SOS Hondoq News

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Published on http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12460 on 30th May, 2007

Professor Mario Vassallo’s statement that Hondoq ir-Rumien is "a dumping site", contradicts government’s own website ‘gozo.gov.mt’, which gives a completely different picture of the picturesque bay, the Graffitti Movement states.

Last week, maltastar.com revealed that in the sociological impact assessment on the proposed mega real estate and yacht marina project at the picturesque Hondoq ir-Rummien beach in Qala, Professor Vassallo describes the beach and the surrounding Qala Creek as "nothing but a dumping site".
In a statement, local NGO Graffitti states that Prof Vassallo’s statement is contradicted by government’s official description of the bay in the website ‘gozo.gov.mt’.
“Very popular amongst Gozitans” – a dumping site?On this website, Hondoq ir-Rummien is classified as "a bay that can be acceded to from the village of Qala and lies opposite to the isle of Comino. The small sandy beach and its crystalline water makes Hondoq Bay very popular amongst the local population especially in summer. Apart from an ideal swimming zone, the bay is also renowned for diving, especially for beginners. During summer evenings a number of local families stay late in Hondoq to relax by their smoking barbeques enjoying the cool summer breeze".

Rather than a dumping site, this bay is one of the few remaining beaches in Gozo and the one mostly frequented by Gozitan people. Moreover, “a referendum which took place in 2002 among the Qala residents rejected the whole development."

Moviment Graffitti feel that MEPA should reject this project, as it falls out of the development scheme set by the MEPA itself.

Moviment Graffitti continued to say that the developers stressed that the project is not going to cause any harm or destruction to the natural environment because it is going to be in a quarry, but as the initial presentation of their proposed project shows, the area to be developed is much bigger then the quarry itself. “Even the coastal area is going to be taken up”.
Sustainability?
The NGO also questioned the sustainability of the proposed mega development, when statistics shows that during peak seasons four stars hotels have only 35% of their rooms occupied. In fact major hotels in Gozo, such as the Mgarr Hotel, the Andar Hotel, the Atlantis Hotel, and others, have ceased to operate as hotels.

“Gozo cannot maintain a sustainable tourist industry if it continues to destroy its natural landscape by unsustainable development. Such mega projects like that in Hondoq will kill and destroy the distinct character of Gozo forever," said David Pisani, Graffitti’s spokesperson, “once the yatch Marina is constructed, the clear waters of Hondoq ir-Rummien will become heavily polluted. The heavy sea traffic envisaged which will enter and leave the creek just a few meters away from the beach will surely take its toll on the waters of the bay."
The movement suggests that rather than proposing such a mega project, the disused quarry can be rehabilitated into a small forest. “What Gozo needs is sustainable development that will differentiate the island of Gozo from Malta."

Hondoq ir-Rummien

Pubblikata fuq l-Orizzont nhar d-29 ta' Mejju, 2007 minn Reno Borg.

Il-Professur Mario Vassallo gie rapportat jghid li fi studju li ghamel jirrizultalu li Hondoq ir-Rummien f’Ghawdex huwa sit fejn jintrema l-iskart ('dumping site'). Ma niskantax li f’din il-Bajja hemm salt hmieg ghax Malta kollha tinsab mizbla wahda. F’ghoxrin sena, l-Gvern ma rnexxilux inaddaf roqgha ta’ art disa' mili wiesgha bi 17-il mil twila.

Kulhadd jaf kemm Malta baqghet mahmuga. Imma min ixomm sew jinnota , kliem bhal tal-Professur Vassallo donnu ntuza biex jiggustifika progett li se jhassar u jisfregja wahda mill-isbah bajjiet li hemm f’Ghawdex. L-ghaqdiet ta’ l-ambjent kollha hargu kontra dan il-progett. Li jkun hemm progett li jhaddem lill-Ghawdxin kulhadd jaqbel mieghu.

