25 comments so far.240 berth marina for Sa Maison, Gozo ferry berth being relocated
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Transport Malta has said that it will be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the concession for the development, operation and management of an all-weather marina, with a minimum of 240 berths and complementary shore side facilities at Sa Maison. The concession will be for a fixed term of 25 years.
Transport Malta said that after the handover to the new operator, Gozo Channel operations will be relocated to an alternative site. Also, in agreement with AFM, the gate for AFM base, will be relocated inward to make an additional area available for this development.
For many years, Malta has experienced a considerable increase in yacht ownership and activity, creating considerable demand for more facilities with demand for berthing facilities exceeding the existing capacity. Thus the initiative, long awaited by the industry, is in line with the Government’s policy to continue supporting the further development of the yachting industry in Malta.
Joe Mizzi, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, said that whilst this investment, will surely generate commercial activity in the area, it will also be raising Malta’s profile in the yachting industry across the Mediterranean and will certainly consolidate Malta’s strategic position as an international centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.
James Piscopo, Transport Malta Chairman stated, “we aim to provide the right conditions and environment for the yachting industry to grow and prosper through the maximisation of our coastal and physical resources. Through the publication of this RFP, Transport Malta took a tangible step towards addressing the shortfall which has been restricting the further growth of the industry. We are confident that the development of this marina will foster a variety of ancillary services and related business activities with the implied value added in the economy. Hence we invite the business community to invest in this opportunity.”
The new operator is expected to invest in the right quality infrastructure and to operate to the highest international standards. The investment will include the upgrading of the adjacent area, which will remain accessible at all times, pontoons / mooring systems to accommodate the maximum number of yachts, the development of weather protection measures, adequate land facilities for berth holders, electrical shore power and water supply, landscaping and other ancillary facilities and services etc.
Proposals will be received by Tuesday 23rd September 2014.
Transport Malta said that it intends to conclude negotiations with the selected preferred bidder within the shortest possible time-frame.
Look at the beauty of this photo. Whats makes it so beautiful is that there is no development. Hands off Gozo!!!
Eliza you want Gozo to be like a Christmas crib and do not bother about the needs and problems of it’s inhabitants and you still live in New York immersed with all the luxury around you.
Did you know that Sa Maison is actually on Malta? Nothing to do with Gozo!!
Transport Malta said that after the handover to the new operator, Gozo Channel operations will be relocated to an alternative site. Where? This whole idea is crazy – why don’t they build an additional marina at Marsalforn if they have to build one anywhere?
When they say that they mean the ferry landing on Malta for the once a week freight run into Sa Maison (on Malta). It will not affect Gozo.
Carmel, I have my family and home there. The second Malta joined the EU, is when Malta went on a nosedive. This is a fact because many Maltese people here tell me the EU destroyed it and I always knew thats what caused Malta’s fall. Why don’t Malta remove itself from the EU before it gets even worse? Malta, wake up!! Why did Malta declare their independance from Britain and join the EU? It makes no sense
You really do NOT understand the situations here. When was the last time you were here?
When was the last time you did any research into the true nature of the relationship twixt Malta and the EU? Time moves on and the only constant in our lives is change. Get used to it. Your opinions are based upon memories and fantasy, you need to speak with people who live here, ask Gozitans what they need and want. You will find that it is very different from what you say they want.
The EU put Malta on the map which caused everyone to enter it and stomp on and now Brad Pitt is putting Gozo on the map and the same thing will happen to Gozo.
Again, you are over reacting to something you know little about. There are so many films and TV episodes made here that this will make little difference apart from supply much needed work for those living here. Also, the EU did NOT spoil Malta, the money Malta gained from joining has been used to improve much of the islands. However, it is greedy developers and an ineffective and collusive MEPA that is ruining Malta due to massive over (and unnecessary) property development. Many people here (emphasis on here) blame EU membership for many things without knowing the facts. They like to do so, it’s a national vocation to do so. But, they are also happy to take the money. However, there is an easy solution thanks to Malta’s Referendum process. Raise a petition, get it signed with VERIFIABLE signatures (FKNK please note) and force a referendum. Easy, if you don’t like the heat get out of the EU kitchen.
A previous seems to have disappeared but it was that Malt has received nearly €1B since joining the EU.
Though in fairness it appears that Malta in the past seven years has received €855m in funding or €122m annually. During the period from 2005 to 2011 Malta contributed on average €58m a year to the EU. The net funds received from the EU for the period were therefore, on average, €64m a year. We should note that €64m is only 2.8% of the total government revenue for the seven year span
Ok the EU funding may have built roads but it has also imposed the enforced presence of thousands of illegal (not irregular) migrants. This number will increase a thousand fold and in due course the EU will be funding the construction of mosques and faith schools. Then Malta will be done for.
