Momentum has expressed its “deep disappointment” at the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal’s decision to uphold the permit for the large-scale development proposed by the Hili Group on Comino.

The approved project includes a 140-bed luxury hotel, 16 villas, 44 swimming pools, restaurants, bars, a spa, and new jetties.

In a statement on Friday, Momentum said that “this ruling comes despite the Environmental Impact Assessment clearly highlighting significant negative effects on the integrity of Comino’s habitats, and despite existing policies that designate Comino as a protected nature reserve where increased development intensity is expressly prohibited.”

Mark Camilleri Gambin, General Secretary of Momentum, said, “Comino is one of Malta’s last remaining relatively untouched natural environments. Rather than protecting this national treasure, the EPRT has allowed an extensive project that will dramatically increase human activity on the island. This will bring thousands of additional people to Comino, contribute to pollution through littering, noise, and light disturbance, and place severe pressure on water, waste-management, and drainage services, all of which are extremely limited on the island.”

Momentum stated that while the project is marketed as “environmentally responsible,” the reality is that such development will “accelerate the transformation of Comino from a natural reserve into a privately driven urban leisure complex.”

Camilleri Gambin added, “it is the Maltese public who will ultimately suffer, losing access to Comino as a pristine natural environment and helplessly watching yet another irreplaceable landscape succumb to commercial pressure.”

Momentum concluded by extending its gratitude to all NGOs and civil society groups that continue to fight to save Comino. “Momentum reaffirms its full support for these citizen-led efforts to protect Malta’s natural heritage for the common good.”

File photo: Six Senses Comino Render

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