The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has offered its assistance in making a West End marina project environmentally friendly.

The group, who have previously expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed Cross Island Marina in Dockyard, said last week that they looked forward to helping Wedco produce “the most environmentally sound result”.

BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said the group had written to both the developer of the project and the Department of Planning to get a handle on the process for approving the development and what progress had been made.

“The Department has confirmed that Wedco must submit an application for planning permission, and that the application must be accompanied by an environmental impact statement (EIS),” Mr Hayward said.

“We will be particularly interested in the issues addressed by the EIS and have asked if it would be possible to have an advance copy of the EIS, mainly so we can examine it thoroughly without causing delays in the application process.

“We have also requested to be informed of major changes from the original concept. As an example, we understand that the original plan involving landfill (marine-fill, actually) of some 9.5 acres has been modified. Our request for clarification has so far not been addressed.”

He added that while the processes and oversight involved in planning have tightened since the project was first conceived, BEST was now in a better position to assist developers on marine projects.

Mr Hayward said the group The Cross Island Marina project, first announced in 2009, proposes the construction of a new marina for mega yachts in Dockyard’s south basin.

The lease for the property between Wedco and South Basin Ltd was approved in the House of Assembly last month.