MP Linda Smith On Southlands National Park
Shadow Minister of Public Works & Environment Linda Smith has raised further concerns over the Government’s handling of the Southlands National Park planning applications.
An OBA spokesperson said, “The recent video by the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST], the Bermuda National Trust and the Audubon Society clearly drives home that many people remain very concerned about the fate of Southlands National Park.
“Opposition MP Linda Smith, Shadow Minister of Public Works & Environment says it has been over a month since Public Works & Environment Minister, Jache Adams, received the petition signed by over 5,000 people, while hundreds rallied on South Shore Road to save Southlands National Park.
“During Premier question time in the House of Assembly on July 18, MP Smith asked Premier David Burt several questions about the pending planning applications for Southlands National Park, but say his responses shed very little light.”
MP Smith said, “The answers offered little to no real information. Although the Premier did say that he had no knowledge of arrangements or discussions with a cruise line or lines for the use of Southlands. Premier Burt also suggested that I direct my questions to the Minister responsible, which I was able to do at the most recent House of Assembly meeting on September 26th.
“I asked Minister Adams what due diligence had been conducted in the lead-up to the filing of the two planning applications, one for a zipline attraction on the north side of the park, and the other the application for a café, a parking lot, and better access to the beach on the south side. I also repeated my earlier questions directed to the Premier about whether there had been any arrangements or discussions with a cruise line or lines for the use of Southlands Park, the beach and proposed new facilities. As the planning application for the zipline in the north side of the park mentions it being a Public, Private, Partnership [PPP], I asked specifically, what is the taxpayers’ role in the PPP.”
MP Smith continues, “Minister Adams provided a history of events beginning with Southlands designation as a National Park in 2017. The Minister said since that time, the Government’s due dilegence included input from a Southlands Park Panel established in May 2023. He said that the panel was comprised of representatives from Parks, Public Lands and Buildings, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the Department of Planning.
“In reply to the Parliamentary Question, Minister Adams told the House of Assembly, ‘In late 2022 to 2023 we consulted with the National Parks Commission, Bermuda National Trust and Audubon Society. Based on their feedback the Ministry made several changes including, scaling the restaurant down to a smaller café reducing the building size down from 9000 square feet to under 5000 square feet, and possibly as low as 3000 square feet.’
“The Minister also told the House that there has been no discussion with a cruise line or lines about the use of Southlands. As to the question about a Public Private Partnership for the zipline enterprise the Minister said, ‘these are on-going negotiations and no final decision has been made.’”
The spokesperson said, “There were approximately 25 formal objections to the two planning applications, but thousands of people voiced their concerns outside of the formal planning process. MP Smith questions how the Government will reconcile the extensive public feedback they have received.”
“There are multiple government entities involved in these decisions. The Minister said the Planning Department is awaiting formal feedback from the Parks Commission, and once that comes in he is committed to reviewing all submissions before making a final decision. “It would be in the public interest to have some clarity as to how those submissions will be weighted,” MP Smith concludes.
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