Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has expressed its disappointment at the outcome of its appeal to nullify the Manoel Island environmental impact assessment.

FAA maintained that the second Manoel Island EIA “failed on a number of counts. The traffic generation figures were provided by MIDI itself without any verification or study by independent consultants.”

In addition, FAA said that the figures provided by the company were “deliberately underestimated by around 80% when compared to calculations provided in the PA’s own circular 1/2015 which the PA itself adopted in assessing developments near the MIDI project.”

FAA stated that, “this case of two weights and two measures has been overlooked at every stage.”

It highlighted that “no consideration was given to the fact that Manoel Island forms part of a legally recognised Area of High Landscape Value. The views of the Valletta UNESCO World Heritage Site from the waterfront will be blocked by MIDI’s bastion of flats and commercial units.”

FAA also argued that this project will be “very detrimental to the environment of Gzira which has suffered so much in the last ten years due to rampant overdevelopment and the takeover of the waterfront pavement by restaurants. A sizeable chunk of the water-side promenade was taken over by a massive Lido. Now even more of the promenade will be taken up by a 42-metre roundabout and a new road bridge to Manoel Island.”

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar stressed that it has been campaigning for the transformation of Manoel Island into a Heritage Park for the last seven years, having formed part of Kamp Emergenza Ambjent. This is the best use for Island since it is the only open, wooded land in the densely populated urban area stretching from Pietà to Swieqi.

FAA added that it will continue to try to “remedy the mistake made by the 1992 Development Brief. Having the best areas of Malta, that have been enjoyed by everyone for millennia, taken over for the exclusive enjoyment of a handful rich individuals and for the private profit of even fewer, richer individuals is not environmental justice! This is especially true of public coasts and lands that are recognised at law as Areas of High Landscape Value.”

FAA said it will continue with its work to “safeguard Manoel Island for all Maltese and for future generations of visitors of Malta verifying the Maltese Government’s right to rescind the June 2000 Deed of Empytheusis and to take back Manoel Island should MIDI continue to fail to meet the contract’s criteria by 31 March 2026.”

FAA concluded by saying that “at that point, the Government would be in the unique position to gift Manoel Island as the first nature and heritage park to all its people.”

Photo: MIDI

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