Verdala golf course 'would generate Lm2.5 million a year'

A golf course in Verdala would generate around Lm2.5 million a year in tourism activities and spin-offs, developer Angelo Xuereb said yesterday.

The revenue would be generated by attracting tourists who spent more, through the organisation of conferences and incentive groups, and through increased spending on airlines, restaurants, car hire and all other tourist sectors, he said.

Mr Xuereb said that the figure was calculated by extrapolating existing figures to take into account the percentage of tourists from Malta's markets that would be interested in golf.

"The figures were submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, and are what it considers to be feasible. In fact, our estimates were higher, but they were revised downwards following discussion."

The application to have a golf course in Verdala is moving a crucial step closer to a decision, after years of delays.

A public hearing organised by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority will be held at the L'Isle Adam Band Club in Rabat on Tuesday at 7 p.m. during which the developers' consultants will explain the projects and the findings of the EIA, followed by discussion with the public.

The hearing is part of the process to determine the application for an outline development permit. The first application was filed in 1994 for a nine-hole course, and was subsequently revised to an 18-hole course at the suggestion of the PA. However, this was put on ice because there was at the time no policy paper on golf courses.

The policy was finalised under the Labour government of 1996-98, and a tender was issued to see if anyone else was interested. Thirteen applications were received, one of which was invalid. An adjudicating committee subsequently shortlisted four, which were then whittled down to two: Verdala and Ta' Cenc in Gozo.

Tourism minister Karmenu Vella had presented the findings to the Cabinet, which instructed the PA to proceed with the application and determine if an Environment Impact Assessment were needed, and the PA Board in turn asked the developer for the EIA to be prepared.

However, opposition to the golf course has being growing, with a number of entities listing various reasons why the golf course should not go ahead.

Dr Harry Vassallo, chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party yesterday appealed for quality of life, sustainable development and social justice to prevail during Tuesday's public hearing.

"AD is confident that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board members will take account of the fact that the proposed golf course violates both Malta's structure plan and the agreement between the Maltese government and the Holy See. We are also confident that the MEPA board members have paid close attention of the Environment Impact Assessment, a proper reading of which will confirm that the proposed golf course is unsustainable," he said in a statement.

"The projections on tourist expenditure within the community appear to be over-optimistic, too, especially when one keeps in mind that five-star tourists tend to spend most money within the hotel they are staying in."

"AD strongly urges that an independent economic study should be carried out to confirm whether the EIA projections are over-optimistic."

Dr Vassallo also rebuked the EIA projection that government revenue from the project would reach Lm814,000 a year (a figure which does not tally with the AX Holdings').

"Does this figure include the thousands of liri that Government would have to spend to subsidise the hefty amounts of water that will be used by such a thirsty golf course?"

Dr Vassallo added that the EIA mentions only nine organisations that are opposing the proposed golf course.

"In reality there are many more organisations that are opposing the proposed development.

"The member and supporter organisations within the Front Kontra l-Golf Course comprise 17 organisations, namely, Progressive Farmers Union, Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Eco - the Ecological Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, International Animal Rescue, University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin and the Farmers' Central Co-operative Society. Furthermore, other organisations such as Din l-Art Helwa are also opposing the proposed development."

Dr Vassallo added that it was clear that the proposed golf course would destroy agricultural land as well as the community of 98 farmers and their families.

"AD is confident that the MEPA Board members will stand up and be counted and defend sustainable development, the rule of law, agriculture and social justice by refusing the proposed golf course. This would be a major decision in favour of the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitans."