Heated debate at MEPA golf course hearing

The public hearing on the proposed golf course at Rabat descended into chaos yesterday as those against the project hurled abuse at the foreign consultants who were attempting to make a presentation on their environmental impact assessment.

The application for a golf course, filed by developer AX Holdings seven years ago, has always generated a heated debate.

However, the debate reached a crescendo yesterday during the meeting organised by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to hear what the public had to say.

No decisions are taken at a public hearing and the MEPA records all the comments to help it form its eventual decision on the proposed development.

The meeting, which started at 7 p.m. and ran until 10.30 p.m., had a bad start when the consultants began to make their presentation in English without the presence of a Maltese translator.

This angered the numerous farmers and representatives of organisations who had gathered at the L'Isle Adam Band Club in Rabat.

Mr George Xuereb was initially chosen to translate. However, after a few sentences the entire floor started yelling for a proper translator.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo called on the chairman Vince Gauci to postpone the meeting until a neutral and unbiased translator could be found.

AX Holdings chairman Anglu Xuereb attempted to translate, but he was shouted down by the public who called for an unbiased translator.

Eventually, one hour later, engineer Philip Grech got the blessing from all those present to translate the presentation of the foreign consultants, who had been commissioned by the developers to carry out the EIA.

The meeting continued amid continuous interruptions, as the three consultants each gave their presentation on the impacts that the golf course would have on the land and farmers, among others.

All three were pushed by those present to publicly declare they had absolutely no allegiance to the developers or any other interest in the project.

One of the consultants, Kevin Morris, said that 60 per cent of the agricultural land in question was used for fodder for animals, 20 per cent was used for crops, 12 per cent for winter vegetables and eight per cent for summer produce.

The revenue from the crops amounted to between Lm48,000 and Lm95,000 a year. A total of 98 farmers tilled the land, with 82 per cent of these working part-time.

Another consultant, John Grantham, delved into the positive and negative aspects of having a golf course.

The temporary, and in some cases permanent, loss of land was highlighted, though Mr Grantham pointed out that if the project did not work, the use of land would be reversible.

The study also recognised that the project would displace farmers and change the landscape, and that five per cent of the land would be lost to development.

It also acknowledged that some archaeological features would be lost, damaged or buried in the process of developing the golf course.

However, the study also found that the golf course would increase income for local residents and businessmen, offer new employment opportunities and attract more tourists. It was calculated that the economy would receive a boost of Lm2.8 million.

Among the several questions raised by the public was how could the MEPA decide on a project over which the state and the Holy See had signed an agreement on its use for agricultural purposes.

Some also questioned how farmers tilling the land in the vicinity of the golf course would be hit and how the heavy use of pesticides, necessary for golf courses, would affect the health of residents.