Making good the environmental deficit to Hondoq ir-Rummien
Published on The Malta Independent on Sunday 1st June, 2008 by Joe Portelli.
Hondoq ir-Rummien was a rocky creek surrounded by a splendid environment of maquis.
Years ago, great rocks were cut from it to build the breakwater at Grand Harbour and it was turned into an ugly quarry. Then the distillation plant was built as well.
Now a great development is being proposed: a hotel, hundreds of apartments, a village and a yacht marina outside development zone.
It is time now to make good the environmental deficit to Hondoq ir-Rummien by rehabilitating the environment around Hondoq.
This will be achieved not by turning it into another ugly Xlendi or Marsalforn, but by rehabilitating the quarry – by terracing it, planting trees and pulling down the distillation plant, leaving it to be enjoyed by the thousands who frequent it and swim in its clear waters.
Dr Gonzi has the responsibility to reform Mepa. Mepa is reformed if it protects our natural environment. So if Mepa approves this development, DJ Gonzi would have spun us another tune. The people had danced to it and gave him the government for the next five years, and now DJ Gonzi will play us another tune to dance to.
People forget, but the natural environment that makes Gozo a jewel will keep on being degraded and go to rot.
What about the Church, the conscience of the Maltese people? Is it true that a religious order sold this land from behind Il-Kuncizzjoni Church down to the sea for a few thousand liri to a developer who is surely not going to use it in a socially sensitive way? Can the Church do something like protest, pull its weight in favour of the natural environment and review the contract. The natural environment is the only place where all, poor and rich, can have some relaxing time for free, where our quality of life becomes richer.
Hondoq ir-Rummien was a rocky creek surrounded by a splendid environment of maquis.
Years ago, great rocks were cut from it to build the breakwater at Grand Harbour and it was turned into an ugly quarry. Then the distillation plant was built as well.
Now a great development is being proposed: a hotel, hundreds of apartments, a village and a yacht marina outside development zone.
It is time now to make good the environmental deficit to Hondoq ir-Rummien by rehabilitating the environment around Hondoq.
This will be achieved not by turning it into another ugly Xlendi or Marsalforn, but by rehabilitating the quarry – by terracing it, planting trees and pulling down the distillation plant, leaving it to be enjoyed by the thousands who frequent it and swim in its clear waters.
Dr Gonzi has the responsibility to reform Mepa. Mepa is reformed if it protects our natural environment. So if Mepa approves this development, DJ Gonzi would have spun us another tune. The people had danced to it and gave him the government for the next five years, and now DJ Gonzi will play us another tune to dance to.
People forget, but the natural environment that makes Gozo a jewel will keep on being degraded and go to rot.
What about the Church, the conscience of the Maltese people? Is it true that a religious order sold this land from behind Il-Kuncizzjoni Church down to the sea for a few thousand liri to a developer who is surely not going to use it in a socially sensitive way? Can the Church do something like protest, pull its weight in favour of the natural environment and review the contract. The natural environment is the only place where all, poor and rich, can have some relaxing time for free, where our quality of life becomes richer.
posted by Hondoq at
7:06 AM
