The supplier of the Government’s asphalt plant is on the island to review options for its replacement as it remains out of service despite months of repairs.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said the Government continues to lean on the services of East End Asphalt in Hamilton Parish for material to repair public highways while its plant remains inoperable.

Speaking at a press conference outlining his ministry’s Throne speech initiatives, he said: “To be perfectly frank, this year has been a trying one for road paving as the equipment and the plant have not been in the best shape.

“Several months of repairs to the plant have still not brought it back into service — we have been collaborating with the supplier of the plant, who currently has a representative on the island reviewing the state of the plant and options for its replacement.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience caused by delays due to island-wide trenching, and we are committed to upgrading road conditions for the benefit of all motorists as soon as possible.”

Colonel Burch added: “The repair and maintenance of our roads remains a top priority for the Ministry of Public Works.”

He said the eventual benefits to the work will be “significant” and that the ministry had successfully filled more than 100 potholes.

He encouraged the public to report any potholes via e-mail to potholes@gov.bm

The ministry has allocated a budget of just over $2 million for road works this year plus an additional $900,000 from the previous fiscal year.

Colonel Burch said while work continues on assessing a plan, East End Asphalt is assisting with paving and providing asphalt.

He said: “This process will run in parallel with the plans for a new plant so that paving work can continue to work while we source that plant.

“Efforts to increase funding for paving are also under way as we review our capital spending for the balance of this year.”

He would not say how much extra funding was being sought but said that the Ministry of Finance has indicated his ministry’s request, when made, will likely be accommodated.

He said it would cost about $100m to pave all of the roads in the country.

Colonel Burch said there was no need to have Works and Engineering staff work overtime to speed up the repairs.

He was asked if there was a problem with the method of patching potholes only for the rain to open them back up again.

He responded: “Bermudians are experts in everything — they should look at the work that has been done on Kindley Field Road, where we are not just patching a hole — we have been cutting out a piece of tarmac and filling that in, and that seems to be working a lot better.”

However, he added: “I suspect that will still happen. The amount of rain we have had this year continues, and it is likely that we will always have an issue with potholes.”

Another “paramount issue” raised during the press conference was that of affordable housing.

Colonel Burch said the housing crisis, including a shortage of private sector housing, is “affecting the core of our island community”.

“This scarcity has increased rental costs and threatened our islands economic development,” he said.

“In response, the Government has pledged a substantial commitment of $15m over the next three years for the renovation of affordable public housing units.”

He said the ministry, in collaboration with the Bermuda Housing Corporation, continues to make “significant progress in renovating and retrofitting 137 older residential units. He said 68 have been completed and are either occupied or are in the process of being occupied.

“These efforts will increase the availability of affordable housing options for Bermudians — 60 of these units are presently occupied and undergoing necessary refurbishments while the remaining 77 units, which comprise the entire vacant and derelict units owned by the corporation, are slated for significant retrofits. These 77 units will increase the BHC rental inventory to 777 units upon completion.”

He highlighted the successful refurbishment of several housing units, including the apartments in St David’s, Paget and Sandys, among others.

“The concentration has been on multiple units to provide housing for several families at a time,” he added.

“We are actively promoting housing developments within designated residential zones outlined in the Bermuda Plan.”

He said according to the Department of Planning, 582 parcels, or 181 acres, of unoccupied land are classified under residential 1, 2 or rural categories without conservation development restraints.

“An in depth analysis of housing supply and demand reveals a substantial availability of land within residential zones, mixed use zones and the City of Hamilton,” he said.

“Consequently, if required, there is no immediate need to designate new land for residential zones.

“Bermuda Housing Corporation’s private sector rental programme provides for the corporation to manage the properties, pay the rent on time and return the properties in the condition they were originally rented, all at slightly below market rates.

“The Government’s mortgage guarantee programme has already paved the way for 49 applicants to secure mortgages for local banks.”

He highlighted government concession provisions for private developers building in Economic Empowerment Zones and the City of Hamilton.

He said there are 149 people on the wait list for affordable housing but added that he believes the number was on the low side, and that the true figure of those needing it is likely bigger.