12 comments so far.Concerned About Hondoq and Preserving Our Identity – GUG
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Hondoq ir-Rummien is one of the most beautiful places in Gozo that has, until now, remained untouched. The sea in Hondoq is one of the cleanest and clearest in Malta and Gozo and it has been attracting many locals, tourists and divers from all over the world. The Hondoq project which entails the construction of a yacht marina, hotels, villas, flats and bungalows is threatening this serene place. Should MEPA let this proceed?
GUG (Grupp Universitarji Ghawdxin), a youth organisation of Gozitan students, have been long wishing to express their concern regarding the Hondoq reconstruction project. The implications that such a project could result in are numerous and will cause serious environmental damage. Damage is not only done to the seabed, disturbing the surrounding eco system, but also affects the pure air that prevails in Hondoq.
Needless to say, Hondoq is also known as a popular place for divers coming from all parts of the world. Apart from the lack of divers that will be frequenting Hondoq, we will find a worrying reduction in the amount and variety of flora and fauna that may even become extinct.
According to www.greatestdivesites.com “Hondoq reef is an easy and shallow reef which houses many morays and octopus in its cracks … currents, surge and access methods have made it a perfect dive site for starting divers”.
Many tourists come to Gozo specifically for its beautiful heritage, mainly our clean, quiet and historically rich beaches. There is a lot that can be done without going to such extremes. NGO’s enhanced this point by mentioning: through improving the site by clearing the accumulated quarry debris, distillation plant and coastal debris, and regenerating the former habitats through afforestation, recreation of the valley and improvement of the beach recreation facilities.
Gozitan students strongly believe that we must preserve our environment and our local heritage, which makes part of our identity. Sustainability is an important concept that has been brought up many times in the media and at school but in reality it’s lacking in practice. Before we take such a big step, we must first implement this idea of sustainability and clearly examine all implications it entails. We must consistently keep at heart the environment around us and what makes us who we are and different from the rest.
And why just a few meters away the quarry from where the mgarr quay rocks were cut is all full of rubbish and construction waste, and why is hondoq not taken care by the local council,i never saw nothing done except for a couple of bins in the middle of the beach.
I find it increasingly worrying that we have to fight so long & hard for what is good, right & proper. I suspect that the few people likely to benefit from the developmental RAPE of Hondoq are hoping that we, ordinary, little people will eventually tire of our vigilant defence of this BEAUTIFUL bay. THINK AGAIN. Sympathy fatigue is not an option when we are trying, not just for ourselves but for future generations, to hang on, by our fingernails, to one of the last unspoiled PUBLIC areas, untouched by human GREED.
There have been many letters written in support of Hondoq remaining as it is over the years. I know as I have written many of them myself. This letter however is in my humble opinion the most important letter to be written so far. Why? Because it has been written by students. These young people have seen the mistakes made by their elders in the name of greed and are prepared to speak out against it. For that they should be applauded. Let us hope that MEPA take notice of these young Gozitans because as Alison Bagley says below, sympathy fatigue is not an option in this case.
@Mike. What you say is true Mike but remember when an area in Malta or Gozo is being ‘prepared’ for some form of development the normal practice is to first turn it into a dump. The developer then comes forward with a plan to clean the area up and breathe new life into it and of course make a few million in the process. As you should know the Qala Local Council already had plans to turn Hondoq into a National Park. At this time Hondoq was in the Gozo and Comino Local Plan as an area in favour of rehabilitation but this was changed without consultation with the local council to one in favour of development. This needs to be changed back to the position agreed upon that Hondoq and its surroundings are classified as Outside the Development Zone (ODZ).
Hi Mike as a local councillor I can assure you that we as a council do our utmost to do all we can so that Hondoq area can be the beast possible ,
We wish that we can do a lot more but as you can imagine the local council cannot afford certain initiatives unless the government jumps in .
At the moment Moviment Harsien Hondoq are running a campaign by signing a petition on line http://raxerri.com/soshondoq/ so Mepa will know that Hondoq is still a very important necessity for our everyday lives
Paul Buttigieg
Yesterday I heard on a local radio that Transport Malta did not approve the Proposed route for the Hondoq Project .Can anyone confirm this ?
It will be welcomed by all of us and it will be together with the one that Mepa recomended a refusal .
As I see it will be hard for Mepa board to approve the Hondoq project when already two reports recomended refusal
Hi Steve, it was probably me you heard on the radio yesterday. I was officially informed by MEPA that they had received the Transport Authority’s recommendation for refusal of the Hondoq Transport Impact Study. Added to the MEPA Environment Impact Assessment Unit’s recommendation for refusal, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that this project can be approved by the MEPA Board.
Dear James,
I am Ryan Mercieca, President of GUG and on behalf of our executive and members we would like to thank you for your kind words.
We firmly believe that we are the future but also the present of Gozo and for the future of Gozo we have to stand up now. We will always be there to protect and promote what makes Gozo, be it environment, economy, culture, identity or any other aspect.
@Paul Thank you for posting the link to the site created by Moviment Harsien Hondoq. It feels good to be able to do something. If there are places/people that you think we should send letters, emails, etc., please post the info here.
@Ryan Congratulations on your efforts so far. Wish you success in this project!
Hondoq needs protection, not development!
Hi all,
Thank you for your support to save Hondoq.
As Astrid explained now that transport Malta have recommended refusal it is increasingly unlikely that this project will be approved.
Still we have to keep on doing all we can so that one day Hondoq will return to how it was before 2006 when it was an ODZ area. The local plan was changed behind the council`s back .
Hondoq and the whole area should be turned into a national park so that it will belong to everyone
Mepa leave Hondoq for all of us .
Do not give it away and we will have no where to go swimming during summer
Turn Hondoq into a national park and stop this non-sense once and for all about this so called marina ,hotel ,apartments and whatever …………………..Hondoq should and must remain in its natural state for the sake of Gozo and for the sake of all generations to come so we can enjoy this gem of a place now and for many many years to come .This is not so hard to understand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Clean up Hondoq and turn it into a national park and do something good for GOZO!!!!!
Time will tell if this current administration really means buisness//
Hopefully Hondoq will be back to all of us so we can do what our parents used to do when they were young
We are fast killing the goose that lays the golden egg