Cooper?s Island will be restored as a natural haven for locals and visitors to enjoy, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said during the Budget debate in the House of Assembly on Friday.

?During 2004, the Department of Planning worked extensively in cooperation with the Departments of Parks and Conservation Services to create a draft land use and management plan for Cooper?s Island,? Ms Butterfield said. ?The plan will give priority to the restoration of one of Bermuda?s last remaining ecologically significant open spaces.?

She said an environmental education venue will be provided.

?Cabinet has approved the draft plan and it will be published for public consultation early in fiscal year 2005/2006,? she said.

A consultant was hired to review the Development and Planning Act 1974. Aideen Ratteray Pryse is reviewing the enforcement section of the Act and is expected to present her report by May.

The Minister said that the Planning Department receives an average of 230 complaints a year.

?The enforcement arm of the Department of Planning has major challenges,? she said. ?It is common knowledge that disregard for law and order has increased. The perception that cut it, dig it or build it first and once it?s done nothing will be done is very much embedded in the very much embedded in the minds of persons prepared to take the risk?.

An additional $70,000 will be used to hire consultants to assist the one enforcement officer and one assistant in enforcing Planning laws.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons said he would like to see the fee for retroactive planning permission increase from around $400 to around $1,500.

?That will show we are serious when it comes to violating the law,? Mr. Simons said. And he said although Ms Butterfield said enforcement officers were going to have talks with the Department of Public Prosecution, no cases had been brought to court for planning infringements.

But Ms Butterfield said her Ministry was challenged with balancing the demand for development while maintaining a healthy and attractive environment.

?The increase and density of development has never been more apparent,? she said.

She said $300,000 was being given to the National Trust and the Bermuda Audubon Society to buy back nearly three acres of land at Long Bay, Sandys.

Ms Butterfield also said the the construction industry was booming.

The number of planning applications increased by 21 percent in 2004 to 1,324. In 2003 there were 1,097.

And she said that homes were getting larger. Traditional Bermuda cottages are around 1,500 square feet.

However, modern townhouses were over twice that size at 8,000 square feet.

She also said that the Agricultural Exhibition would take place on April 21, 22 and 23. It cost $253,000 to repair one of the buildings used in the show and the uncompleted grandstand received $120,000 in this year?s Budget.

The Minister said mercury levels in Bermuda?s fish would be given further study.

?In response to the findings from the Atlantis project, which detected elevated levels of mercury in Bermuda fish and in human foetal cord blood, a scientific study and monitoring programme will be conducted at a cost of $133,000,? she said. ?This study will provide information on the sources and levels of mercury contamination in Bermuda environment?.

Red hinds and black groupers had their protective spawning grounds redrawn. Fisheries wardens will patrol the areas.

Veterinarians and architects will soon be able to register with the upcoming Veterinary Practitioners Registration Act 2005 and Architects Act 2005.

?The (State of the Environment Report published this year) will take an in-depth look at the condition, use and misuse of the Island?s natural resources, natural and built environments and transportation and waste management systems,? she said.

The Clean Air Act 1991 will be amended to widen the powers of the Environmental Authority when issuing operating licences for plants and machinery such as Belco.

The Planning Department raised $1,127,000 through applications, building permit fees and property searches, which amounts to almost half (44 percent) of the Ministry?s total revenue.

And Planning?s listed buildings Heritage Fund was granted $70,000.

?To date the department has issued 12 loan certificates to property owners to cover the interest due on loans valuing $882,488, in order to repair, restore and maintain listed buildings,? she said.

There are 781 listed buildings on the Island. Sixteen requests were received for de-listing.

The coastal erosion study which began in June, 2003 and was repeated after Hurricane Fabian for a ?before and after? comparison will be used to establish new policies in the Development Plan Review.

The Development Plan Review will guide development practices across the Island for the next decade.

A brief will be written for Hamilton?s waterfront in 2005/2006.

The Department spent $2,769,000 and raised $1,417,000 during the last fiscal year.

An expenditure of $3,306,000 and an income of $1,127,000 is projected for 2005/2006.

The greatest difference in expenditures in the Department from last year was a 275 percent increase in professional services, which ballooned from $87,000 to $326,000.

Eighty-one percent of the 2005/2006 budget will pay the salary of Planning?s 39 personnel.