Imma wiehed ghandu jara li progetti bhal dawn isiru f’siti fejn l-inqas issir hsara. Per ezempju, il-progett ta’ Smart City se jsir f’zona li kien hemm bzonn li tigi zviluppata u fl-opinjoni tieghi il-post li ntaghzel mhux se jaghmel hsara lill-ambjent. Imma l-istorja hi differenti fejn jidhol Hondoq ir-Rummien. Din il-bajja ghandha tithalla fl-istat naturali taghha u tigi mnaddfa sew u jsiru aminitajiet li jtejbuha bhala bajja naturali.

Il-progett li qed jigi suggerit huwa kbir wisq ghal dawn l-inhawi – lukanda ta’ 170 sodda fil-'green area' li hemm, 25 villa, 60 appartament, 200 residenza ohra, 731 spazji ta’ pparkjar tal-karozzi, 10 hwienet, 5 restoranti u yacht marina li tkenn bejn 100 u 150 yacht. Dan ifisser li l-art hadra se tinbela kollha u bil-yacht marina se tinqered il-hajja naturali tal-bajja.

L-ghaqdiet ta’ l-ambjent ghandhom johorgu bi hgarhom kontra dan il-progett, li jista' jsir f’ siti ohrajn minghajr ma ssir hsara irreparabbli lill-ambjent.

Biex tara l-artiklu kollu idhol fuq http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=35546

Il-Gnejna u l-Hondoq

Pubblikata fuq l-Orizzont nhar d 29 ta' Mejju, 2007 minn Lorna Vassallo.

Izda bajja b’bajja xtaqt inqabbel il-kwistjoni ta’ l-gherien tal-Gnejna mal-kwistjoni l-ohra tal-bajja Ghawdxija ta’ Hondoq ir-Rummien. Mentri fil-Gnejna donnu jidher li Gvern Nazzjonalista jrid isewwi ‘zbalji’ tal-passat meta ma kienx hawn il-kuxjenza ambjentali li hawn illum, fil-kaz ta’ Hondoq ir-Rummien il-Gvern sab bajja litteralment vergni u qed jappoggja bis-shih l-izviluppar taghha.

Gvern b’zewgt ucuh li l-azzjonijiet tieghu ftit jistghu jinftiehmu. Fil-Gnejna l-Gvern donnu sab vazun imkisser u qed jipprova jsewwih. F’Hondoq ir-Rummien sab vazun gdid u qed ikissru. Daqshekk hija fragli din il-kwistjoni ambjentali. U allura, wiehed jistaqsi: x’inhuma l-kriterji li qed igieghlu lill-gvern jibdel il-fehma minn kwistjoni ghall-ohra. Jekk wiehed ghandu fiducja ghamja fl-integrità tal-Gvern jew jekk lest li jibla’ kollox – ir-raguni wara agir bhal dan jista’ jibqa’ misteru. Izda jekk wiehed, bhali u bhalkom, ma jhallix lil min ipoggilu bzieq fuq imniehru, facli jahseb x’inhi d-differenza bejn il-Gnejna u Hondoq ir-Rummien.

Il-Gnejna m’hemmx bazuzli u mustaccuni nvoluti. Fil-kaz tal-Hondoq – din hija storja ohra. Bhalma huwa l-kaz ta’ Qui-si-sana. Mod efficjenti kif tiddefinixxi l-kelma ‘kapitalizmu’ !

L-unika tama li ghandhom kemm is-sidien ta’ l-gherien tal-Gnejna kif ukoll ir-residenti tal-Qala huwa li jitla’ Gvern gdid. Gvern Laburista. U jregga’ lura l-arlogg. Halli l-ambjentalizmu vera jibda jirrenja u l-ebda nteressi ohrajn mlibbsa l-libsa ta’ l-ambjentalizmu.

Jidher li diversi kontroversji gew mizmuma mill-attivisti ambjentali milli jigu affettwati. Jidher li Gvern Nazzjonalista tant miexi hazin li se jkollu jersaq ghall-elezzjoni bla ma jaffettwahom ghax skadielu l-hin. Jekk Gvern Nazzjonalista jirnexxilu jerga’ jikseb il-Gvern – dawn il-progetti jibqghu ghaddejjin – specjalment dawk bhal ta’ Hondoq ir-Rummien u l-estensjoni taz-Zona ta’ Zvilupp.

