28th August 2002

Hilton Style project in Qala should be rejected

Another Hilton style project is being proposed for Qala in Gozo and should be rejected before an environment impact assessment is started, Friends of the Earth (Malta) said today.

The proposed project, by the same architects as the Hilton development, would cut into the rocks at Qala and involve the building of 320 apartments and a 200 bed hotel, besides the creation of a yacht marina.

Friends of the Earth would like to know why the development has been given the green light by the Malta Tourism Authority and questions, in the year of the Earth Summit, whether such a project can be considered sustainable given the over-development that Malta has been subjected to.

Why is such a project even being considered by the Malta Tourism Authority in the international year of eco-tourism? The MTA is on record stating that it “qualifies Gozo as a distinct, added value niche unique due to its peaceful ambience and countryside." The project cannot be described as environmentally friendly.

Contrary to what is being suggested by the architects, the project is not compliant with several Structure Plan policies and the fact that it was removed from the final version of the Structure Plan is a clear indication that it was not considered desirable. The proposed project is outside the development zone and therefore cannot be approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The Maltese Islands are small enough and Friends of the Earth (Malta) would not like to see the islands becoming smaller. Each piece of countryside in Malta should be protected, not destroyed.

The project should not be considered by MEPA also because:

- the landscape value of south Gozo would be damaged irreversibly
- the project will destroy the concept that Gozo is a different tourist
destination from Malta
- it will disrupt the peaceful rural nature of Qala and Gozo in general
- previous experience has shown that the residents and visitors will be deprived of using the area and the beach as they do, despite guarantees by the developers
- there will be a high impact on sea water quality, both during and after construction (because of anti-fouling agents and oil spills)

 


Before any large developments are even considered on Gozo a study should be carried out and made public to measure the need for more tourism development and apartments. Too many buildings are unused or under-utilised in Gozo, Friends of the Earth (Malta) said.