Ħondoq 'under threat'

Published on the Times of Malta on Wednesday 5th May, 2010

An environmental group has urged people to voice their opposition to the proposed "massive" development project at Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay in Gozo.

The call comes as the planning authority opened a period of consultation up to May 12 about the environment impact statement for the proposed hotel, villas, apartments, shops and a yacht marina planned for the area.

Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq said Gozo could not afford to turn Ħondoq ir-Rummien into another commercialised zone like Xlendi, Marsalforn and Mġarr.

Qala residents have already expressed their opposition, with 85 per cent voting against the project in a referendum.

Ħondoq Bay, facing Comino, is a small pebble beach with an old quay on one side. An old water distiller lies empty behind the bay and a quarry, from which rock for the Grand Harbour breakwater was cut early in the last century, lies disused on one side of the road leading to the bay.

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