Hondoq ir-Rummien: Is development at Hondoq a sustainable and beneficial proposal?

Published on MaltaToday on 22nd October, 2006.

AGAINST

…The proposals for Hondoq ir-Rummien are part of an ongoing subtle ‘privatisation’ of the coast – one must consider these proposals within the context of the Portomaso and Hola Beach developments, the caravans at Gnejna and Bahar ic-Caghaq, the proposed yacht marinas at Xemxija and Marsascala, the boathouses peppering L-Ahrax, Gnejna and Dahlet Qorrot, proposals for the ‘private’ beach at Mgarr ix-Xini, the gung-ho bullies organising parties at Golden Bay and the numerous beach concessions at Ghadira and Armier, which are all elbowing Joe Citizen away from the coast.

One can condense the kaleidoscope of reasons for objecting to these proposals into the following cardinal themes: marine ecology, hydrodynamics, socio-economics. Nature Trust and environmentalists in general are concerned that no lessons seem to have been learned from the Portomaso and Cirkewwa terminal project fiascos, since the same slipshod silt and stone material mitigation measures employed within such projects are being proposed for Hondoq ir-Rummien. Silt and other fine particles remain water-borne for a long period of time before settling on the bottom, reducing water visibility to a sliver and smothering species such as seagrasses and algae which depend on good water visibility.

In addition, antifouling paints used to keep yachts devoid of any barnacles and oils and fuel emanating from the same yachts contribute towards degrading the water quality at the only site in Gozo which affords bathing possibilities in strong NW winds. The project (via structures such as the breakwater) is postulated to alter once and for all the hydrodynamics (i.e. the dynamics of water currents) in the area, which dictate the rate of accretion or erosion of a beach, the recruitment (breeding) of many marine species, etc.

No conscientious environmentalist can turn his back on socio-economic arguments. From a social perspective, the residents of Qala are savvy about facing the prospects of trucks laden with 1 million square metres of high-quality hardstone, relaying up and down the road to Hondoq – this effectively means years of bearing up with bellowing clouds of dust and diesel fumes (and the road catering for such trucks has not yet been identified). Car park facilities are to be provided on site, but asking for such facilities to be free of charge is wishful thinking. The bungalows/villas of the multi-ownership genre being proposed within the project belong to the speculative cohort which has become the latest craze in Gozo (e.g. Ta’ Cenc proposals). Why drool so much on property development, especially targeted for foreigners, when many hotels in Gozo are changing skin to apartment blocks?

I can bet my last penny that the other side of the fence will dangle the employment carrot – i.e. flooring the hollow promise that the project is needed for the economy of the island of Gozo since it will employ hundreds of its alienated youth. Such promises evaporate into thin air as it soon dawns upon the public that long-term (i.e. not during the project development itself) quality employment provided by the project will be minimal. On another note, are there iron-clad assurances about the genre of employment available? Will vacancies for chambermaids, pontoon carers, etc only be up for grabs, and will these be granted to job-hungry Gozitans only?

Prepered by Alan Deidun