The path to political rethought, not road relocation
The obsessive focus on road relocation has alienated government from two salient examples surrounding, literally, the issue. The first concerns Gozo’s re-branding as an eco-island, and the second is an example of sustainable development of a similar site in a North African country, in which there are ample similarities to Ghadira.
The outrageous proposal of re-routing the main trunk road leading to Cirkewwa from the Ghadira coastal road, right through the footprint area of Malta’s largest afforestation project at Mellieha, attests once again that the government is sabotaging its own efforts of attempting to give an environmental package to its policies. To convert Gozo into an eco-island, and to promote the idea with such pomp, while Malta is beleaguered with serious disregard towards the protection of one of its last green lungs is tantamount to giving nougat to a patient, while injecting him with insulin. I cannot fathom how a European Union member state like ours, proposes a project that lacks baseline studies and ignores the grave consequences of such an action. One asks what opinion, if consulted, does the Mellieħa Local Council have on this proposal.
Malta would seriously benefit by learning from Morocco’s example of the important bird reserve of Lac de Sidi Bourhaba. Having visited it personally, I recall driving down on the autoroute du Nord that links Tangier to Casablanca, a modern motorway that shames our national road network. It was built very recently and given its importance in providing rapid transport of goods by long vehicles plying between Morocco and Spain, reducing the travelling time immensely, the project still sought to impinge minimal impact on the reserve. In fact the autoroute at stages moves inland from the coast, such as at Kenitra, north of Rabat, where the visitor finds this 800 ha Ramsar site, which is internationally known for the large number of species including marbled ducks, ferruginous ducks, Andouin’s gulls, spoonbills, cattle egrets, greater flamingo and marsh harriers.
One leaves the motorway that skirts the outer rim of the reserve and cautiously approaches the reserve on a narrow track road that stops at the reserve’s main gate. The rangers patrol the footprint area on horseback, thereby reducing noise pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. We are here talking about how Morocco, a progressive North African state, protects its natural fauna and flora. Once again this saga continues to relegate Malta as a European country with a high level of conceit but a dismal level of self-esteem. A tired Cinderella going to the Prince’s court dance dressed in rags.
It may be pertinent to refer to the National Statistic Office newsletter No. 126/2008, which stated that 265,230 vehicles were ferried between the islands in the Apr-June 2008 period. Suffice to note that this amount does not include the traffic that travels towards Armier, Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa or Daħlet ix-Xmajjar. One dreads to imagine the increase in carbon emissions and noise pollution if the proposed relocation of the Għadira coastal road comes through and challenges the validity of Birdlife and Din l-Art Ħelwa’s quest to pursue with their Foresta 2000 project, that we all remember was a gift to the nation for the new millennium. I would have expected Government to propose the complete removal of the existing asphalted road behind the Danish village tourist complex and reverting its surface to rural paving, thereby encouraging more rambling and horse-riding activities, on an overcrowded island that practically has no hinterland.
If we are to believe that one motive is the seasonal clogging of the Ghadira coastal road due to heavy vehicular movement caused by bathers intent on spending time on the Mellieha sandy beach, that can be alleviated by the construction of two car parks, then we surely have lost all planning sense and all the tourism industry’s efforts to go towards an environmentally sustainable market are rendered as cliché phrases and convenient buzz words.
Here one suggests the introduction of a commuter transport hub station servicing the historic centre of Mellieha and Ghadira from the main tourist resorts of Buġibba and St. Julians. Again, one notices a dearth of EIA and a lack of qualitative surveys to identify the original source of Għadira-bound vehicles. This system should be specifically designed providing ample space for bathers carrying beach bags and apparatus and rather than car parks, can be accommodated with the provision of two parking bays for un/loading passengers. This service, I trust, is not provided for in the new public transport routes released in the last few days.
We should actively encourage the Malta Tourism Authority to observe how Crete managed to transform the erstwhile dirty sandy palm beach of Vai into one of the top Mediterranean beaches and how the renowned Preveli beach is serviced by boat transportation from Plakias. This Ghadira travesty may be yet another blessing in disguise, highlighting the urgent need for Malta to leave beach management in the hands of planners and landscape architects, who together with environmental consultants can help enhance our tourist product without prejudicing the natural environment.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
Artists, art critics and friends unanimously gather to remember the impact and value of Ebba von Fersen Balzan’s work and her strong connection with the Maltese islands
