Save Hondoq supports FAA on use of EU funds
Published on www.maltastar.com and www.gozonews.com on 30th May, 2009.
Moviment Harsien Hondoq (the Save Hondoq Movement) agrees with and supports the proposal of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) urging the authorities to use EU funds in order to purchase from landowners, heritage sites and ‘green lungs’ which were of vital importance to the cultural heritage, health and well-being of local residents, one such site being Hondoq ir-Rummien.
Something similar has already occurred in Qala in 1937 during Sir Temi Zammit’s time, where the government bought land with a Menhir on it.
The Hondoq creek project which includes buildings seven and nine storeys up the valley side, hotel and yacht marina does not fit in with government’s much publicized vision of Gozo Eco-Island. Such over-development can only harm Gozo’s image as an unspoilt touristic destination and put off tourists.
On FAA’s initiative, together with the support of Moviment Harsien Hondoq and the Qala Local Council, an award has been launched for the University of Malta’s third year architectural students to draw up creative plans for the abandoned water distillation plant and also the neglected quarry in the Hondoq ir-Rummien area to be transformed into a national park. With such an initiative everyone would be able to enjoy this area which would draw far more tourists to Gozo than a mega-project.
It is to be noted that up until 2002 the land in question was still in Government’s hands and plans were already made by the Qala Local Council to make a national park. In the 2006 Gozo Local Plan, the Hondoq area was changed from a recreational area to a development zone. We would like to highlight the fact that a referendum was held in Qala where 85% voted against this project. Another point is that when the EIS was published, this project had the largest number of registered objectors in MEPA’s history.
Therefore we cannot understand how this harmful project which has so many objectors is still being processed by MEPA.
To view comments, go to http://environment.maltastar.com/pages/ms09dart.asp?a=2227 and http://gozonews.com/featured/save-hondoq-supports-faa-on-use-of-eu-funds/
Moviment Harsien Hondoq (the Save Hondoq Movement) agrees with and supports the proposal of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) urging the authorities to use EU funds in order to purchase from landowners, heritage sites and ‘green lungs’ which were of vital importance to the cultural heritage, health and well-being of local residents, one such site being Hondoq ir-Rummien.
Something similar has already occurred in Qala in 1937 during Sir Temi Zammit’s time, where the government bought land with a Menhir on it.
The Hondoq creek project which includes buildings seven and nine storeys up the valley side, hotel and yacht marina does not fit in with government’s much publicized vision of Gozo Eco-Island. Such over-development can only harm Gozo’s image as an unspoilt touristic destination and put off tourists.
On FAA’s initiative, together with the support of Moviment Harsien Hondoq and the Qala Local Council, an award has been launched for the University of Malta’s third year architectural students to draw up creative plans for the abandoned water distillation plant and also the neglected quarry in the Hondoq ir-Rummien area to be transformed into a national park. With such an initiative everyone would be able to enjoy this area which would draw far more tourists to Gozo than a mega-project.
It is to be noted that up until 2002 the land in question was still in Government’s hands and plans were already made by the Qala Local Council to make a national park. In the 2006 Gozo Local Plan, the Hondoq area was changed from a recreational area to a development zone. We would like to highlight the fact that a referendum was held in Qala where 85% voted against this project. Another point is that when the EIS was published, this project had the largest number of registered objectors in MEPA’s history.
Therefore we cannot understand how this harmful project which has so many objectors is still being processed by MEPA.
To view comments, go to http://environment.maltastar.com/pages/ms09dart.asp?a=2227 and http://gozonews.com/featured/save-hondoq-supports-faa-on-use-of-eu-funds/
posted by Hondoq at
7:33 AM