Malli jitla’ Gvern Laburista dawn iz-zewg progetti proposti se jsibu ghadma soda lil min jikkonfrontaw u jitmewtu. Laburisti u nazzjonalisti fil-lokalitajiet affettwati jistghu jaghzlu wahda minn zewg toroq – jew li jtellghu Gvern Nazzjonalista u jkomplu jiggieldu lilu u lill-kuntratturi, jew li jtellghu Gsvern laburista u jiggieldilhom hu. L-ghazla tibqa’ dejjem f’idejn il-poplu.

Biex tara l-artiklu kollu idhol fuq http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=35146

Monday, May 28, 2007

Hondoq "invigorates our families"

Published on http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12411 on 28th May, 2007 by David Vella.

Far from being a dumping site, the Hondoq ir-Rummien bay is the “cradle of social environment which invigorates our families and our society”, a Qala priest insists.

Last week, maltastar.com revealed that the sociological impact assessment of the proposed mega construction project at Hondoq ir-Rummien defines the pristine Gozitan bay as “nothing but a dumping site”

In a Comment article published in Monday’s issue of maltastar.com, Fr Lawrenz Theuma, a priest from Qala, reacts by explaining that Professor Mario Vassallo, who penned the report, should know better.

“In the evenings of hot summer days, many people from Qala and other villages in Gozo leave their homes, take food with them and go to Hondoq ir-Rummien bay to relax and dine there,” the priest says, “many families of brethren and sisters meet together there… and chat together on many topics… around the burning BBQs, with their children joining in a lot of fun, fishing, jumping into the sea and swimming, and thus keeping alive their family ties”.

He concludes the country cannot afford to destroy sites like Hondoq ir-Rummien, because this would greatly impact the common good of Maltese and Gozitan families.

Mepa please note by Fr. Lawrence Theuma.

I read the article Sociologist labels Hondoq ir-Rummien “a dumping site” http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msFullArt.asp?an=12268, by david vella, on this e-newspaper's 21 May edition, that in his analysis of the social implications of the proposed mega real estate and yacht marina project at the picturesque Hondoq ir-Rummien beach in Qala, Professor Mario Vassallo described the beach and the surrounding bay as “nothing but a dumping site”.

The people of Qala and Gozo who are familiar with this site for they enjoy it frequently, felt horrified by such a horrible statement coming from a person who lectures in the field of social sciences at our Alma Mater. Personally I don't know the professor, but I contest him whether he is qualified in sanitary sciences under which dumping sites fall.

With all respect to the Professor, I feel that such a statement has no weight at all. The professor has set his foot out of his 'campus'. Everybody living in Qala and Gozo is conscious that Hondoq ir-Rummien is a natural rustic recreational and relaxing site, which should be preserved at any cost.

The Professor should know that, in the evenings of hot summer days, many people from Qala and other villages in Gozo, leave their homes, take food with them and go to Hondoq ir-Rummien bay to relax and dine there. Many families of brethren and sisters meet together there, under the paternal sight and care of their fathers and/or mothers and chat together on many topics concerning their being, their families, their work and other familiar matters, around the burning BBQ's, with their children joining in a lot of fun, fishing, jumping into the sea and swimming, and thus keeping alive their family ties. This ethnic custom is so rooted in our people that in the peak summer days one can hardly find a parking space left for his car.

However our Professor versed in the social sciences deems Hondoq ir-Rummien as a dumping site. Yet, although my competence in the sociological 'campus' is poor, I classify Hondoq ir-Rummien as the cradle of social environment which invigorates our families and our society.
In Malta and Gozo we cannot afford destroying sites like Hondoq ir-Rummien, for it weighs heavily on the social aspect and the common good of our families and our society.

To view the original article, go to

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Hondoq ir-Rummien's "excellent" waters sitting on a time bomb

Published on http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12399 by David Vella on 26th May 2007.

