Press Release 04/09/2004 FRONT AGAINST THE GOLF COURSE APPEALS TO MEPA BOARD In a press conference held in Valletta, the Front Against the Golf Course appealed to the MEPA Board to take a decision in favour of rule of law, the structure plan, sustainable development, social justice and environmental protection by rejecting the proposal to develop a golf course at Verdala. The Front Against the Golf Course, a broad coalition of over twenty environmental, social, religious, agricultural, political and cultural organisations which was set up with the specific aim to safeguard agricultural land at Verdala from golf course development said: "The proposal to build a golf course at Verdala does not make economic, environmental, cultural, social, or legal sense. It clearly violates the 1991 Agreement between the Government of Malta and the Holy See and Policy TOU12 within Malta's Structure Plan." "It proposes to uproot almost a hundred farmers and to destroy their knowledge of a large stretch of rich agricultural land that goes back hundreds of years. These farmers have signed a declaration against the proposed golf course on the land and presented it to the Vatican, the President of Malta, the Archbishop of Malta, the Apostolic Nuncio in Malta, and the Prime Minister." "The proposed golf course at Verdala was turned down by the Planning Directorate (the planning experts) of the Planning Authority for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is a Rural Conservation Area; that the potential threat on the water resources (upper perched aquifer of central Malta) is unacceptable; and that it will increase soil erosion." "One should note that Malta is a semi-arid country already poor in water supplies and that the turf to be used is an alien invasive species which could threaten nearby habitats The proposed golf course would consume an unsustainable amount of precious water - according to indications given by the developers' consultant to the Water Services Corporation and reported by Il-Gens Illum, the proposed golf course would consume a quantity of water equivalent to the consumption of 19,000 people." "The proposed golf course at Verdala would threaten to contaminate Malta's main drinking water supply - the Mean Sea Level Aquifer - because of the risk of seepage into this aquifer of the agro-chemicals applied to the fairways. The seepage could occur due to the nature of the underlying geological formation, as warned by the Malta Resources Authority in its submission to MEPA of 12/06/2002." "One should also note that the proposed golf course runs counter to other sustainable kinds of development, like organic farming, agro tourism and ecotourism, that empower the local farming community. MEPA has already approved a project for the creation of a centre for organic farming in the area run by one of the farmers." "An in depth analysis that has been presented to MEPA has shown that the economic benefits claimed by the developer in terms of job creation, tourist arrivals and other areas are largely based on technically unsound assumptions and mere speculation. Official Government research has shown that tourists identify issues such as environmental degradation, and not the lack of an 18-hole golf course, as a major liability of the Maltese tourist industry." "The Front Kontra l-Golf Kors endorses the report issued by the Church Commission. The Commission states that the Environment Impact Statement submitted by AX Holdings on the proposed golf course failed to properly address the negative effect of the proposed development on a number of resources. The Commission is also confirming that the proposed development violates the agreement between the Government and the Holy See, enshrined in Maltese law as the Ecclesiastical Entities (Properties) Act, 1992." "We refer the MEPA Board to the scientific report carried out by experts on behalf of the Church Commission on the Environment and to the extensive comments on the AX Holdings' Environmental Impact Assessment by the Front submitted to MEPA." "The Front Against the Golf Course reminds the MEPA Board that the Rabat Local Council, Alternattiva Demokratika, the Malta Labour Party and a large number of civil society organizations are officially opposing the project. These include the Progressive Farmers Union, Din l-Art Helwa, the Jesuit Province in Malta, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Moviment Graffitti, and Farmers' Central Co-Operative Society, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh, International Animal Rescue, Azzjoni Pozittiva, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin, Save Wied Garnaw Action Group and Young Left Malta. Besides, various opinion makers, including exponents of the Nationalist Party and Il-Gens Illum are also opposing the proposed development." "Besides, a number of leading foreign institutions and organizations that have spoken out against the proposed golf course at Verdala, including the Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte, Altreconomia, CRIC, CTM-Altromercato, International House and Etimos in Italy; Friends of the Earth (Middle East); the Eco Village Network in Turkey; CRIDA and Allee in France; and European Perspective in Greece. These organizations recalled that "Malta has ratified the Barcelona Convention and is a signatory of the UN Convention to combat Desertification," and they called on the relevant Maltese authorities to "desist from proposing and supporting projects that are unsustainable." They said that the golf course proposed for the Verdala area "should be rejected" because "agricultural land should be protected and improved because it has a value that far exceeds the price that a developer may be willing to pay for it." The Front Against the Golf Course added, "By rejecting the proposal for this golf course that would destroy one of the most beautiful areas on the island forever and uproot a hundred farmers and their families, MEPA, as it is duty bound to do, will send a clear message to everyone that Malta needs to stand by its precious natural and human resources and allow them to flourish." The press conference was addressed by University Chaplain Fr Jimmy Bartolo, Progressive Farmers' Union Secretary Joe Farrugia, Dr David Zammit (University Chaplaincy), Annalise Falzon (Nature Trust) and Mike Briguglio (Moviment Graffitti) More details on the Front's stance against the proposed development at Verdala, information about its submission to MEPA and related material may be obtained at: http://nogolfmalta.cjb.net . Mike Briguglio f/ Front Kontra l-Golf Kors |
 |
 |