Government will follow its usual criteria in evaluating and responding to a coastal works application from Crymble Landholding Ltd., a Dart company, for permission to conduct site investigation works in an area located north of the Kimpton Hotel construction site on Seven Mile Beach.

The site investigation works include removing samples of submerged beachrock at the shoreline and immediately offshore, via excavation if required; and a trial of construction methodologies.

Dart's application, which was submitted to the Ministry today (Thursday, 3 March), states that Dart has identified the land north of the Kimpton as the selected site for a new five-start resort. The beachrock samples would inform a second application for the proposed main project execution, for the removal of the beachrock.

Noting the public interest in the application and proposed works, Environment Minister Wayne Panton said that all coastal works applications are subjected to a set evaluation process that begins with analysis by the Ministry's technical experts, including persons in the Department of Environment (DoE).

'Dart made a presentation to caucus on Monday, 22 February, to explain what they are seeking to do', he said. 'Now that the formal application has been received, it will be evaluated by the Ministry's policy officer for completeness; and public notification will be ensured through the normal publication process for two consecutive weeks, and the requisite 21-day comment period.

'In the meantime the Technical Review Committee, consisting of the DoE scientists and staff, will review the application and subsequently make their recommendations in a report to Cabinet', Minister Panton said. 'Only then will Cabinet make its decision on the application, based upon the merits of the application and the review process'.

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