Dock improvements at King’s Wharf to start in October
The merger of two government quangos to form the Bermuda Land Management Corporation is almost complete with several projects already in the pipeline.
Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Housing and Municipalities, said sewage works in the East End would be completed next month and an improvement project for King’s Wharf in Dockyard would start this autumn.
Providing an update on the merger of the Bermuda Land Development Company and the West End Development Corporation, Mr DeSilva said the work was complete apart from the “formal winding up” of the BLDC.
He added that it is expected the BLDC would be fully dissolved by the end of July.
Mr DeSilva said that the bulk of the merger work was carried out by employees of the newly formed BLMC, the public works ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which reduced the cost of carrying out the merger.
“The primary expenses were related to external legal fees for changing bank accounts and the ongoing BLDC liquidation costs,” the minister and Deputy Premier said.
“The total estimated expenditure for the merger is expected to be under $35,000.”
Mr DeSilva said that the BLMC was working with government ministries in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Lines to undertake a major redevelopment of the King’s Wharf dock.
“Scheduled to commence in October 2025 and conclude by March 2026, the project is estimated to cost $22 million and will be fully funded by NCL as part of a port infrastructure upgrade initiative,” he explained.
“The redevelopment will involve expanding the dock by approximately 100ft in both directions, extending to the existing berthing dolphins.
“It will also include the addition of berthing on the inside of the north camber, adjacent to the tour excursion dock, to accommodate the NCL ferry, Spirit of St George.”
He added that the expansion would include fendering systems for ships, improve the docking capacity, allow ships to use two passenger gangways simultaneously and provide access to service doors for potable water supply and sewage discharge.
In the East End, Mr DeSilva said that the BLMC was working to complete its water and waste infrastructure project.
“Potable water is now being supplied to the government water section responsible for potable water distribution in St George’s,” he said.
“BLMC sewage collection is connected to the St Regis Hotel and is 98 per cent complete in connecting sewage collection from the Town of St George to Southside, St David’s.”
He said that the remaining works included final pump configurations at King’s Square and final adjustments to the new sewage treatment plant, with sewage transfer to Southside expected to start next month.
In response to a question from Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister for Municipalities, Housing and Home Affairs, Mr DeSilva confirmed that once the transfer begins, the sewage outfall at Tobacco Bay would cease operation.
He said that the introduction of a sewage tax similar to that in place in the City of Hamilton was “possible”, although he could not say what the rate of such a levy could be.
Mr DeSilva said that work had also begun to allow leaseholders at BLMC residential homes in St David’s the ability to transfer their units from leasehold to freehold.
“BLMC has commenced this process and will, over the course of the coming weeks and months, be meeting with the leaseholders to explain the process and requirements involved in completing this long overdue promise,” he said.
“The timeline for completion is, assuming the leaseholder agrees to the transfer from leasehold to freehold, by the end of this fiscal year.”
Mr DeSilva also noted that, apart from the major capital initiatives mentioned, the BLMC had been able to manage its day-to-day operations without the need for an annual grant.
“All operating costs as well as minor capital projects are fully funded by the corporation’s own revenue streams,” he said.
• To read Zane DeSilva’s statement in full, see Related Media
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