Destruction of Hondoq ir-Rummien
Published on The Times on 6th October,2006
The threat to the Gozitan natural heritage has taken a very alarming turn. The Gozitan countryside is what makes this island unique, but instead of being protected, it has, down the past few decades, been disfigured by the construction of innumerable blocks of apartments which besides being totally out of tune with the Gozitan character are, to put it kindly, of questionable architectural value. Now the developers are set to deal it a mortal blow by proposing the construction of two mega-projects. That way they will destroy in one go what would until recently have taken a number of years.
After the threat to the Ta' Cenc area (which is still very real despite the recent ruling by Minister George Pullicino), we now have the issue of Hondoq ir-Rummien. The area is in a dilapidated state, we are told by the developers, and therefore they want to "embellish" it by the construction of a mind boggling project. Excuse me, but wouldn't it be better, and cheaper, if the area is just cleaned up? The project will include, among others, a five-star hotel and 200 multi-ownership residences. The latter is nothing but a euphemism for speculation, while the former is a sop advanced by the developers to create the illusion of job opportunities. Past experience (Fort Chambray anyone?), teaches us that this will be quietly forgotten once the project is sanctioned, while the employment generated by the building activity will, for obvious reasons, be ephemeral. In contrast, there is nothing temporary about the profits accruing to the developers.
The project contravenes a number of Structure Plan policies, foremost among which is TOU 4. This policy is sacrosanct, to me at least, as it unequivocally stipulates where tourist related projects can take place in Gozo. Hondoq ir-Rummien is not one of them. Period. Moreover, the area is designated as an Outside Development Zone, and an outside development zone should be exactly that. If Mepa is going to allow the developers to fiddle with so basic a concept, then it might as well tear up the Structure Plan, and for that matter, dismantle itself because the whole planning process would be a sheer waste of tax payers' money.
Minister Giovanna Debono has described the project as a "good thing for Gozo". It is nothing of the sort. Her remark reminds me of the now discredited dictum: "What is good for Coca Cola is good for America". Make no mistake, the sole beneficiaries of this messy affair will be the developers and their advisors who will guide them through our planning laws, such as they are.
It is clear that the developers are going down a hit list. Don't be surprised if in the coming days, you hear that they have focused Ramla Bay in their crosshairs.
Toni Farrugia, Victoria. AD Gozo
The threat to the Gozitan natural heritage has taken a very alarming turn. The Gozitan countryside is what makes this island unique, but instead of being protected, it has, down the past few decades, been disfigured by the construction of innumerable blocks of apartments which besides being totally out of tune with the Gozitan character are, to put it kindly, of questionable architectural value. Now the developers are set to deal it a mortal blow by proposing the construction of two mega-projects. That way they will destroy in one go what would until recently have taken a number of years.
After the threat to the Ta' Cenc area (which is still very real despite the recent ruling by Minister George Pullicino), we now have the issue of Hondoq ir-Rummien. The area is in a dilapidated state, we are told by the developers, and therefore they want to "embellish" it by the construction of a mind boggling project. Excuse me, but wouldn't it be better, and cheaper, if the area is just cleaned up? The project will include, among others, a five-star hotel and 200 multi-ownership residences. The latter is nothing but a euphemism for speculation, while the former is a sop advanced by the developers to create the illusion of job opportunities. Past experience (Fort Chambray anyone?), teaches us that this will be quietly forgotten once the project is sanctioned, while the employment generated by the building activity will, for obvious reasons, be ephemeral. In contrast, there is nothing temporary about the profits accruing to the developers.
The project contravenes a number of Structure Plan policies, foremost among which is TOU 4. This policy is sacrosanct, to me at least, as it unequivocally stipulates where tourist related projects can take place in Gozo. Hondoq ir-Rummien is not one of them. Period. Moreover, the area is designated as an Outside Development Zone, and an outside development zone should be exactly that. If Mepa is going to allow the developers to fiddle with so basic a concept, then it might as well tear up the Structure Plan, and for that matter, dismantle itself because the whole planning process would be a sheer waste of tax payers' money.
Minister Giovanna Debono has described the project as a "good thing for Gozo". It is nothing of the sort. Her remark reminds me of the now discredited dictum: "What is good for Coca Cola is good for America". Make no mistake, the sole beneficiaries of this messy affair will be the developers and their advisors who will guide them through our planning laws, such as they are.
It is clear that the developers are going down a hit list. Don't be surprised if in the coming days, you hear that they have focused Ramla Bay in their crosshairs.
Toni Farrugia, Victoria. AD Gozo
posted by Hondoq at
5:39 PM
