Can all Hondoq stakeholders be happy?

Published on the Times of Malta on Sunday, 24th February, 2013 by Jane Carr. 

In the letter from Labour’s communication coordinator entitled ‘Labour opposes Hondoq project’ (The Times, February 11), he states that Labour’s stance has “already secured a very positive response from residents, environmentalists and also from stakeholders”. Since the ‘developers’ aren’t mentioned as such, they must be part of the group of people considered stakeholders.

The environmentalists and 85 per cent of Qala’s residents would not react ‘very positively’ if they knew any development were to happen down at Hondoq, and the developers would surely not react ‘very positively’ if they were told they would not be allowed to build anything.

Why have two such disparate sets of people reacted so positively to the same news?

To view the comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130224/letters/Can-all-Hondoq-stakeholders-be-happy-.458972

Environment is being used as ‘political bait’ by parties

Published on the Times of Malta on Sunday, 24th February, 2013. 

Political parties should be transparent about their plans for the environment, Din l-Art Ħelwa said yesterday, as it urged the next government to retain existing building boundaries.

Speaking at the environmental NGO’s annual general meeting, Ms Mizzi pushed politicians to clearly state their environmental credentials and not crumble when faced with threats.“Many wondrous promises are being pulled of political pockets as is always the case during election time, when the environment is used as political bait but the main parties should be clearer on their intentions,” DLĦ president Simone Mizzi said.

“In the face of vote blackmail there is insufficient political will to put an end to lawlessness and not enough courage to prevent commercial exploitation of our natural and historic assets,” she said.

Ta’ Ċenċ and Ħondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo as well as Manoel Island and other spots were “waiting like lambs going to the slaughter”. There had to be a united political front to act with clout on major issues that remained unsolved, she said.

Ms Mizzi hit out at the nation’s acts of folly that destroyed the island’s heritage over the years, from breaching the Valletta bastions to accommodate the Excelsior Hotel to the “piecemeal demolition” of the Sliema front.

“Political indolence and laissez-faire policies have allowed public land to be stolen by lawless citizens at Armier and elsewhere,” she said.

“Is this a land where lawlessness pays? Yes it seems, because in the face of the loss of a single vote, political maturity ends and favour lies with the lawless. Amnesties for construction misdemeanours engender further lawlessness.

“An ominous silence reigns on the mega projects, on illegal hunting and as before every election, undefined pledges are made to solve the illegal grabbing of land. We want environmental credentials to be pronounced with transparency.”

It appreciated that good cultural conscience had emerged from such mistakes. A structure plan was put in place and the Cultural Heritage Act empowered NGOs like DLĦ to be entrusted with heritage sites under guardianship deeds. After saving 37 national monuments, and with 17 in its care, DLĦ continued to save what it could.

But the nation’s environmental awareness had not yet matured enough and concerns remained.

To view the photo and comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130224/local/Environment-is-being-used-as-political-bait-by-parties.458987

‘Parties must take stand on mega projects’

Published on the Times of Malta on Wednesday, 20th February, 2013. 

Political parties should make their positions known on major projects regularly put forward for approval in each legislature, seven NGOs said yesterday in a joint statement.

“Some of these projects are now being dangled as electoral bait, while silence from both sides has suddenly fallen on others,” the NGOs said. These projects included proposed developments at Ta’ Ċenċ, Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla and Manoel Island.

They also pointed to illegal boat houses at Armier, inshore tuna penning and fish farming, the proposed conference centre at Ta’ Qali and the Gozo airstrip and tunnel.

“These will have a huge negative impact on the environment, go totally against the principle of nature protection, and cannot be classified as sustainable development,” the NGOs said. “Most have no support of neighbouring communities,” they added.

The press release was signed by Nature Trust, Flimkien għall-Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers’ Association, Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth, Birdlife and Greenhouse.

To view the article, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130220/local/-Parties-must-take-stand-on-mega-projects-.458429

Environmental groups request parties' position on major projects

Published on the Times of Malta on Tuesday, 19th February 2013. 

Seven environmental NGOs have called on political parties to express their position on major projects that  have regularly been  put forward for approval during each legislature. 

