28 comments so far.Proposed development of Hondoq is totally unsustainable
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Readers Letter – “I cannot understand why MEPA’s appeals tribunal have to meet at all in order to make a decision which should be obvious to everyone.
The proposed development at Hondoq is totally unsustainable, will cause great damage to one of the best swimming areas in Gozo, will cause immeasurable hardship for the residents of Qala from years of construction traffic and will be a benefit to no one except the money hungry developers who have no love or interest in the island.
The proposal to reduce the number of apartments and replace the marina with a ‘swimming lagoon’ is stupid beyond words and would appear to be nothing more than obfuscation on the part of Gozo Prestige. It doesn’t matter whether 20 apartments or 200 apartments are built, a precedent will have been set and more will surely follow.
As for the swimming lagoon, as Gozo Prestige must know well this is just another name for a marina with no boats in it. Once the swimming lagoon is in place Gozo Prestige could apply to install the necessary infrastructure to very quickly turn it into a marina.
I have been coming to Gozo for many years and I have a great love for this little island and the beautiful friendly Gozitan people. One of the reasons I love the island so much is because of places like Hondoq.
If the Government take the decision to destroy this area so that certain people can make a lot of money it will in my opinion be one less reason for me as a tourist to visit Gozo at all. There are many places in Europe which respect their environment and their tourist trade and they are just as hungry for business in these dire economic times as Gozo.
I would urge the Maltese Government to think very carefully before going down this route as they are in danger of turning what is a beautiful tourist area into a tourist desert.”
James A. Tyrrell,
N. Ireland.
Hondoq has been in the spot light for this last 10 years after it is being claimed as it will be the only solution for our unemployment .We have heard all these claims before and no one believes them any more
Mepa please do the right thing and refuse this rape of Hondoq.
Hondoq belongs to all of us
Once again thank you mr Tyrrell for your letter
Mr Tyrell, frequently your posts drive me mad but on this subject I am totally in agreement with you and I couldn’t have worded it better. 🙂
I guess it would be a boring world if we agreed on everything. Glad we agree on this though as it’s important to us all.
You should know that Mr. Tyrell is worst then weed , extremely hard to eradicate.
Gozoroo
You should also know that I am there a lot more often than you are Sammy. I love the area of Qala in general and Hondoq in particular and don’t want to see it destroyed just so some rich developer can add more cash to his account. If development takes place at Hondoq it should be of a sustainable nature and be of benefit to the people of Qala and all the Gozitans, Maltese and tourists who love the area. Anyway Sammy Australia is a big place and I’m sure you have enough on your plate dealing with the weeds over there.
Oh James!
Can`t you afford a peaceful relaxing holiday on the Gold Coast in Q`land, the Ninety mile beach in Victoria or the Pacific Islands to name a few.
http://benciniassociates.com/Projects/detail/id:41.
According to this plan that spec of beach will be still available to the general public, including pesky foreigners. There is absolutely nothing special with this particular area, but perfect for an “All weather boat Marina” You would not want to swim or sunbath on a jam packed little beach. Why all the drama? Rather see this project then the now defunct diesel plant. Don`t forget that the sun is the only natural resource Gozo has. SO THEY GOT TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. Competing with the Greek Islands I say. You build them and they come.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2007-01-07/news/qala-opposition-to-proposed-hondoq-ir-rummien-development-in-gozo-still-strong-167322/
Been there done that, James.
Gozoroo.
RAPE to our environment has got to stop.Our ancestors left us with such places like Hondoq and we are giving all excuses to built them up because of greed
.
What shall we say to our kids if we loose such places like hondoq
In my opinion the only redevelopment of hondoq should be to build showers and toilets to replace the ones there at present.the natural beauty is the true value of hondoq and should be left as is for people to enjoy
I am totally for the Hondoq development,I have a note next to my computor that says
ITC, GOZO ,MALTA ,reminding me that it was said. Project Minister for gozo { ICTGM )
now in full swing,how long ago has it been I have a ten of my family coming to Gozo
this coming June and looking forward to see Hondoq unsustained,to undergo,as a
loos is a no no no !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please explain your self .Can`t understand if you are for it that means Hondoq being raped and built it up or make it to a national park
Stop this nonsense once and forever.We all need where to breathe fresh air .
leave hondoq r rummien alone and do it as a park .mepa please note and wake up
Muscat said he was against a marina and hotel down there. The developers say the hotel is not viable without the marina. So that means that they will just build appartments which is pure speculation! How can MEPA possibly allow that in an Odz??
There will be no long term jobs, and the area will be ruined for all of us.
