“Withdraw the outrageous Comino village plans immediately, or face the people’s ire,” organisations warned the Hili Group.

Seven environmental organisations have voiced what they say are the “people’s strong objections to Hili Group’s proposal to develop a villa complex on the island of Comino.”

They warned that, “should the Planning Authority approve the plans currently before it, the former Comino Hotel site will be redeveloped and extended, creating a complex of 19 villas, complete with several amenities, in what could become a “Comino village” of permanent residences through legal loopholes.”

The NGOs stated that “ERA’s disgraceful approval of the project is currently being appealed before the Planning Tribunal (EPRT) by several organisations.

During a press conference held earlier today, Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Helwa, BirdLife Malta, Nature Trust-FEE, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, and the Ramblers’ Association highlighted Comino’s designations as a Rural Conservation Area, a Nature Reserve, a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area within the Natura 2000 network, an Important Bird Area (IBA) of International and EU Importance, a Bird Sanctuary, and a Dark Sky Heritage site.

The argued that the proposed development, therefore, “certainly cannot be compatible with the legal protections afforded to the island, as well as the State’s legal obligations to conserve it.”

The NGOs stressed that the influx of heavy machinery and construction materials throughout the redevelopment, together with the “obscene increase in human activity once the complex is opened will cause massive environmental impact, as well as the irreversible destruction of natural habitats within the complex itself, and a greater area of disturbance around it.”

“The destruction this project will signify is an inescapable reality,” held the organisations. “No amount of mitigation measures could neutralise this harm. The most sustainable option remains to stop any sort of development.”

The NGOs also rejected Hili Group’s “false claims as desperate greenwashing attempts to conceal the fact that even more public natural land is being destroyed for private profit.”

They went on to remind concession holders that “they have no right to develop the area, reiterating that Comino has already suffered extensively over the years due to commercialisation.”

During the conference, organisations also pointed out that this project will destroy yet another space where one can find peace and tranquillity. This was also highlighted by over 13,500 objectors who called upon the Planning Authority to refuse the application pending before it.

The NGOs concluded with a direct message to Hili Group – “Drop your plans for Comino immediately. Comino forms part of our national heritage in its entirety, and the public does not support your plans. Ignore this call, and face the people’s ire.”

The press conference was held in front of the Hili Ventures offices and was called by Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Helwa, BirdLife Malta, Nature Trust-FEE, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, and Ramblers’ Association.

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