Despite the mitigating measures that the developers are proposing, the mega construction project targeting Gozo’s Hondoq ir-Rummien bay will still damage the “excellent” sea water quality of the area, with possibilities of extensive hazards to swimmers and to the marine life.

maltastar.com has seen two reports penned by four of Malta’s top scientists, analysing the impacts of the proposed development of a yacht marina, a hotel and over 250 residential units at the pristine Gozitan bay. The reports indicate that if the development is given the green light, Hondoq ir-Rummien’s current “excellent” water quality will be exposed to numerous sources of pollution. These include sewage and fuel outflows, chemical pollution, and the contamination of water with fine particles created by the excavation works, expected to go on for over four years.

Currently amongst “safest and cleanest”

The possibility that these threats materialise largely depends on the developers’ ability to fully implement and permantently maintain in perfect order a number of elaborate mitigating measures.

The reports were commissioned by the developers, Gozo Prestige Holidays Ltd, as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required by Mepa before deciding on issuing a permit for this project in an outside development zone. The EIS has been recently finalised, and is expected to be published for consultation in the coming weeks.

One of the report starts off by stating that studies made in 2002, “confirmed that the bathing waters at this locality must be one of the safest and cleanest for Gozo.” A February 2007 study made in connection with the report indicates “very clean waters completely free of eutrophic conditions”.

Threats to human health

Once the project is completed, the yacht marina is expected to considerably increase the number of boats sailing in and out of Hondoq ir-Rummien. These will bring about the threat of sewage and oil outflows, as well as other water contaminations. The reports mention the possibility of pollution from the sewage treatment plant that will be built onsite, and from boats that may empty their sewage tanks inside the marina or out in the bay. Such outflows raise “predominant concern for swimmers and other users who come in direct contact with contaminated water… they may also contaminate the shellfish collected for human consumption giving another area of health concern”. Another part of the report states that the disturbances created by boats coming in and out of the marina “may lead to a reduction in the fish fauna”.

Other pollution threats will be present during the construction phase. The second report states that “in spite of any mitigation measure, and even if we assume that the probability of such an incident will be low, given the good environmental quality of these inshore waters and the ecological sensitivity of the shoreline, the significance of the resultant impact may be estimated to be at least of medium importance”.

Degradation of marine life

The project at Hondoq ir-Rummien will include the excavation of a disused quarry close to the beach, to be turned into a yacht marina. One of the reports states that due to the large scale nature of the excavations required, “there is a real potential for accidental or deliberate introduction of material… into the marine environment”.

At the same time, dust particles generated by the excavations that find their way to the sea through winds or runoff rain water, will decrease light penetration into the sea. Due to this, the marine plants found in the currently clear sea beds near the site “will show a decrease in growth rate, and in extreme situations, may finally die off altogether”.

Hazardous excavations

The second report also highlights the impact of dust particles into the sea when the excavations reach the shore. “Marine life along the shoreline may be degraded”. The degradation of marine life may even extend further out into the sea.

Surveys made in the area show the presence of corals and posidonia sea grasses that are listed in national regulations as species “in need of strict protection”. In the area close to the proposed construction site, there are also stretches of sea bed that are protected by Maltese law as habitats containing rich biodiversities.

Fuel and chemicals

A number of structures are also being proposed to be built along the coast. On these, one report states “all presently occurring marine habitats and biota in the area where the marine constructions will be located will be permanently obliterated”.

The proposed yacht marina is expected to accommodate between 100 and 150 boats. The entrance to the marina will be 200 metres away from the popular sandy beach in the area. Another pollutant mentioned in the reports is the chemicals released from antifouling agents applied to boats’ exterior surfaces. This will also have a considerable impact on the water quality as well.