Muscat said he was against a marina and hotel down there…. unless it isn’t another u-turn (just like the 10 year power deal which has now gone down to 5yrs in the past few hours)
You all know how I – and most people – feel about the project. This continuous regurgitation of appeals by the developers are such a waste of human resources (paid and voluntary) and money!
If the present government does give the go-ahead for this project, then we can all say goodbye and good riddance to Gozo as we know it. How very sad and short-sighted that would be.
Surely there is someone out there in ‘high places’ who actually cares about Gozo?
@ Sammy
For your information, Hondoq is not only the sandy area but the whole area from the chapel down to the sea including the quarry, (which has purposely been left as a dump by the owners), that whole area belongs to the public and the Agostinians made a very big mistake to sell it for speculation. That area was already earmarked for a national park and that is what it should be. Not apartments. You are contradicting yourself when you compare Australia to Gozo, that is the reason why it should be protected because Gozo is small and Australia is very big and can afford to lose small areas not like Gozo. Hondoq is the worst place to build a marina, look at what happened to the people that used to go and swim in Zewwieqa, not only do they not swim there anymore but it is private and cannot even enter the area. Is that what you want for hondoq?
Tony you totally misunderstood my point, I am merely recommending a few better places for peaceful, relaxing, and tranquil holidays which Malta and Gozo can`t offer, to my mate. You know well that our fellow young Gozitans need jobs. This is a the biggest opportunity since Ta Cenc complex . Priorities my friend. Make use of your flat roofs, pitch an umbrella and a deckchair a bottle of XXXX bitter or Forsters and enjoy the sun.
Gozoroo
Sammy I was living in Australia long before you were I can assure you. I loved the country, and most of the wildlife but didn’t think a lot of the people who were a weird bunch. From what I remember of them someone like you should fit right in.
As for Hondoq I’m sure you could write all you know about the area on the back of a postage stamp so don’t talk about things you know nothing about and seem to care even less about.
Must be one of those ten pound poms. So what happened, made your fortune and returned? booted or given up! Mate I admire your energy but there is a limit to how much a foreigner can intrude in a host country. You have a much bigger problem in your own backyard.
Gozitans need jobs, which go hand in hand with capitalism. Rest my case mate.
Gozoroo
First off I’m not your mate. That was another thing I hated about Australia, the number of people who called you ‘mate’ when they didn’t even know you.
And I’m not intruding in anything, I’m giving my opinion on a subject which I care about and which as a tourist I have every right to do. Yes I agree that Gozitans need jobs but I think they deserve a lot better than chamber maids and porters which is all you seem to think they are capable of doing.
As I said before if you don’t give a damn about your own country that’s fine, just don’t try and stop people who do care from doing something.
God created the whole world ,and dropped a large rock named Gozo,and if it was not
build by men that are creative like the ones that are wanting to the Hondoq change,is
just a waste land like it alway has been since dropped in the mediteranian,now there
is an upportunity to develope it ,go for it,also the Tunnel from Gozo to Malta and
also build a water reservoir,to catch all the water from the rain that is being wasted
into the Hondoq Bay,send it to Malta,for human consumption.instead of importing.
If you want to believe the ‘God created the world’ stuff that’s fine but at least recognise the fact that what was created was a damn sight better than some concrete nightmare which would end up there if left to those you describe as creative. I would say that if this development were to go ahead it would be the beginning of the end for Gozo as a tourist destination. The Government talk about wanting to attract people with money to Malta and Gozo yet they don’t see that by destroying the very things which would attract those people they are assuring it will never happen. If I had a lot of money and was looking for a place to buy a luxury holiday home it sure as hell wouldn’t be Malta or Gozo because it is slowly being destroyed by your so called creative friends.
We don’t need reservoirs at Hondoq —haven’t you remember that at Nadur there where reservoirs to collected water but, the Nadur church destroyed this spring water reservoirs how cleaver we are !!!!!!!!!!!.
@ Pablo I think the reservoir at Hondoq that was referred was the cleaning up of this quarry See if you loke this idea because I did hear a lot about it http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7899/3748/1600/scan0002.0.jpg
Years ago I signed the petition,to save Hondoq,My only reason was that I did it for
the people of Qala.
I personaly, as a tourist do not like Hondoq for a swim,but prefer Ramla,like most of the tourists.
@James,In you:re letter you are only refering to how sad it would be for the tourists,my sugestion:Speak for youreself!!!!
Hondoq is one big tub for the people of Qala,they visit after work,and who am I to blame them,cause the family cost are very high,and if you can save some money and relax at the same time you would be stupid not to go there.but for me?no thanx!!
There is nothing wrong with developement,if they can build something like ta Cenc,I think it would be very nice,and a lot more pleasant sight than all the rubbish that is wandering around in the area.
