said.

"We will have the board oversee the establishment of a LEED programme (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which is a comprehensive global initiative relating to energy conservation, renewable energy sources, water management, sewage treatment, recycling programmes and other matters.

"Our horticultural programme will seek to eradicate invasive species and reintroduce endemic plants. Beyond this, we further intend to create Environmental Habitats that will reintroduce endemic animals such as Skinks (lizards) and Longtails.

"We will be seeking advice from the Aquarium, Audubon Society and others, to create an environment which will allow their reintroduction at Southlands."

Commenting on the granting of the Special Development Order for the 37-acre resort, he said: "We know the conditions for approval are strict and demanding and we appreciate the Minister's need to balance conservation with development. We respect that process and will work diligently to satisfy each of the rigid conditions laid down in the SDO."

Mr. Christensen said Jumeirah will shortly be recruiting Bermudian applicants, and those successful would receive training at the group's "overseas operations". A scholarship will also be available at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in Dubai.

"Our aim, together with our operator Jumeirah, is for Southlands to be one of the most luxurious resorts in the world," he said.

Commenting on the resort's proximity to the new Grand Atlantic Resort also recently granted an SDO, Mr. Christensen said: "We feel we have addressed the traffic needs, we have done a traffic survey. I don't think anyone else on this Island has been put through the scrutiny which Southlands has for the SDO application. We have been put under the microscope.

"In terms of an environmental-impact statement that has to be part of the requirement submitted to the Department of Planning. We've already put those things for review under the SDO application, and there are some other applications we must comply with."

The 590 full-time staff are to be housed in an accommodation block planned for Khyber Pass. This planning application is separate from the SDO, and was described as "still pending" by a Department of Planning spokesman yesterday.

Mr. Christensen said: "We were going to house the staff at the Khyber Pass location. It's about a seven minute walk from here and that accommodation will be available to both Bermudian and non-Bermudians."

He added that rumours of a casino were unfounded: "We're certainly not aware of any plans for a casino."

Last night the Bermuda National Trust said in a statement: "The National Trust hopes, in light of the enormous environmental cost and the pressure that will be placed on Bermuda's infrastructure, that this development be made to facilitate the purchase of open space elsewhere on the Island.

"This type of trade-off agreement between development and conservation is standard practice in other jurisdictions. Bermuda already has the legislation in place in Section 33 of the Development and Planning Act, whereby Government funding can be generated to create and protect open space by providing the Minister of the Environment with the ability to charge developers of a building project, such as Southlands, for permission to develop outside the provisions and rules of the Island's Development Plan.

"This money can then be used for the creation of community areas, for instance open space for parks.

"The Bermuda National Trust also wishes to appeal again to the Minister to place a moratorium on issuing any further Special Development Orders, except in cases of National Emergency, until such a time when the impact of those Orders already granted can be adequately assessed to determine how their impact on the Island has been absorbed."