Keeper of the Blue Flag
Published on The Sunday Times of Malta on 3rd June, 2007 by Anne Zammit.
Proposed marina status uncertain
A beach replenishment proposal for the sand at Hondoq ir-Rummien to be buried under more artificial material appeared in the original plans, although not much has been heard about it lately. There are concerns that the natural beach would suffer a negative impact if a sea arm had to be built to shelter a proposed marina hacked out of the coastline there.
At some later date we may expect to see a separate development permit application for Hondoq ir-Rummien appearing under the Malta Tourism Authority, or some other applicant, to artificially replenish sands that could be gradually eroded away by a marina real estate project.
Blue Flag criteria would certainly prohibit a marina from threatening environmental damage to the coastline, especially if this is clear even at the early planning stage. It is doubtful at this rate that Qala Creek marina could ever be accepted as a Blue Flag candidate since the existing public bathing beach stands to be irreversibly damaged if the project is permitted to go ahead.
The best time to declare St George's Bay a Blue Flag beach is when all the criteria have been met and the go-ahead given to raise the flag signalling high standards - not merely promised... but maintained.
From here on it will be up to an international jury to decide whether the Blue Flag will fly over St George's Bay each season. Vince Attard, president of Nature Trust, explains the process: "You get the pilot beach and if you make it to full criteria, within a year you get the Blue Flag."
It will take full co-operation from all concerned if Blue Flags are to fly on Malta's beaches and we will have to do all we can to keep them flying.
To view the entire article go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=263685
Proposed marina status uncertain
A beach replenishment proposal for the sand at Hondoq ir-Rummien to be buried under more artificial material appeared in the original plans, although not much has been heard about it lately. There are concerns that the natural beach would suffer a negative impact if a sea arm had to be built to shelter a proposed marina hacked out of the coastline there.
At some later date we may expect to see a separate development permit application for Hondoq ir-Rummien appearing under the Malta Tourism Authority, or some other applicant, to artificially replenish sands that could be gradually eroded away by a marina real estate project.
Blue Flag criteria would certainly prohibit a marina from threatening environmental damage to the coastline, especially if this is clear even at the early planning stage. It is doubtful at this rate that Qala Creek marina could ever be accepted as a Blue Flag candidate since the existing public bathing beach stands to be irreversibly damaged if the project is permitted to go ahead.
The best time to declare St George's Bay a Blue Flag beach is when all the criteria have been met and the go-ahead given to raise the flag signalling high standards - not merely promised... but maintained.
From here on it will be up to an international jury to decide whether the Blue Flag will fly over St George's Bay each season. Vince Attard, president of Nature Trust, explains the process: "You get the pilot beach and if you make it to full criteria, within a year you get the Blue Flag."
It will take full co-operation from all concerned if Blue Flags are to fly on Malta's beaches and we will have to do all we can to keep them flying.
To view the entire article go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=263685
posted by Hondoq at
10:33 AM
