Boaters are complaining about the smell of waste being temporarily stored at the former Naval Annex.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering began storing waste at Morgan's Point in June after a malfunction at the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy plant reduced the facility's ability to dispose of the waste.

A boater who asked not to be named sent a letter to The Royal Gazette complaining he smelled "human waste" as he passed the annex.

"It was the same smell as when you visit the Tynes Bay Incinerator," he wrote.

"I saw hundreds of large green plastic bags, piles of metal and rubble, and several old/damaged boats in the trees."

Earlier this year, Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess announced major improvements to the Tynes Bay plant.

The Minister said some waste would be baled and stored at Morgan's Point during the work, which is scheduled for September.

A Ministry of Works and Engineering spokesman said June's failure forced a change in plans.

"The storage capacity at the facility was exhausted, leading to the requirement that baling commence sooner than September," he said.

"However, the earlier than expected storage of bales at Morgan's Point ceased with effect from July 19."

He added that efforts were made to eliminate the smell by wrapping the bales tightly.

Once work begins in September, the bales are expected to stored at Morgan's Point until the first stage of construction at the Tynes Bay Plant is complete.

The waste will be returned to the facility for incineration over the following six months. The waste will be trucked to Morgan's Point during the night so as not to disturb those who live in the nearby area.

Waste storage will resume in July 2011 when the second stage of the Tynes Bay refurbishment begins.