The Qala Local Council has said in a statement that it “welcomes with satisfection the MEPA Environment Protection Directorate (EPD) recommendation of the refusal of the Hondoq ir-Rummein – Qala Creek project application.”

The Council said, “As highlighted in the report by the Environment Protection Directorate, there are various bias put forward in the Environmental Impact Assessment – something which the Qala Local Council has been repeatedly and persistantly insisting on during the past nine years. The EPD is expected to continue coming out against the proposed project in the forthcoming weeks when the final decison now appears to be just round the corner.”

The Qala Local Council continued, that it “reinterates that the EIA was inaccurate and the various problems that Qala residents had to face if such project had to be ultimately approved were dealt with in an incomprehensive and unacceptable manner. Consequently the Qala Local Council was duty bound to safeguard first and foremost the well being of all Qala residents including also those who were in favour of such development, as well as of the general Maltese and Gozitan general public and tourists alike who frequent Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay.”

The Qala Mayor, Paul Buttigieg, pointed out in the statement “that this is not yet the final decision but we are firm and unwavering in our decision that of ensuring that the Qala Creek Project is refused in the final conclusion by the MEPA Board.”

The Mayor said, “the Council will continue to inform all Qala residents of all the decisions which will be taken in the forthcoming weeks both by the Qala Local Council itself as well as by the MEPA Board.” The Mayor continued, “May I reassure you that with determination and strength of will, we will continue to strive and ensure that all our residents will benefit from the right decision.”

“Last but not least I sincerely would like to thank the Environment Project Directorate within the MEPA itself mostly for recognising and acknowledging the worth of Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay not only to locals but to the thousand of visitors who frequent the Bay every summer, the Mayor concluded.

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