| Why the golf course proposal should be rejected Julian Manduca, coordinator, Friends of the Earth (Malta) www.timesofmalta.com 19 August 2002 Instead of discussing issues, Angelo Xuereb chooses to attack people personally. His vision of events is totally skewed. Of course, the farmers were angry at the public hearing held recently. If somebody were to place an application before the MEPA to develop a hotel on the site of the Suncrest Hotel and try to argue that AX Holdings was not running its hotel properly, Mr Xuereb would understandably be angry too. The most uncivilised thing that happened during the meeting was the fact that the presentations were made in English as, in the main, farmers do not understand that language properly. It is simply not correct that opposition to the golf course rests on a few individuals. About 200 people took to the streets to protest recently, not just Joe Farrugia, Harry Vassallo and myself. There is little to no support for AX Holding's golf course and those attending the public hearing were mostly on Mr Xuereb's payroll. What Mr Xuereb never tries to answer is the torrent of valid criticism against the project. He should try and explain why his project should be approved when it clearly goes against the structure plan and the environment impact statement indicates why the planning directorate has recommended a refusal. The site does not conform to established locational criteria: the site is not derelict or requiring major environmental improvements as is recommended in the structure plan policy. The area is a rural conservation area. The hydrological impact is unacceptable: there is a potential threat to the upper perched aquifer of central Malta; any change to the water system in the area will have negative impacts on the surrounding area and it is expected that there will be increased run-off affecting downstream users. Valley-side location: the proposed golf course is not a permitted use on the sides of valleys; it will give rise to increased erosion and is contrary to the conservation and management of water resources. Blue clay slopes: It is considered that the development will significantly remodel the blue clay slopes resulting in adverse effects on groundwater systems and valley-side landscapes, and will bring about an increase in soil erosion. The proposal should be rejected for the above reasons and also because it would violate an international agreement between the Maltese government and the Vatican state. If the MEPA board approves the project, no member of a farming family will sleep well that night. And never again. No Maltese farmer will sleep comfortably knowing that the land where they work could be taken away from them by people who do not own, and have no legal right, to that land. |
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