The possibility of oil and fuel fuel spillages from marina operations is also considered to be a very high threat, even if the developers are insisting that no fuelling services will be included in the project. Yet, this decision may be changed in the future, one of the reports claims.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Sociologist labels Hondoq ir-Rummien "a dumping site"

Published on http://maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12268 by David Vella on 21st May 2007

In his analysis of the social implications of the proposed mega real estate and yacht marina project at the picturesque Hondoq ir-Rummien beach in Qala, Professor Mario Vassallo describes the beach and the surrounding Qala Creek as “nothing but a dumping site”.

Environmental organisations currently studying the first draft of the environmental impact assessment of the proposed project are alarmed at the way that one of the quaintest and cleanest coastlines in Gozo is described as a “dumping site”. maltastar.com has seen the social report prepared as part of a draft multi-volume environmental impact assessment that has recently been handed to a number of stakeholders for an initial viewing before it is finalised and opened to the public for consultation.

"Definitely positive"In the report, Professor Vassallo describes the project as a “win-win” scenario for Gozitans and for future generations. “The overall social impact of the project is definitely positive, despite the residue of opposition to it. It will transform what is currently a dumping site into a vibrant centre of activity” Prof Vassallo’s report concludes.
The Hondoq ir-Rummien beach and the Qala Creek areas are described as a “dumping site” at least twice in the same report. In another part of the report, the writer states that the project’s “viability, in all its aspects depends on whether the project can succeed as a whole, transforming the area which at present is nothing but a dumping site into a success story that brings adequate returns to the initiator, and multiplier effects for the Maltese, and even more specifically for the Gozitan economy”.

The report seems to forget the public statements made by numerous environmental organisations, which emphasise the ecological importance of the site in question.

No mention of NGOs' oppositionThe developers are proposing to turn the Hondoq bay, and the surrounding green area and a disused quarry into a 170-bed hotel, over 25 self catering villas, 60 self catering units, 200 multi-ownership residences, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 retail units, 5 dining facilities and a yacht marina for between 100 to 150 crafts.

In reaction to the announcement of the project, environmental organisations immediately objected, mostly due to the fact that Hondoq ir-Rummien is an outside development zone. When government ordered the extension of the development zones in Malta and Gozo in 2006, it had boasted that this will effectively lead to the termination of development permits for building in green areas. Yet, a few weeks after the new development boundaries were endorsed last summer, members of the same government expressed their approval for the Hondoq ir-Rummien project.

In their comments in reaction to the proposed project, environmental NGOs said “Are we really ready to risk one of the safest and cleanest of waters for a Marina project that can be sited elsewhere? It would be folly… the uniqueness of this bay is accentuated by the water quality status being described as “quite pristine and relatively free from most potential marine contaminants”.

Monday, May 21, 2007

More time needed to study voluminous Hondoq ir-Rummien EIA

Published on The Malta Independent on Sunday on 20th May, 2007 by David Lindsay.

Stakeholders studying the draft Environmental Impact Assessment of the controversial mega-tourism development proposed for Hondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo have asked for more time to wade through the extensive, six-volume report.

The developers are proposing the “construction of a destination port comprising hotel, yacht marina and tourist village” at the 68 square kilometre site, much to the consternation of environmental organisations, Malta’s two opposition parties – the Malta Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika – and the majority of the people of Qala.

At any rate, with the publication of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the development proposal – also known as the Qala Creek project – has now moved on from the Project Description Statement stage and is drawing ever closer to a final verdict from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The sheer length of the draft EIA, however, is daunting.

As one stakeholder who spoke anonymously to The Malta Independent on Sunday put it, “We have chapters coming out of our ears, and we simply do not have enough time to go through it all in the one-month time frame.”

It is known that some of the stakeholders entrusted with providing feedback on the draft EIA will be requesting an extension to the deadline, given the mind-boggling length of the EIA, which is of course also riddled with technicalities that need to be evaluated by experts.

Over and above the merits of the development itself, the residents of Qala – perched just above the scenic area with majestic views of Comino and the north of Malta – are concerned about heavy traffic flows through the village’s narrow streets.

Such traffic, they argue, would be particularly heavy during the excavation of the remainder of the quarry and the cliff faces in the area. They also expect the inconvenience to continue through the construction phase and later for servicing and accessing the resort.

