Nine acres of reclaimed land at the Royal Naval Dockyard presents an enormous opportunity for generating “out of the box” and dynamic ideas for its future use, according to ACBDA chief executive Mike Winfield.

Mr Winfield was one of the stakeholders invited to be part of the consultation process over the use of the land.

It was the first of a series of meetings organised by the Cross Island Legacy Committee, set up to help to drive public input and help to create a legacy with lasting economic, social and cultural benefits.

At the meeting on Wednesday, Mr Winfield said it was the West End Development Corporation’s intent to create the landfill “long before the America’s Cup”.

“We took the opportunity of a project that was going to happen and it will be utilised for it [the America’s Cup]. It has always been viewed as a short-term use.

“As the chairman has pointed out, there is the possibility of AC36 coming to Bermuda and if it does there is the possibility that would occur at the same venue.

“The excitement is that here is a nine-acre piece of land that is waiting for ideas and concepts.

“When did we last have nine acres that we are being asked to come up with exciting and dynamic ideas for? Let’s encourage the widest, out of the box, most dynamic thinking.

“Let’s get moving, let’s get some ideas generated.”

More than a dozen people turned up for the meeting at the offices of Deloitte, which has been brought on by Wedco to support the committee’s consultation and decision-making over the future of Cross Island.

Each submission will be judged according to a set matrix and a final recommendation will be made to Wedco.

The committee wants to be in a position to make a recommendation even though there might be the possibility that Bermuda could again host the America’s Cup.

Committee chairman Wayne Caines told the meeting he had personally been inundated with ideas and calls, locally and from overseas.

He said: “This is something this committee is passionate about. We want everyone’s ideas, viewpoints and beliefs to be heard.

“I want to see us focus on the ideas generation phase. I want this project to give people hope, to give the country something we can beat our drum about.”

• Submissions can be made through https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9W6Q2MG and forms and drop boxes will also be made available in all post offices, as well as the City Hall. The deadline for submissions is July 31. People can also find out about the work of the Cross Island Legacy Committee at the Cross Island Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/crossislandbermuda/