Where has all this clutter come from?

Published on www.maltastar.com by James A. Tyyrell.

The news that the Hondoq quay repair saga seems to have come to an end is welcome news for everyone especially the people who enjoy using the area so much. The Gatt brothers did a good job and as I said before they are to be congratulated, but it now appears that Hondoq has another problem.

I was with friends last night who have just returned from a holiday in Gozo and I had particularly asked them to pay a visit to Hondoq and take some photographs for me. I have included one of these photographs with this letter. It shows plastic deck chairs, umbrellas, signs for boat trips etc all over the area, which has just been repaired.

What doesn’t show in this photo but which my friends have told me about is a speedboat moored at the area of quay, which was repaired and big signs on the railings for boat trips to Comino, which obstruct the view. So where has all this clutter come from? Well it belongs to the people who run the kiosk at Hondoq. I’m told that at night the area around the kiosk contains several boats a caravan, canoes, banana boats, vans, cars etc. Now I know this person is trying to make a living here but when it gets to the stage that it is taking over the whole area then it becomes a problem.

My friends asked some people in the area if he was allowed to do this and were told that he didn’t have a licence and had been told by the Qala Mayor to remove the items from the quay. Apparently he tried to set up his deck chairs and umbrellas on the beach but the guy who already does this on the beach threw him off. Actually the guy who threw him off the beach doesn’t have a licence either!

They were also told that a lot of people were bringing caravans down to the bay, which were taking, up a lot of space. It seems that every person with a caravan stakes out their own little territory, which they seem to think is their personal property. Actually one of the guys who plonks his caravan in the area is from Qala, a big supporter of the developers who want to destroy the area and is campaigning day and night for the Qala creek project! Someone should point out to him that where he puts his caravan would be under water if the marina goes ahead.

I think its time that the ministry first of all come clean regarding their intentions for the Hondoq area. The Minister for Gozo has in the past shown her support for this environmental rape project. Is this still the case or is she going to throw her weight behind the people she is supposed to be representing? It is also time that the Ministry took the area back for the people as it is obvious that what is happening there now is becoming abusive. The Maltese have a saying that you offer someone a finger and they take the whole hand, which seems very appropriate in this case.

To view comments, go to http://www.maltastar.com/pages/ms09dart.asp?a=2913

A job well done at Ħondoq ir-Rummien

Published on the Times of Malta on Tuesday 30th June, 2009 by David Carter.

I read James Tyrell's comments regarding the Ħondoq repairs with interest and it is always good to keep a weather eye on the progress of such works. However if Mr Tyrell were here he would, I am sure, be able to deduce that the area where any crane would have to be situated in order to lift the very sizeable boulders out of the water is precisely the area of the hole!

Obviously the new concreting works had to be completed and the concrete sufficiently "cured" before being subjected to the weight of the crane. As I write, the boulders are being cleared from the water and the area will soon be safe again. So "well done" to the contractors who, once having started the job, actually got on and finished and thank you to Mr Tyrell for keeping Ħondoq in our minds.

To view the comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090630/letters/a-job-well-done-at-hondoq-ir-rummien

Hondoq quay repaired

Published on the Times of Malta on Friday 26th June, 2009.

Repair works on the quay at popular Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay in Gozo are being completed, six months after part of the structure collapsed in a storm.

To view photos and comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090626/local/hondoq-quay-repaired

Repairs at Hondoq Bay finalised – Ministry for Gozo

Published on www.gozonews.com on Wednesday 1st July, 2009.

The Ministry for Gozo has announced that following the considerable damage suffered by Hondoq Bay in Gozo, due to the heavy storms that hit the Maltese islands during the past winter, the Ministry coordinated a programme of repair works that were finalised in the past days.

Large boulders, carried in by the waves, were removed from the seabed next to the quay from where swimmers jump into the sea.

The Ministry said that extensive works were carried out by architects and workers from the Department of Projects and Development within the Ministry for Gozo as well as services rendered by contractors.

Then, as soon as weather conditions permitted, workers from the Ministry's department cleared large rocks and other material that had been washed ashore. Whilst evaluating the damage those in charge also coordinated the repair works programme.

A public tender was issued in relation to the removal of large boulders from the seabed that were potentially dangerous for swimmers, whilst another call was issued for the filling of a deep hole which had been inflicted in the middle of the quay.

The Department for Projects and Development took care of layering works as well as surfacing works after the contractor had filled the rapture in the quay.

Thus, the Ministry concluded, following the removal of boulders from the seabed this bay may be once again enjoyed by the public. One must note that repair works were hindered by the heavy rainfall and storms that persisted throughout the first months of this year. This notwithstanding, works have been finalised by the start of the summer season, whilst
precautions for the safety and comfort of the general public were continuously ensured.