One Qala resident contacted yesterday laughed off one of the EIA’s proposals that the developer pay for double glazed windows for households facing the street where the bulk of traffic would flow.

“Who are they trying to fool?” the Qala resident, who lives on the very road in question, asked. “They should also supply gas masks for the pollution and free electricity, since, if we have to leave our windows closed, we will need to use air-conditioning 24/7.”

Five years after the controversial Qala Creek development was shelved in 2002 following vociferous protests from the nearby village of Qala, and a referendum among residents that had 85 per cent voting against it, the project is now back on the drawing board.

The project proposal was submitted once again in December 2005 and presented to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) in January 2006.

The proposed developers intend spending some EUR90 million on the project if approved.

The beach is perhaps one of the most popular in Gozo, boasting some of the cleanest waters around the whole of the islands, while it additionally provides one of the few, if only, safe place to swim when Gozo experiences prevailing majjistral, or northwest, winds.

Opponents insist the pristine waters will become polluted as a result of heavy yacht traffic passing just metres from the beach and that, although the sandy beach has not been included in the development as such, it and the entire surrounding area will suffer and be visually marred as a result of the development.

The EIA is, however, said to pay heed to the fact that the Hondoq ir-Rummien beach is the cleanest beach in Gozo – a status that opponents argue could very well be jeopardised by the establishment of a yacht marina.

One recurring theme being argued by the proposed developers throughout the lengthy document, drawn up by MEPA at the expense of the proposed developers, is that the area is an illegal dump site and an eyesore that would be cleaned up and landscaped through the project.

The development, which is envisaged, if approved, to be wrapped up by 2010, would comprise a five-star 170-room hotel, 25 villas, 60 self-catering units, 200 multi-ownership residences, a ‘village centre’ with a small church, administration offices, small-scale shops and restaurants and the 100–150 vessel marina.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Hondoq ir-Rummien environmental impact assessment finalised

Published on http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12090 on 14th May 2007 by David Vella.

NGOs want more time to analyse the study

The environmental impact assessment of the controversial mega construction project at Hondoq ir-Rummien bay, in Qala, Gozo, has just been finalised and is currently being analysed by environmental groups and other interested parties.

A few days ago, the developers who are requesting to build a yacht marina, a hotel, and a large real estate development on the site of the picturesque Hondoq ir-Rummien bay and environs, submitted a detailed environmental impact assessment (EIS) report evaluating their own proposed project, maltastar.com is informed. The study was commissioned by Mepa at the developer’s expense, as part of a normal procedure in the application process of such large scale developments.
The whole project is being proposed in a green area not earmarked for construction developments in any of Mepa’s local plans.
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) has not yet published the report. Instead it handed a limited number of hard copies of the report to non governmental organisations (NGOs) who had already submitted their objections to Mepa when the developers presented their project development statement in 2006.

The eagerly expected EIS provides an analysis of the effects of a mega project proposed by the developers, the Gozitan company Prestige Holidays. The developers are proposing to turn the Hondoq bay, and the surrounding green area and a disused quarry into a 170-bed hotel, over 25 self catering villas, 60 self catering units, 200 multi-ownership residences, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 retail units, 5 dining facilities and a yacht marina for between 100 to 150 crafts.

In 2002, an expanded version of the same project was proposed. Back then, Qala residents have vehemently opposed the project. In a referendum, 85% of Qala residents voted against the proposal. When the developers decided to put forward a second project development statement for the same site, environmental NGOs immediately voiced their objections. Thus they were anxious to get their hands on the EIS, which will be an important factor when Mepa decides on whether or not to issue a permit for the development.
Sources close to these NGOs insisted that once again, Mepa is turning the consultation process into a farce. “Over five organisations who had expressed interest in studying and commenting on the EIS have just been given one hard copy of the report,” the sources said, “at the same time, they are just being given one month to send their comments. This puts them in a very tight spot when considering that the development in question is extensive, and that most NGOs do not have enough resources to analyse the report in such a restricted time frame”.