@Mr.Magro,thank you for not being as short minded,like most of the people,what is wrong with them!!If the great anchestors did not developed themselves they would still be living in caves,so Go with the flow!!!
@ james,when do you stop picking on everybody who has something diverent to say as what you would like to hear?especialy towards Gozoroo?
You are commenting very childish!!
Greetings from Holland.
Choice is a great thing, and you’re welcome to continue going to Ramla which is also a lovely beach – and let the Qalin enjoy their ‘big tub’. There is no demand for more of the same big hotels like ta Cenc, so continue enjoying their facilities as well, and support existing hotels, there is no need to ruin Hondoq. As for Mr Magro, his condescending comment that Gozo is just a lump of wasteland that is worth nothing unless it is destroyed by being built all over isn’t worth replying to.
live and let live,Rex!!and how I wish to spend one time of my life in Ta Cenc .
But I am a visitor,for 12 years now.who prefers a longer stay above a lot of luxery.
So thats why I stay with my husband and son,for more than 3 weaks a year, in an appartment up in Ghanjsielem,wich
is far from any luxery;no airco,bad watersuppli old furnature etc.etc.
But how happy I am there!!!We have a view down at Mgarr,and uphill we can see the Qala fireworks from our balcony,Comino and the verry going up and down to Malta.
We have a lot of friends,on Gozo,who make me feel like coming home every year we visit,and planning the hollidays during the festa of Qala,because thats the best!!
I hope that the counsil do will find a sollution for the problems that will come with the development,and there are a lot of well educated people on Gozo who can ,and have a lot of good ideas,so work together.
My suggestion,keep it simple and not to modern,more back to basic,cause thats what people want now these days,maybe family cottages,boothouse style,and low buildings
not more than 2 levels surrounded by a lot of trees.
That also gives a lot of jobs for cleaning maids ,porters etc.
@James,one job is better than no job at all,and keeping up your hand for social
money, from the governement.
And good facilities like toilets and showers for the locals,because they spend a lot of
time over there.
I am truly sorry if I insulted anyone by my former reply,cause I like the people of Qala very much,and that is why I signed the petition years ago,so I did not have a change of heart,and ofcourse I will go to Hondoq for a swim or a BBQ in the evening,but not every year.couse I prefer Ramla,at the Nadur site,nice and quiet.
@ Aneth If you do not like Hondoq for a swim you are in the very minority so first of all why did you have a change of heart? Perhaps I need to refresh your mind so can you please read this article
https://gozo.news/26719/further-to-my-letter-of-december-the-4th-2012-jane-carr/
Mr Tyrrell does and surely speaks for a lot of people surely not for developers who want to rape our environment
You said, there is nothing wrong with development, if they can build something like ta Cenc, .We all know what a green integrated community was referring too and we also talked to some of our friends from Qala and also read all the comments on the link above .
Aneth what do you do in your country when there is rubish??? Clean it right .Certainly not add any more buildings for speculative gains .We all heard this before that the site is derelict so please don`t try to recycle this as we all know who is behind it .
If there is nothing wrong with development surely it wouldn`t be a problem if things are done in a sustainable way .But have a look at all the hotels that were pulled down and now are FLATS, some of them only very few are sold
We are not saying that we want to live in caves certainly not but we want that things that belonged to everyone should stay for everyone.
Aneth I suggest to you that when you come to Gozo ask the people especially the people of Qala when they voted in referendum 85% against for their opinion. I am writing this comment this morning because I can still remember all the promises that we were told when Chambray was being sold off with the excuse of all the work it will create . Now my village has lost it and also Mgarr all because our villagers had their mouth wide shut .We cannot swim in Mgarr because there are security guards that tell us off and the only place left for us from Ghajnsielem is Hondoq and Xatt l-ahmar and probably that will be taken away from us as well .
PEOPLE FROM QALA DON`T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THAT WE MADE HERE YOU WILL SURELY REGRET IT BUT IT WILL BE TOO LATE
@Aneth. I guess we are all different. If you want to swim at Ramla that’s great as it leaves more room at Hondoq for the rest of us. I have swam there a few times myself but to be honest I find it boring. There’s much more to see at Hondoq. Probably best that you stay away from Qala anyway if you see Hondoq as nothing but a big tub.
And yes development can be good but not when it destroys the very thing that tourists come to the island to see. If as you say you have been going to the island for 12 years then the very least you should have come to understand is the way the country is being raped for profit by property developers. Only yesterday another hotel in Malta was approved for re-development into apartments so the last thing we need at Hondoq is a hotel. It would last no time at all before closing down due to lack of use. Then someone would offer to turn it into apartments which is what they want anyway.