7 comments so far.Stormy meeting over Hondoq Creek Mega-Project Proposal
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Todays public consultation meeting about the proposed mega-development at Hondoq Creek started on an angry note this afternoon, after arriving protestors discovered that over half the seating had already been taken by members of the Gozo construction industry and their supporters.
The protestors reacted angrily when the lack of seating prevented them from entering the hall and Qala Local Councillor, Paul Buttigieg, called for the partitions at the back of the hall to be removed to make room for all of the protestors. However, some of the protestors took matters into their own hands and quickly moved all the partitioned seating to the front of the hall.
The meeting then opened with both those protesting against the development and those in favour presenting their opposing views to the gathered meeting, inevitably accompanied by some angry outbursts from both sides..
The Hondoq Creek mega-project proposes a development rising seven storeys high along the Qala hillside, including a hotel, 250 residences, shops, restaurants and a yacht marina. As an alternative, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), along with Qala Local Council, organised a competition for University architecture students to design a national park plan for the Hondoq Creek, as the area was originally designated.
While the developers have always inisisted that the project is going to be kept in the quarry area from their plans one can see that the yacht marina is going to spill over onto the area enjoyed by those who use Hondoq bay every summer, the developers own Environment Impact Assessment actually admitted that having a yacht marina only a few meters away will negatively impact the pristine waters of the bay.
Opponents of the proposal pointed out that here will also be an impact on the health of the residents of Qala, which has the second highest rate of air pollution in Gozo due to the passage of heavy vehicles to the nearby quarries. The project will further choke the narrow village streets with the the exhaust of thousands of daily car trips transporting tourists, staff and supplies to the hotel, restaurants, shops and housing units.
Those opposed to the development also said that Gozo’s tourism does not need a huge project destroying its characteristic bays and valleys, rising seven storeys up the hillside, and eventually employing foreigners at low wages, not Gozitans and such a project will only serve to kill off other establishments and ruin Gozo’s image, just like the over-development at Marsalforn and Xlendi.
They stressed that Gozo needs the promised national park with heritage trails to the Qala tower, organic farming and nature walks, a small amphitheatre and better beach facilities, saying that these are the things that attract more tourists to Gozo all the year round, not mega-projects.
The Gozo Business Chamber has said that the Chamber is in favour of the project, as long as MEPA can ensure that there is a balance between protecting the environment and creating jobs in Gozo. GRTU Director General, Vince Farrugia, has also expressed his support for the proposed development.
As a regular visitor to the wonderful island of Gozo. I married into a Gozitan family and have been coming to Gozo since 1968 so I feel qualified to comment on these matters. I have seen many many changes over the years some good some not so good.
There will always be objections to development. This time I feel it is justified, Why spoil an outstandingly natural beauty for the sake of profit, If the developers want to make a profit as they surely do then why not redevelop the MGARR hotel site. This is a prime example of a 5 star rated hotel that couldn’t compete in todays market. It has already a marina on its doorstep but still couldn’t survive.
I have talked with many Gozo visitors over the years and they all have loved the peace and tranquility of the island but the developers are slowly but surely destroying this and in the end the very people they would want to attract will not come to a busy place with its noise and bustle,they can go to Spain,Teneriffe ,Greece etc if they want that.
If this development goes ahead for the sake of some Greedy developers, then we shall have to give what was once a beautiful little peaceful island a miss, and look for pastures new, I guarantee this won’t be Gozo anymore but more like a processed mass of concrete.
We are not Gozitans but we sure feel sorry for the locals and the next generation. I for one vote a big NO NO! Why spoil God’s creation for what? The property developer’s Bible which Money Money and more Money. Greed at its best.
Does Gozo really need such a huge project.
Why do people go to Gozo and why do they like it so much? Most of us because of the tranquility, it’s authentic feeling. You have your own places at the beach, you can make walks for hours through an inviting area. You see locals and can have a little chat. You see some tourists but the island isn’t overwhelmed with them. All the restaurants and hotels and pubs have their work.
In one way you can attract some visitors with the new project but they will certainly stay in the Hondoq resort area. The other tourists won’t be interested anymore in the original atmosphere of the island because it will be getting like other places in the Mediterranean.
I go to Gozo because to me, there’s no other place than here in the Mediterranean. If I would have anything to say in this matters it would be a fat NO.
I sincerely would like to THANK EVERYONE, (because I do not want to leave anyone out) for all the support we have had over the last eight years.
Today the people have shown that when there is unity there is strength
Our aim is and has always been that Hondoq should remain for EVERYONE to enjoy.
Paul Buttigieg
Moviment Harsien Hondoq
Qala Local Councillor
@ Keith Fisher
I think you sum it up very well Mr Fisher.
In a nutshell we are well on our way to killing the proverbial Golden Goose………if we do any more damage to Gozo there will be no more Golden Eggs, despite all the rhetoric of bringing prosperity and jobs, which will of course only benefit the chosen few.
I am having serios difficulty to understand how such an environmental rape can be blended with the “eco-gozo” or the “vision2015” concept. My biggest fear is that two different units of measurments are used when considering this kind of monstruosity vis a vis normal building applications.
That aside, it’s easy for people living on the other side of the island to be in favour of something like this, yet I very much doubt whether they would still support it if all trucks and construction equipment had to pass from their village. That is what Qala residents have to endure.
Without even bothering to talk about the impact on the Hondoq seawater quality (entire books can be written on that aspect), I feel that Vince Farrugia’s insulted the Qalin with his talk, while Prof Vassallo, the mastermind behind the EIA was so biased in his report that legal action should be considered against him.
Prosit to the Local Council and the NGOs which vioced their concerns… though it’s pretty obvious what mepa’s decision will eventually be. Also a huge THANK YOU to all the Qalin which showed up for the meeting.
Hondoq ir-Rummien stands in the midst of a precious and unparallel archeological panorama. Can any responsable authority afford to destroy for good such a unique panorama depriving Gozo of its identity which dates back before history being made?