Qala Mayor urges authorities to put an end to plans for Hondoq marina

by Gozo News · February 26, 2022

Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg is urging the authorities to put an end to plans for a marina and tourist complex at Hondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo.

Buttigieg pointed out that plans for the Marsascala marina had been scrapped just in the last wee following an announcement by the Prime Minister.

He stressed that, “we have struggled for 20 years to prevent this proposed project from ruining Hondoq Bay. Another hearing of the appeal will be heard on the 8th of March. The people want their bay to be safeguarded.”Buttigieg concluded by stating that,“the political parties have all agreed that Hondoq should be protected. If we are to be given more green open space why can’t we be guaranteed that Hondoq will not be developed? We want actions not words.”

Last November, both locals and NGO turned out in force in support of the fight to save the bay, during a “site visit” by members of the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal – who were to decide on the fate of Hondoq.

A view of what the proposed Hondoq Bay project could look like

Photo reconstruction of the Qala Creek project by Daniel Cilia – This is an approximate view of the project with architect’s flat plans used on an aerial photo

Those present backed the Qala Mayor’s insistence that “Hondoq ir-Rummien be declared a public domain by Parliament and given the protection it deserves under the local plan so that it is never again threatened by development.”