The Corporation of Hamilton is planning a new jetty for mega-cruise ships with a waterfront theatre, open-air amphitheatre and park, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The development also includes retail space, a conference centre, an underground car park and restaurants.

And the Corporation has left the door open to moving the freight docks which has been called for by Tourism and Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

Full details of the plan will emerge this week with the Corporation staying tight-lipped about the time-line and cost of the development.

But it gave The Royal Gazette a sneak preview of the architect's drawings.

Mayor Lawson Mapp said: “This proposal, submitted by the Corporation to the Minister of Tourism and Transportation, includes a purpose-built passenger terminal that is sufficiently detached from the proposed new dock face to accommodate international security regulations, retail and office space, underground parking, a pedestrian promenade, tour boat facilities, and a purpose-built, multi-use facility.”

Mr. Mapp said the redevelopment plan had been inspired by Sir John Swan's “On the Waterfront” exhibition, Government's intention to ensure all of Bermuda's ports can take the larger Panamax cruise ships expected within about five years and Dr. Brown's wish to relocate the cargo docks.

Mr. Mapp said consideration was needed about whether the city could accommodate ships which can bring 2,500 visitors.

“Equally important is whether all the support services - shops, restaurants, cycle liveries, taxis, buses - would be able to ensure the visitor experience, and the economic benefits to Hamilton, are enhanced.

“To this end, meetings with all the stakeholders, and the general public, will be scheduled, to allow all points of view to be heard and discussed.”

Dr. Brown has also called for the relocation of the cargo docks.

Mr. Mapp said revenue from the docks was vital to the Corporation's finances and taxes could go up if it went outside the city limits.

But he said talks would continue with Government about dock relocation.

The Chamber of Commerce will be given a presentation of the waterfront plan this morning.

The Corporation has been in talks with Dr. Brown all year. Recently Corporation Alderman David Dunkley and Jay Bluck visited Monaco with him on a fact-finding mission.

Members of the Corporation also met last week with representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Planning, and Government's consultants, Bermello Ajamil, who prepared the 1999 Waterfront Development Plan.

In the meantime, the Corporation commissioned and produced its own waterfront development plan.

The Mayor, together with Minister Brown, the Mayor of St. George's, and the Chairman of the West End Development Corporation recently visited Miami, to attend introductory discussions with the various cruise ship principals.

Mr. Mapp said: “Fortunately for St. George's and Wedco, their port infrastructure is less complex, both technically and aesthetically, than that in the Port of Hamilton.”