Mick Cundy, I am not over reacting. I speak the truth
Mick cundy, if I am overreacting, why are people already saying that they never heard of Gozo and want to buy a ticket to Gozo because of Brad Pitts upcoming movie? This is under many magazines that is featuring his upcoming movie. If they are talking like this now, you can imagine the reaction once the movie is filmed. You said that there are many films and episodes filmed in Gozo but for some crazy reason people world wide give him more attention than other actors
Brad Pitt shouldn’t even be allowed to film in gozo. By putting gozo on the map, his film will cause chaos in Gozo. Gozo should remain a peaceful island, especially for those who retire there and every film made emits a great amount of pollution and can indeed harm the surrounding environment. This is a fact. Like Mgarr hasn’t suffered alot of pollution already we need his filming to add more pollution to such a tiny island.People who live near Mgarr suffer from alot of pollution as it is.
Tell you what Eliza as it is apparent that you are the only authority on all things related to Gozo I’m going to leave this. It is pointless trying to apply logic and provide evidence to counter your wisdom.
May your binoculars remain rose tinted and continue to provide you with all you need to know about Gozo from such a distance. Keep reading those film fan magazines and watching and listening to FoxNews etc. They’ll tell you all you need to know.
Perhaps Gozo News should add ‘Eliza’ to their spam filter and save us from silly comments from someone who was last lived in Gozo 25 years ago and is several thousand miles away!!
Mick Cundy, Everything I wrote are facts.
This is an example of how Mick cundy and RayPizer treat the elderly
I am also retired and ‘elderly’!!
Still think a spam filter would be a good idea!
Eliza, what you write are opinions, not facts. Also, I too am senior in years but I do not resort to using that defence, if that is what it is, in the event of my opinions being challenged or when engaged in discussion. You choose to state your opinions in the first place therefore you should expect them to be discussed. If not, why state your opinions? If it is the fact that you were last here 25 years ago, then you cannot possibly base your opinions upon current situations. Would you still expect women here to wear the g?onnella? No, because change is constant and inevitable. Change must be recognised and accepted; for better or worse; in one’s opinion of course. I live on Gozo because I do not like the way Malta has become, crowded, polluted and over developed, though there are still some lovely places there. Yes, it is true that I live here because it reminds me of the country I first experienced nearly 40 years ago. I too look for a quiet, less busy and more traditional lifestyle BUT I also expect change and just because I look for certain things in my life it does not mean that what I look for is relevant to the needs of the majority of others, who also live here. Our individual needs change over time and we have to adapt to the changing community in which we live. If we cannot change what we do not like we have to change our attitude and accept in order to remain healthy.
What I wrote are all facts. You said that you live in Gozo because you don’t like the way Malta has become, crowded, polluted and overdeveloped.Are you kidding me? This is what Brad Pitts movie will cause Gozo to turn into. Brad Pitt is going to create chaos for Gozo and no other star is like him when it comes to getting peoples attention. Don’t you get it. Once the move is filmed the entire world will see Gozo for the first time and Gozo will be mentioned nonstop because of Brad Pitt’s world wide popularity. Brad Pitts family will be in Gozo filming for months. Malta was destroyed when the entire world found out about it and this is what Brad Pitt will do to Gozo.
Brad who?
Don’t you ‘get it’? You persist in your opinions based upon your idealised images and state your opinions are facts.
So, how can they be ‘facts’ when the consequences you conceive have not even happened yet?
I also seriously doubt that one man is going to cause an invasion and the destruction of Gozo.
Malta was not destroyed by visitors but by greedy developers.
Let’s try to live in the ‘real world’ eh?
I don’t think Brad Pitt caused an ‘invasion’ last time he was here.
Malta & Gozo have hosted a number of movie stars who have worked here at one time or another such as and including a long list of A listers: Gérard Depardieu, Brad Pitt, Rachel Weisz, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Sharon Stone, Rupert Everett, Orlando Bloom, Sean Connery, Jim Caviezel, Madonna, Matthew McConaughey, Harvey Keitel, Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeff Bridges, Geena Davis, Tom Selleck, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Tim Robbins, John Cleese, Mickey Rooney, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robin Williams, Jane Seymour, Roger Moore, Paul Newman, Peter O’Toole, Joan Collins, Michael Caine, Richard Attenborough and hundreds of others.
What may happen is that perhaps a few more visitors than usual may come here and spend their money and film crew, cast and extras will also spend money whilst they are here and that and the fees can only be good for the local economy.
Take a tip Eliza, don’t believe all you read in film fan and romantic magazines. And, don’t believe that everything is a ‘fact’ either.
Ray Pizer and McCundy, I hope your right and everyone asks, Brad who? That way, Gozo will remain peaceful
None of the above stars attract as much attention as Brad Pitt here in the US. I have heard of all those stars you named but Brad Pitt is always mentioned first on tv and on the magazines and thats what worries me.