To view photos and comments, go to http://gozonews.com/featured/repairs-at-hondoq-bay-finalised-ministry-for-gozo/

The ‘almost’ completed repair work at Hondoq

Published on www.gozonews.com on 22nd June, 2009.

I have just received photographs from a friend on Gozo of the 'almost' completed repair work at Hondoq. I think the Gatt brothers should be congratulated for the quick and efficient way in which they carried out this work and cannot be held in any way responsible for the 6 months it took to get it done.

What I found disturbing about these photographs was a sign reading, 'Danger Works in Progress, No diving until clearing works are completed'. Are we now looking at another 6 months to get the boulders removed from the diving area? Can the Ministry for Gozo guarantee that the children who love jumping into the water at this point are going to take any notice of the sign?

I should point out that the information I have is that the tender received by the Gatt brothers did not include the removal of these boulders. Can I ask the Ministry why? Wouldn't it have made more sense to have both jobs completed at the same time? Just a thought but it would seem to make sense that if you have boulders to remove and a hole to fill the jobs may complement each other!

To view comments, go to http://gozonews.com/letters/the-%e2%80%98almost%e2%80%99-completed-repair-work-at-hondoq/

Major repairs at Hondoq ir-Rummien almost complete

Published on www.gozonews.com on 21st June, 2009.

The major part of the extensive damage at Hondoq, which occurred during the severe winter storms in January, has finally been completed.

The work was carried out speedily and efficiently by a local contractor, who finished the major works in just over a week.

Local government workers then carried out the task of putting down the top layer of cement, which again was finished speedily and efficiently.

However, the work of removing the rocks from the sea below the pier has still to be carried out and a sign has been erected, warning visitors of the danger of diving into the sea.

As we are now well into the tourist season, it is to be hoped that the authorities will ensure that this danger is also removed as speedily and efficiently.

To view the comments, go to http://gozonews.com/featured/major-repairs-at-hondoq-ir-rummien-almost-completed/

Alternattiva għall-proġett mostruż propost għal Ħondoq ir-Rummien:Għandu jinbidel f’park nazzjonali – il-Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq

Pubblikata fuq l-Orizzont nhar l-Erbgha 3 ta' Gunju, 2009.

Il-Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq jaqbel u jsostni l-proposta li ħarġet biha l-għaqda Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, fis-sens il-Gvern imissu juża fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea biex jixtri mingħand sidien privati raba’ li dawn għandhom jagħmel parti minn siti storiċi kif ukoll art ħadra u miftuħa fejn il-poplu jista’ jieħu nifs bħalma huwa Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

Ħaġa bħal din diġà saret fil-Qala fl-1937, fi żmien Sir Temi Zammit, meta l-Gvern xtara l-għalqa li fiha l-ġebla l-wieqfa. (menħir)

Intqal li l-proġett monstruż propost għal Ħondoq ir-Rum­mien, li jinkludi bini ta’ seba’ u disa’ sulari mal-ġnub tal-wied, lukanda u marina għall-jottijiet, jikkontradixxi il-viżjoni tant pubbliċizzata tal-Gvern biex Għawdex ikun Gżira Ekolo­ġika. Dan il-proġett iħassar waħda mill-karatteristiċi ta’ Għawdex li tant tiġbed lejha Maltin u turisti.

Fuq inizjattiva ta’ Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, il-Movi­ment Ħarsien Ħondoq flimkien mal-Kunsill Lokali tal-Qala taw l-appoġġ tagħhom biex tnediet kompetizzjoni fost l-istudenti periti tat-tielet sena tal-Univer­sità ta’ Malta fejn se jissotto­mettu pjanti bl-ideat żgħażagħ tagħhom, sew tad-distillatur żdingat kif ukoll taż-żona mit­luqa tal-barriera f’Ħon­doq ir-Rummien biex jinbidel f’park nazzjonali. B’hekk dan il-post ikun jista’ jitgawda minn kul-ħadd.

Ta’ min wieħed jinnota li sal-2002 l-art inkwistjoni kienet għadha f’idejn il-Gvern u kienu diġà saru pjani mill-Kunsill Lokali tal-Qala biex isir park nazzjonali. Fil-pjan lokali għal Għawdex li sar fl-2006 Ħondoq ir-Rummien inbidel minn żona ta’ rikreazzjoni għal waħda ta’ żvilupp minn wara dahar kul­ħadd. Saret ukoll referenza għar-referendum li sar fil-Qala fejn 85% ivvotaw kontra dan il-proġett. Ta’ min wieħed jinnota ukoll li meta kien ippubblikat l-EIS, dan il-proġett kellu l-akbar ammont ta’ ‘registered objectors’ fl-istorja tal-MEPA.

Għalhekk il-Moviment Ħar­sien Ħondoq ma jistax jifhem kif proġett li ser joħloq tant dannu għal din il-parti t’Għawdex, kif ukoll għandu tant nies joġġez­zjonaw kontrih, se jibqa’ jiġi proċessat mill-MEPA.