Nature Trust (Malta), Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ramblers’ Association , Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth,  Birdlife Malta and Greenhouse Malta said some of the projects now being dangled as electoral bait while nothing was being said about others, rendering them notable by their absence.

Listing the projects which were of most concern, the NGOs said these would have a huge negative impact on the environment, go totally against the principle of nature protection, and could not be classified as sustainable development.

Some even lacked the support of neighbouring communities. The organisations said; 

• Projects like Ta Cenc with its Hotel expansion and bungalow development would destroy the ecology of Ta Cenc Cliffs – now a Natura 2000 site;
• The Hondoq ir Rummien mega project would not only destroy an entire area and create a lot of traffic but also have a negative impact on the high landscape value of the site;
• The Ramla Gozo project, which although halted, was still in the pipeline and if approved would ruin yet more important landscape and the ecology of Ramla, another Natura 2000 site;
• The Armier illegal boat houses issue on which the two main political parties were keeping a low profile. Both were refusing to pronounce their intentions regarding those that stole public land;
• The fish farming and tuna penning industry where marine ecology was being severely impacted and some of the coastline destroyed. Despite promises, these farms had been kept inshore rather then moved further offshore;
• The Manuel Island mega development shadow still loomed – when Malta was already flooded with empty buildings; and
• The Gozo airstrip – this issue surfaced every five years and no responsible decision had been forthcoming despite the guarantees of an Eco Gozo.

The NGOs noted that there were many other promises being made including the Gozo tunnel, promised without sufficient studies, which would generate tons of rubble waste – possibly leading to the excuse of land reclamation at sea and the big conference centre at Ta Qali. This, they said, was entirely misplaced and unnecessary.

The NGOs asked the political parties, mainly PN and PL, to come clear on their environment credentials. The environment was not to be used a political ball but a responsibility that politicians needed to respect for future generations, they said.

To view the comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130219/elections-news/environmental-groups-request-parties-position-on-major-projects.458210

What does PL mean by saying they oppose Hondoq Project?

Published on www.gozonews.com on Monday 18th February, 2013 by Jane Carr. 

“Labour’s opposition to the project at Hondoq has been reported in several ways, including being against “the development; “the yacht marina and hotel project” and “the project as proposed.” Which is it?

Most have talked of the project ‘as proposed’ with emphasis on the hotel and yacht marina. Nowhere has the residential part been specifically referred to (unlike Ta’ Cenc where the bungalows were mentioned). The yacht marina hasn’t even been part of the proposal since October 2011.

So what do Labour mean by saying they are against the Hondoq project ‘as proposed?’ At present it is for a hotel, swimming lagoon and residential units. Despite MEPA’s recommendation for refusal, the developers are looking at “rescaling the project down in a bid to have it accepted.” If the hotel is dropped – the new proposal is just residential units. If there is no issue – Labour can easily clarify that they are against any development, be it a hotel, yacht marina, or any form of residential units.

When Qala council were asked, the mayor said that they were “against any unsustainable and speculative project and would only change its stance if, say, a huge garden or a park or an integrated green community area is proposed.” There was concern over what was meant by an ‘integrated green community area’ – however this was explained as being “a big park full of trees, green landscaping, gazebos, picnic areas etc.”

So Qala council is in favour of the area being a park – as per the original Gozo Local Plan which stated at least 75% of the area should be afforested. (This was before the plan was changed without consultation in 2006 to say the area could be used for Tourism and Marine related uses.) Labour should propose declaring the whole area as a National Park, thus protecting it for good.

Muscat also mentioned improving sports facilities for students and possibly building a sports complex at Hondoq. Surely a central location would be better, allowing easy access all year round to both students and Gozo’s population alike, with Hondoq still available to enjoy for swimming, walks, BBQ’s, parties etc?

This as opposed to being located at the relatively remote east end of the island, at the bottom of a steep hill, next to one of Gozo’s most beautiful swimming bays.”

To view the comments, go to http://gozonews.com/36957/what-does-pl-mean-by-saying-they-oppose-hondoq-project/

What exactly is Labour’s position on the Ħondoq project?

Published on the Times of Malta on Sunday 17th February, 2013 by Jane Carr.

