Qala residents will resist tourist project if marina remains - mayor

Published on the Times of Malta on Friday 28th May, 2010 by Claudia Calleja.

The majority of Qala residents would continue to oppose the proposed tourist development at Gozo's Ħondoq Ir-Rummien so long as the project included a yacht marina, mayor Paul Buttigieg said yesterday at a rowdy hearing on the development.

"So long as the yacht marina remains, the local council will campaign against the permit," he said, adding that Qala's seas were known to be among Malta's cleanest waters.

He was speaking during a public consultation meeting in connection with the environmental impact assessment for the proposed project that includes a hotel, villas, apartments, shops and the contested yacht marina.

The heated meeting that lasted about four hours at the Qala primary school, was characterised by interruptions from the public, which constantly booed and shouted in disapproval of the project.

Most agreed that the abandoned quarry in the area, where the tourist complex would be built, should be developed. But there were strong objections to having a tourist complex and a marina which, residents argued, would threaten the integrity of their treasured bay.

They were also concerned about the impact of the traffic, generated by trucks during construction and by residents and visitors later.

Policemen present at the meeting were kept busy as they were occasionally called in to stop people from disturbing the discussion.

The mayor said that, according to a 2002 draft Gozo local plan, most of Ħondoq bay was listed for afforestation. However, when the plan was published in 2006, it was labelled as an area for tourism and marine-related use.

He criticised the study dealing with the transport aspect, saying it was misleading because it did not give a clear picture of the situation.

"The transport problems the project will create will affect the quality of life of Qala residents. Yet, the study gives a false reality of this," Mr Buttigieg said as he went on to explain that traffic-counts carried out ignored parts of the village such as the square.

A traffic impact statement representative insisted the study was carried out according to terms of reference decided in consultation with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, adding that traffic in the square was not studied because trucks would not pass through there.

Mr Buttigieg pointed out that, in 2002, 85 per cent of Qala residents had voted against the project in a referendum and the situation had not changed because the project remained the same in principle.

Deputy mayor Raymond Scerri agreed with the project, saying it could provide employment for the younger generation. On hearing this, a group of Qala residents started booing and one person shouted: "You betrayed us... What about eco Gozo?"

Environmentalist Alan Deidun said it was dangerous to turn an ecologically-sensitive area that had documented pristine waters into a yacht marina. "No matter how careful you are, the quality of the water will worsen," he said, referring to studies.

Astrid Vella, from Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, pointed out that, according to a previous Mepa report, Ħondoq was not included as a potential site for a marina. What had changed, she asked. She also questioned why the proposed project did not include alternative energy sources.

The director of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, Vince Farrugia said Gozo had to accept investment.

"We don't need them," one person yelled as another insisted: "They don't come because of bureaucracy."

To this, Mr Farrugia replied: "They don't come because of people like you... Gozitans are not even letting Gozitans invest in their own country... Whenever an investor attempts to invest in Gozo, we are telling him to leave," he said, adding the Gozitans would pay the price for this.

Gozo Business Chamber representative Michael Grech said the chamber was in favour of the development. "So long as the planning authority ensures all goes according to permit we are in favour," he told the booing crowd.

Those interested can send in written feedback on the project until June 3 to eiamalta@mepa.org.mt.

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