Government rules out reversing planning approval for medical waste incinerator
The Ministry of Home Affairs does not intend to reverse planning approval for a medical waste incinerator to be built in St David’s.
While the plan sparked an outcry among concerned St David’s residents at a heated meeting this week, a spokesman for the ministry said the proposal had been the subject of two planning applications – both of which were advertised and approved without objections.
"Per the procedure and legislative requirements, both applications were publicised utilising advertisements in the online Gazette and displaying red sign notices on the development site,“ the spokesman said.
"During these two periods, the Department of Planning received no objection to either application within the 21 days required by law to submit an appeal.
"Once permissions are given without objection, and the applicant conforms to the requirements, the Government will not reverse approvals as the applicant can challenge that decision in the courts.“
Members of the public can research planning documents – and obtain e-mail notification of advertised planning applications – online at planning.gov.bm.
The spokesman also noted that before the first application was submitted for approval in 2020, the developer was required to obtain permission from the landowner, the Bermuda Land Development Company, and provide statements from the Bermuda Hospitals Board confirming agreements to receive and treat medical waste.
MediWaste sought in-principal planning approval to create a medical waste incinerator at an industrially-zoned site on Waller’s Point in 2020 and applied for final approval earlier this year.
Final approval for the project was granted in September but a town hall meeting was held on Tuesday after residents voiced concerns.
MediWaste, along with officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, told the meeting the facility fell well below legal guidelines for emissions.
But St David’s residents maintained their opposition, claiming that unwanted developments had been forced on St David’s residents for decades.
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