With just over $19 million allocated in this year's Budget for the Ministry of Environment, Government Senator Michael Scott highlighted a few of the accomplishments of 2002. Along with the Hamilton Plan being approved in July, Sen. Scott also said the names of Bermuda's listed building had been released in book form last October.

While he said $40 million was collected in lax taxes last year, Sen. Scott indicated a land registry office was set to open later in the year once a project manager had been found.

A programme designed to protect the endangered cahow had been extremely successful, he said as he called 2002 the "year of biodiversity action". Along with a new playground at Duck's Puddle in Hamilton Parish, Sen. Scott said the Ministry planned to implement a children's fun garden at the Botanical Gardens.

Opposition Senator Leonard Santucci questioned whether consultants were planning on examining coastal erosion.

"Will their review be enlightened by the fast ferries impacting erosion? I am interested in having a greater understanding to whether or not we will have that impact."

On the subject of land valuation, he said: "What is the real increase experienced in revenue since the increase in lax tax? Many people need to be aware of that."

And as he said Bermudians needed to appreciate the arable land on the Island, Sen. Santucci implored for the community to realise the importance of marine conservation.

Sen. Santucci also praised the Ministry for its efforts in revitalising the railway trials on the Island and said the initiative would have tremendous benefits. But, he said, the community was still awaiting the reports pertaining to asbestos at Southside. "There are reports of rusting containers that are not being handled or maintained in an appropriate manner...We have some serious concerns, especially where it pertains to issues of asbestos," he said. As he called the former Agricultural and Fisheries department an "amazingly important one", Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes said it was seldom embroiled in controversy. And he admitted that members of his generation were not overly concerned about environmental issues.

"People today are far more aware these days of environmental concerns. People wonder why there are no lobsters. In my day, they used to catch them 20 at a time, and used to use pots. We didn't appreciate sustainable resources."

Opposition Senator Kim Swan said he was concerned about the impact sewage treatment was having on the Island's waters.

"Funds need to be given to the Corporations for new systems. Certainly we need to be moving into the future in this regard," he said. Pumping sewage out to sea cannot be a way to look forward, Sen. Swan said. And, he claimed, sewage being pumped from Hamilton cruise ships in the summer had contributed to the appearance of "grease balls" in Tucker's Town.

He also attributed the shift in social behaviours to a lack of open spaces on the Island. If Bermuda's youth were encouraged to become connected with the environment, Sen. Swan said, they would be engaging in more positive activities.

His colleague Senator Neville Darrell inquired what percentage of land was designated for public use., Sen. Darrell wanted to know what effects, if any, Bermuda was experiencing as a result of global warming.