The Bermuda Housing Trust (BHT) presented their plan to area residents for a new seniors complex on land near the Rockaway Ferry terminal by Morgan's Point, Southampton.

Attending the presentation this Thursday along with Rockaway neighbours were Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety Randy Horton and Minister of Works and Engineering and Housing Ashfield DeVent.

"Area residents were generally very supportive of the project and commented on the attractiveness of the proposed development," BHT said in a release. "It was suggested that the existing greenbelt area be preserved to maintain privacy."

But it said the main issue of contention presented to the Ministers by residents was the potential increase in traffic to an already high-traffic area.

However, Mr. DeVent reported that his department had already begun an assessment of the traffic flow and was currently developing ways to minimise the traffic's impact to residents during peak hours, it said.

The residents were shown artists impressions of the planned seniors complex and given an overview of the project's technical details.

The complex will include a reverse osmosis and sewage treatment plant, in order to be self-sufficient, it said.

The BHT also said the project was designed to meet the latest hosing codes for both seniors and the disabled.

BHT Chairman Ronald Simmons said that a formal announcement detailing the full project would soon be made.

It was announced in January that Government had leased a three-acre section of woodland from the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) primarily for independent living units for seniors.

The final numbers have not been released but it was estimated by Mr. Simmons that the new complex could house 240 people and in January there were 188 seniors on the housing waiting list.

The BHT is an independent non-Government organisation whose mission is to provide quality homes for seniors. It was founded by a 1965 Act and operates four residences ? Elizabeth Hills near Fort Hamilton, Purvis Park in Devonshire, the Heydon Trust in Somerset and Ferguson Park in St. David's. For more information on BHT contact Jill Dill at 295-8623.