Hondoq ir-Rummien EIA (1)
Published on The Times of Malta on Sunday 24th of June, 2007 by Mr Angelo Xerri.
The Hondoq ir-Rummien environment impact assessment is based on half truths, and is written mostly in favour of the developer. It gives you the feeling that some of these people who prepared this assessment, have never even been or know where Hondoq ir- Rummien is located.
First of all, how can this beautiful pristine bay enjoyed by hundreds of people in winter, and thousands in summer, people from all over the world you might say, be called a dumping site.
There was never a report from anybody complaining that this bay was full of garbage; the contrary to what the EIA states. Foreign residents and Maltese from Malta invested in property in Qala and Gozo as a whole to enjoy this bay. These are the people the EIA should have checked with.
The EIA also states that the beach will not be effected during the construction of Qala Creek Project. Who in his right mind is going to swim or enjoy the nature of this place when noise, dust mixed with diesel fumes, and explosions from rock blasting only metres away are the order of the day for five years?
If bathing is allowed during the predicted five years of construction somebody might get killed because the road is not wide enough for a dump truck and a car to pass each other.
The road between the Conception Sanctuary and the Rim Rock chapel is too narrow. It is estimated that every four minutes a dump truck will use this road. MEPA should note that, if the project gets the go-ahead, the beach and the road to the Rim Rock chapel has to be closed from day one. These trucks will be driven only a few feet from the wall of the Conception Sanctuary, which is hundreds of years old. Is this the way we are trying to protect our heritage? Did anybody from the Gozo diocese read the EIA or know about this?
The EIA does not mention that some of the residents in the Conception hamlet are going to be disturbed by the loud noise, diesel fumes and dust since these huge trucks are going to be driven only a few feet from their houses to go up very steep narrow hills.
The EIA did not mention that in Qala there is already a huge problem with trucks servicing the quarries using all the major roads, including Qala Square. These trucks are to join the Qala Creek Project trucks, which could mean a truck per minute or less. There are already rumblings from foreign residents that they will pack up and leave Gozo. Some of them moved from Sliema and Mellieha to get away from construction.
Is it possible that this project is going to employ 600 workers during construction, and after five years when complete employ another 600 when all the hotels, including the yacht marinas in Gozo, don't have this many employees?
MEPA should never issue permits for the Qala Creek Project based on this EIA alone. Another EIA must be carried out that protects the people of Qala and Gozo as a whole. It would be humiliating for Qala residents and Gozitans and a threat to democracy if permits are issued for the project at Hondoq ir-Rummien, where 85 per cent of residents already voted against the project in a referendum held by Qala council.
The Hondoq ir-Rummien environment impact assessment is based on half truths, and is written mostly in favour of the developer. It gives you the feeling that some of these people who prepared this assessment, have never even been or know where Hondoq ir- Rummien is located.
First of all, how can this beautiful pristine bay enjoyed by hundreds of people in winter, and thousands in summer, people from all over the world you might say, be called a dumping site.
There was never a report from anybody complaining that this bay was full of garbage; the contrary to what the EIA states. Foreign residents and Maltese from Malta invested in property in Qala and Gozo as a whole to enjoy this bay. These are the people the EIA should have checked with.
The EIA also states that the beach will not be effected during the construction of Qala Creek Project. Who in his right mind is going to swim or enjoy the nature of this place when noise, dust mixed with diesel fumes, and explosions from rock blasting only metres away are the order of the day for five years?
If bathing is allowed during the predicted five years of construction somebody might get killed because the road is not wide enough for a dump truck and a car to pass each other.
The road between the Conception Sanctuary and the Rim Rock chapel is too narrow. It is estimated that every four minutes a dump truck will use this road. MEPA should note that, if the project gets the go-ahead, the beach and the road to the Rim Rock chapel has to be closed from day one. These trucks will be driven only a few feet from the wall of the Conception Sanctuary, which is hundreds of years old. Is this the way we are trying to protect our heritage? Did anybody from the Gozo diocese read the EIA or know about this?
The EIA does not mention that some of the residents in the Conception hamlet are going to be disturbed by the loud noise, diesel fumes and dust since these huge trucks are going to be driven only a few feet from their houses to go up very steep narrow hills.
The EIA did not mention that in Qala there is already a huge problem with trucks servicing the quarries using all the major roads, including Qala Square. These trucks are to join the Qala Creek Project trucks, which could mean a truck per minute or less. There are already rumblings from foreign residents that they will pack up and leave Gozo. Some of them moved from Sliema and Mellieha to get away from construction.
Is it possible that this project is going to employ 600 workers during construction, and after five years when complete employ another 600 when all the hotels, including the yacht marinas in Gozo, don't have this many employees?
MEPA should never issue permits for the Qala Creek Project based on this EIA alone. Another EIA must be carried out that protects the people of Qala and Gozo as a whole. It would be humiliating for Qala residents and Gozitans and a threat to democracy if permits are issued for the project at Hondoq ir-Rummien, where 85 per cent of residents already voted against the project in a referendum held by Qala council.
posted by Hondoq at
1:48 PM