The NGOs are trying to obtain a soft copy of the study for easier access, but apparently Mepa has only issued a printed version. The report is quite voluminous, and NGOs are currently “queuing” to have a look at it and hopefully have enough time to come up with their comments, the same sources explained. “It is practically impossible to make a print copy of the report for every organisation since the report contains too many pages, and NGOs do not have the necessary financial resources to copy the report”.

The environmental NGOs have thus decided to share the one copy available, and view it one part at a time. “Basically, the report has been divided, and every NGO has a part of it and is working on it” the sources said.

The same NGOs are expected to issue their initial reactions on the study in the coming days.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

The Green Whistleblower: Monsters

Part of an article on The Sunday Times of Malta on Sunday 13th May, 2007 by Alan Deidun.

Hot on the heels of this meeting was another consultation meeting, held last Sunday in Gozo, and the anti-environmentalist atmosphere was even more marked, with shameful booing from some of those present when an exponent of the SOS Hondoq lobby rose to make his point and some of the featured speakers even complained about "environmentalists".

To view the whole article, view the following link.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=261239

Sunday, May 06, 2007

The Rape of Gozo

Published on www.gozonews.com

I am writing this letter by way of a wake-up call to the Maltese Government, regarding what I see as the violation, indeed environmental rape would not be too strong a term, of one of the few places of natural unspoiled beauty on earth, Gozo.

I don’t live on Gozo myself so you may be wondering what business it is of mine, so let me explain. Some years ago I found myself searching for somewhere to have a quiet holiday. I ended up in a place I had never heard of before, Gozo, and fell in love with it immediately. I have been coming back every year since and indeed will be returning in October this year for my yearly two weeks in paradise. I also hope to be able to retire there and live out my remaining years in its beautiful environment.

I normally transferred to the island by way of the helicopter service but as we all know this has now ceased. So as a holidaymaker am I looking forward with bated breath to the extension of the runway at the heliport so that I can fly in on a small fixed wing aircraft? No, I most definitely am not. I love the island of Gozo and the last thing I want to see happen is aircraft flying in all day. The things, which attract me to Gozo, are it’s peacefulness and its history. The entire heliport area is surrounded by history yet people want to destroy this in order to build an airport. What purpose would the airport serve if you have destroyed the very things, which make the island unique and draw visitors to its shores? I am quite happy to use the ferry and keep the island the way it is.

Another issue I would like to comment on is this stupid proposal to build a new hotel and 200 villas in Hondoq ir-Rummien. Whoever is behind this idea has no interest whatsoever in the island of Gozo. I know a bit about situations like this as I have been fighting similar proposals in the area where I live for the past 8 years. The town of Larne in N. Ireland where I live is known as ‘The Gateway to the Glens’, the Glens being the famous 9 Glens of Antrim. We have a promenade, which extends roughly from our local harbour to the beginning of the famous Ulster Coast Road.

In 1999 a group of investors lead by a local developer applied for planning permission to build a marina and several blocks of apartments. They knew that they had no chance of getting permission to build apartments in this area, as it is known as an area of outstanding natural beauty, and as such is protected from development. However they are trying to justify their case by calling it a marina. In eight years they have not turned a stone and the fight goes on.

The proposals for Hondoq ir-Rummien are just the same and just as stupid. Who would want to stay in this hotel or the villas once the beautiful vista, which exists at present, has been destroyed by their building? Hotels on Gozo are closing down due to lack of use. The average occupancy rate of 35 per cent drops to 10 per cent in the lean months and yet developers want to build more!

How long will it be before these same developers want to build nightclubs and maybe a casino to attract people to their new hotel and villas?

The very things which attract people like me to Gozo, namely its tranquillity, its history, its scenery and its old world charm are the very things the developers want to destroy. Does that make sense to you?

As Astrid Vella, a small lady with a very big heart said last year, “What Gozo needs is to protect its character, which attracts tourists, and not drive them away with more buildings.” Amen to that Astrid.