Labour’s opposition to the project at Ħondoq has been reported in several ways, including being against “the development”, “the yacht marina and hotel project” and “the project as proposed”. Which is it? Most have talked of the project “as proposed” with emphasis on the hotel and yacht marina. Nowhere has the residential part been specifically referred to (unlike Ta’ Ċenċ where the bungalows were mentioned). The yacht marina hasn’t even been part of the proposal since October 2011.

So what does Labour mean by saying it are against the Ħondoq project “as proposed”? At present it is for a hotel, swimming lagoon, and residential units. Despite Mepa’s recommendation for refusal, the developers are looking at “rescaling the project down in a bid to have it accepted”. If the hotel is dropped – the new proposal is just residential units. If there is no issue – Labour can easily clarify that they are against any development, be it a hotel, yacht marina, or any form of residential units.

When the Qala local council was asked, the mayor said it was “against any unsustainable and speculative project and would only change its stance if, say, a huge garden or a park or an integrated green community area is proposed.” There was concern over what was meant by an “integrated green community area” – however this was explained as being “a big park full of trees, green landscaping, gazebos, picnic areas etc.”

So, the Qala council is in favour of the area being a park – as per the original Gozo Local Plan which stated at least 75 per cent of the area should be afforested. (This was before the plan was changed without consultation in 2006 to say the area could be used for tourism and marine related uses.) Labour should propose declaring the whole area as a National Park, thus protecting it for good.

Joseph Muscat also mentioned improving sports facilities for students, and possibly building a sports complex at Ħondoq. Surely a central location would be better, allowing easy access all year round to both students and Gozo’s population alike, with Ħondoq still available to enjoy for swimming, BBQs and parties? This as opposed to being at the relatively remote east end of the island, at the bottom of a steep hill, next to one of Gozo’s most beautiful swimming bays.

To view the comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130217/letters/What-exactly-is-Labour-s-position-on-the-ondoq-project-.457937

PL “against project for hotel & yacht marina at Hondoq”

Published on www.gozonews.com on Tuesday 5th February, 2013. 

The Labour Leader Dr Joseph Muscat held a press conference this morning at the Xaghra Belvedere.

Dr Muscat was questioned on the Party’s plans for the enviornment, particularly the proposals for Hondoq. He stated that the “Labour Party was opposed to the yacht marina and hotel project at Hondoq.” He also said that a Labour Government had no plans on a project at Ta’ Cenc which included bungalows.

“A new government will be introducing a Special Framework for Investment in Gozo, in conformity with EU regulations, which will include specific incentives with the objective of attracting more investment to Gozo in order to generate more productive and higher-quality jobs in the island,” the Labour Leader said.

Joseph Muscat also stated that “a new Government will ensure that Gozo keeps on benefitting from EU funding at the same rates, and possibly even at higher rates than the last years.”

To view the whole article and the comments, go to http://gozonews.com/27466/pl-against-project-for-hotel-yacht-marina-at-hondoq/

Muscat fends off accusations of Labour’s proximity to construction developers

Posted on www.maltatoday.com on Tuesday, 5th February, 2013 by Miriam Dalli. 

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat came in for some targeted questions on his plans for the environment and energy in Gozo and Malta today, where he declared that a new Labour government had no plans on the Ta' Cenc project for bungalows and that the party opposed the Hondoq ir-Rummien yacht marina and hotel project.

The Hondoq project is currently being recommended for refusal by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, although the project developers are known to be rescaling the project down in a bid to have it accepted by MEPA.

Muscat also denied that his proposal for a new 200MW power station and LNG terminal was backed by the interest of some Labour candidate or party official.

Reacting to questions about the Prime Minister's own declarations calling on Labour to reveal who the construction developers backing Labour are, Muscat denied any business interests in his gas power station proposal, and insisted that the proposal was borne out of consultation with both business and environmental groups.

Muscat also said Labour was the only political party to publish its accounts, when asked whether he would be declaring the finances of his electoral campaign. Gonzi said that the PN would be revealing the costs of its electoral campaign after 9 March.

To view the whole article, go to http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/elections2013/Muscat-fends-off-accusations-of-Labour-s-proximity-to-construction-developers-20130205