The Malta Archdiocese’s inter-diocesan Commission on the Environment said today that a permanent link, such as the proposed bridge between Malta and Gozo, should be looked at closely, saying that in the past wrong development decision have made a strong negative on quality of life. There is the need of clear direction for the absolute benefit of the common good.

The Commission said that any study carried out should look carefully at all aspects involved, including the environment, so that any decision to implement a project or not, is based on serious research and not just what is thought.

A study carried out by Mott MacDonald on a Malta-Gozo tunnel quoted the construction cost of a tunnel at €156-570 million, annual maintenance costs of €4.5-6.1 million. This data suggests that the existing ferry service and transport to ferry ports should be reevaluated, the Commission said.

The improvement of existing infrastructure could be the action needed to make it sustainable. Such as a faster ferry service, improved public transport and an intelligent traffic management.

The Commission voiced its concern about procedures for potentially large projects, such as land reclamation and the construction of a curise liner terminal in Gozo.

In the first case, the Commission said that serious studies should have been carried out before the Government issued its calls for expressions of interest, to dertermine there is a real need for the project or not, therefore the Commission calls for plans to be postponed, at least until detailed scientific plans have been completed.

This also applies to the expression of interest for the construction of the Gozo cruise liner terminal, the Commission said that studies should be carried out, as to the position of the terminal, its impact on the environment and as to whether cruise tourism was beneficial to Gozo.

The Commission concluded with an appeal that the country undertakes to ensure a sustainable future having learnt from the mistakes in the past. Quality of life should be measured not by profits, but by fairness, from respect for the people and the environment around us, as well as looking at the wealth that this country has with its heritage in the present and for what we leave to those coming behind us.

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