Hondoq development may damage Comino
Published on http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=12509 by David Vella on 1st June, 2007
The proposed development of a large real estate complex, and a yacht marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay may have a negative impact on the sea several metres away from the site, up to the coasts of Comino, and further out in the channel between Malta and Gozo.
A scientific report forming part of the environmental impact statement commissioned by the developers clearly shows that when parts of the rocky shore are excavated to create a channel leading towards the yacht marina inlet (currently a disused quarry), an extensive quantity of particles will end in the sea. This will turn the waters murky, and lead to a significant degradation of the marine life in the area.
The report, parts of which have already been revealed in a maltastar.com report on Saturday, states that “the effect may extend to 1,000 metres away from the shore… this includes the nearest shoreline at Comino and the eastern-most tip of Gozo”.
It has been scientifically proven that Hondoq ir-Rummien is currently one of the cleanest bays in the Maltese islands. Several tests show that the bay is almost completely free of any impurities, and the waters are crystal clear.
Protected species affected
A second report comments that the high amounts of particles in the sea, brought about by the proposed excavations, (known as the Total Suspended Solids, TSS, level) in seawater may make it more difficult for light to reach the seabed. Due to this, “the plants will show a decrease in growth rate and in extreme conditions, may finally die off altogether”.
The two scientific reports focused on sea water quality and marine life, emphasise the harmful effect that the particles from the large-scale excavation works will have on the marine environment. One report lists numerous marine species that are currently listed in Maltese law as “animal and plant species of national interest in need of strict protection”. Moreover, there are parts of the seabed close to Hondoq ir-Rummien that qualify as protected habitats.
“High levels of severity of impact”
The scientists’ report gives particular attention to the posidonia meadows present outside the bay, and in the channel between Malta and Gozo. “It is quite likely that the posidonia meadows present in various parts of the Gozo Channel will also be negatively affected… the overall impact due to the release of TSS during the breaching of the excavated marina to the open sea, will be of major significance”.
Recalling the Portomaso experience
The proposed excavation of an artificial marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien is very similar to the Portomaso Marina built in the late 1990s, in St Julians. The difference between the two is that the sea quality of the latter shore was never as clean as that of the Gozitan bay. During the excavation works in St Julian’s effect of particles in the sea were felt several kilometers away from the source. “Regressions in the limits of Posidonia meadows were also quite evident… posidonia meadows at all monitored stations have suffered significant environmental damage”, recalls the report.
Mitigation measures may fail
At the same time, the scientific report notes that the developers are proposing a number of safeguards and mitigating measures. Amongst them is the building of “geo-textile filters” to stop particles from escaping into the waters once the coast is excavated. Yet, the report states that a considerable impact on the water quality will be experienced “even if all the proposed mitigation measures will be rigorously applied”.
The scientists also remind that a similar mitigating effort as that proposed by the Gozitan developers was used in a similar coastal project nearby. “The attempted deployment of geo-textile curtains to control particulate releases arising from the coastal engineering works at the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, failed.”
In the report, “major significance” is the highest out of five levels of potential negative impacts. It is defined as “high levels of severity of impact or pressure with a moderate to high probability of it occurring over the whole zone and beyond, on at least one target level”.
The proposed development of a large real estate complex, and a yacht marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay may have a negative impact on the sea several metres away from the site, up to the coasts of Comino, and further out in the channel between Malta and Gozo.
A scientific report forming part of the environmental impact statement commissioned by the developers clearly shows that when parts of the rocky shore are excavated to create a channel leading towards the yacht marina inlet (currently a disused quarry), an extensive quantity of particles will end in the sea. This will turn the waters murky, and lead to a significant degradation of the marine life in the area.
The report, parts of which have already been revealed in a maltastar.com report on Saturday, states that “the effect may extend to 1,000 metres away from the shore… this includes the nearest shoreline at Comino and the eastern-most tip of Gozo”.
It has been scientifically proven that Hondoq ir-Rummien is currently one of the cleanest bays in the Maltese islands. Several tests show that the bay is almost completely free of any impurities, and the waters are crystal clear.
Protected species affected
A second report comments that the high amounts of particles in the sea, brought about by the proposed excavations, (known as the Total Suspended Solids, TSS, level) in seawater may make it more difficult for light to reach the seabed. Due to this, “the plants will show a decrease in growth rate and in extreme conditions, may finally die off altogether”.
The two scientific reports focused on sea water quality and marine life, emphasise the harmful effect that the particles from the large-scale excavation works will have on the marine environment. One report lists numerous marine species that are currently listed in Maltese law as “animal and plant species of national interest in need of strict protection”. Moreover, there are parts of the seabed close to Hondoq ir-Rummien that qualify as protected habitats.
“High levels of severity of impact”
The scientists’ report gives particular attention to the posidonia meadows present outside the bay, and in the channel between Malta and Gozo. “It is quite likely that the posidonia meadows present in various parts of the Gozo Channel will also be negatively affected… the overall impact due to the release of TSS during the breaching of the excavated marina to the open sea, will be of major significance”.
Recalling the Portomaso experience
The proposed excavation of an artificial marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien is very similar to the Portomaso Marina built in the late 1990s, in St Julians. The difference between the two is that the sea quality of the latter shore was never as clean as that of the Gozitan bay. During the excavation works in St Julian’s effect of particles in the sea were felt several kilometers away from the source. “Regressions in the limits of Posidonia meadows were also quite evident… posidonia meadows at all monitored stations have suffered significant environmental damage”, recalls the report.
Mitigation measures may fail
At the same time, the scientific report notes that the developers are proposing a number of safeguards and mitigating measures. Amongst them is the building of “geo-textile filters” to stop particles from escaping into the waters once the coast is excavated. Yet, the report states that a considerable impact on the water quality will be experienced “even if all the proposed mitigation measures will be rigorously applied”.
The scientists also remind that a similar mitigating effort as that proposed by the Gozitan developers was used in a similar coastal project nearby. “The attempted deployment of geo-textile curtains to control particulate releases arising from the coastal engineering works at the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, failed.”
In the report, “major significance” is the highest out of five levels of potential negative impacts. It is defined as “high levels of severity of impact or pressure with a moderate to high probability of it occurring over the whole zone and beyond, on at least one target level”.
posted by Hondoq at
7:39 AM
