The first stage of creating a wastewater management treatment centre should be completed by next spring, the Minister of Public Works said.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch told the House of Assembly that the $30 million infrastructure project plan was originally due at the end of this year, but supply chain delays had instead pushed it to “the first quarter of 2023”.

Colonel Burch told the House that the project, headed by the Bermuda Land Development Company, was still within budget despite supplies taking ten weeks – more than twice as long as normal – to be delivered.

He added roadworks throughout St George’s and St David’s for the planned water and wastewater treatment centre were expected to be completed by the end of the month.

The next phase of implementing the water treatment centre would involve preparing three reports based on public consultation set to begin early next year.

The Water and Wastewater Measterplan was created in 2020 to oversee the creation of the treatment centre.

It will provide a new osmosis plant with eight lift sewage stations, ten water pumping stations and a storage tank that holds 110,000 gallons.

The treatment centre will also help remove sewage outfall in the East End and offer a newly reclaimed water supply for irrigation at the St Regis hotel.

Since its conception in 2017, 16 miles of piping have been laid in about five miles of trenching in St David’s and St George’s, including 1,500ft of underwater piping between Severn Bridge and Stokes Point Road.

Colonel Burch said that “virtually every trenching firm in the country” had been involved in the project, with several others offering their assistance.

He added: “This is a huge undertaking designed to provide improved services to the new St Regis Hotel, the St George’s Club, the Sylvia Richardson Seniors Care Facility, the Town of St George and environs and the people and businesses of Southside.

“Government believes in protecting our residents by investing in our water and wastewater infrastructure as without this we could not ensure a healthy population nor a healthy environment.”