16 comments so far.Possible referendum on choice of bridge or tunnel for Gozo
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A public consultation meeting was held at the Ministry for Gozo earlier this evening, during which the Gozo Minister, Anton Refalo spoke on several topics.
Dr Refalo said that it was a possibility that a referendum would be held on the choice of a bridge or a tunnel as a link to Gozo, the Minister pointed out that this would be once the Government had seen the conclusions of the feasibility studies.
The Government also intended to issue a call for expressions of interest in a catamaran service, which would be between Gozo and Vallettam as well as Gozo and Sicily, the Minister said.
Dr Refalo said that tourism in Gozo “is an important pillar of the Gozitan economy, as well as in employment,” domestic tourism needs to be developed and he reiterated the Government’s plan for a new yacht marina and cruise liner terminal.
The Minister also referred to the agreement reached last month whereby the Gozo Chuch will be renting the St. Joseph Home in Ghajnsielem to the Government for the use as a home for the elderly.
The Ministry for Gozo will take over its administration, at a rent that will be lower than the market value.
I hope Gozitans protest this move. Malta is too poulated already. We don’t need a bridge or tunnel or any link to another country that will cause chaos. Leave Gozitans alone!!!!
Unfortunately although a fixed link would be very convenient I believe it would destroy the character of Gozo that make it such a unique tourist destination and turn it into a suburb of Malta.
Well said Mr Brightside but Gozo would turn into a rowdy city rather than a suburb.
agree with you Mr Brightside, part of the charm of coming to gozo is the ferry crossing,
Do people really think that after spending countless millions of euro on the new terminals and road access that a bridge or tunnel will come about ?
where would the entry & exit points for a bridge or tunnel be !
while they are tunneling why not make the entry/exit on the gharb road and give victoria the much needed by-pass that they keep talking about,
pie in the sky ideas that will never happen….
If you had asked me several years ago if I would like to retire to Gozo I would have said yes, in a heartbeat. Now the answer would be no and that is because of the stupid suggestions such as those coming from this so called Gozo Minister. He has also suggested although it is not reported here that he will be looking at a fixed wing airline between Gozo and Malta. So he thinks he knows better than the experts who have stated time and time again that this can never be financially sustainable. if it was to be given the green light it will fail after about 12 to 18 months unless the Government are going to throw money into it like a black hole. The end result will be more of Gozo concreted over and it will turn into a playground for anyone with a light aircraft. The tourists that he is so worried about will then have to put up with these idiots taking off and landing all bloody day and buzzing around the island like mozzies. As if the construction noise and the church bells were not a big enough problem. I’m sure this ‘Minister’ has some other occupation that he has put on hold in order to hold this position and I suggest he is sent back to it for the good of Gozo.
Since you wrote this James we have found out that a study to assess the feasibility of a bridge between Malta and Gozo, has been granted to the Chinese and another thing not mentioned by yourself is where is the yacht Marina planned to be built?
https://gozo.news/39214/government-signs-mou-with-chinese-co-on-bridge-to-gozo/
The logical place to put a marina is at Mgarr. Better to extend what is already there than spoil another area.
As a tourist I’m against the idea of a bridge or tunnel and certainly an air link which is just plain stupid. However I also have to look at it from the point of view of the Gozitan people and a bridge would be a great benefit to them in their everyday lives. Having said that where is the money going to come from?
Tell`em James, Malta cannot afford it on it`s own and with the EU empty coffers, the construction, operating and ongoing maintenance will surely have to be privatized. In short it will be a tollway not a highway/freeway. OUCH! GOZITANS WILL NOT FANCY THE IDEA
Gozoroo
as for a yacht marina, marsalforn, rebuild the breakwater at the same time, kill two birds with one stone !
I hope all the people in Gozo greatly protest this move of a bridge or tunnel and realize that the island of Malta became destroyed because it was easily reached by everyone and a bridge will make it easy for everyone to reach Gozo . Gozo will be destroyed by a bridge or tunnel like Malta was when everyone entered it.
It would be heavenly if a tunnel or a bridge was constructed for us, Gozitan workers and students who have to cross to Malta every weekday. I have to personally wake up over 2 hours before my shift even starts and it would be definitely comforting to know that the next 5 years i have to work and study will be at least a little bit more comfortable. It would be great if we could say goodbye to the stormy waves that make the ferry so bumpy. I believe that we would benefit a lot from this and I hope that this dream comes true. We cannot expect others to understand us Gozitans about this. We alone experience it, travelling every day plus studying and working and arriving home deadly tired. Thank you.
Actually I’m a tourist and I understand exactly what you are saying. As a tourist I’m against it but I know what a benefit it would be for the Gozitan people so I would back you on this totally. I enjoy the ferry ride over but I don’t have to do it every day and have never had to endure rough seas.
If a bridge or tunnel is created , mark my words, Gozo will turn into the dirty Malta that so many authors are writing about. Many people get up 2 or 3 hours before their workday starts. Its not unusual.
So right Eliza! And they travel by train plus subway or bus (and ferry too in some places) and in winter with temperature near or below zero, they never see the daylight. And they don’t come home to beautiful Gozo!
Gozo with a tunnel or a link will become one of Malta’s suburbs, we’ll leave it to your imagination, but more to your logic and reason, to see what that implies.
More Lidl on farmland? and so forth….
Yes, Gozo would turn into a rowdy city with twice the traffic and pollution. The priority concern of the Maltese islands should be on how to cut back on exhaust and focus on attaining clean healthy air
Walter ……………….. I hope The Gozo Minister Have a good idea where the Money are coming from ? Hope he is not thinking ,the money are growing on TREES . If the Maltese and Gozitans Want the Tunnel or the Bridge ,Be Ready on my word ,that your Property Taxes will be imposed, and it won’t be cheap . The Minister is not talking with Thousands of EURO’s ,But with BILLIONS of EURO’s .. Think it twice before you CUT the Ribbon . ..PS You people are sitting in a GOLDEN Paradise ,please do not try to Change it . Because you be Sorry .in years ahead . GOZITAN from Xaghra .