Council to hold referendum on proposed Qala project

The developers of a proposed Qala creek project are claiming that "certain individuals" are putting pressure on residents to oppose the development in an upcoming council referendum on the issue.

Gozo Prestige Holidays director Victor Bajada is also claiming that the issue has been "hijacked" by certain individuals who are opposing the project for no valid reason.

Qala council is to hold a referendum between November 15 and 17 for residents to express themselves on the controversial project.

The proposed development of a five-star hotel and marina on the site of a disused quarry in Qala would cost some Lm41million and take around four years to complete.

It includes a five-star hotel, port, village and yacht marina.

Dr Bajada claims the local council together with "a few members of the clergy" are working behind the scenes to influence people's decisions.

Meanwhile, a separate lobby group, the Moviment Harsien Hondoq, was also asking residents to sign a petition against the development, prior to the referendum.

"You are either going to let people express themselves democratically or intimidate them by knocking on their doors and telling them how to vote. How can we have an objective assessment of the project in this manner?" Dr Bajada asked.

Dr Bajada said that just two of the 370 residents who passed comments at an exhibition carried out by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority expressed disapproval of the project.

He said that the referendum was consultative and not abrogative, so a negative vote would not necessarily stop the project.

The Qala quarry has been abandoned since the 1980s, and is currently used for the illegal dumping of household waste and building debris.

The developers propose to lower the existing quarry to sea level, which will make it possible to construct a yacht marina, destination port and berths for local fishermen and day trippers.

The developers maintain that the marina, with some 150 berths, would not impinge on the public beach at Hondoq ir-Rummien.

The garigue would be cleaned of all foreign materials as part of an approved management plan and the project is also expected to create at least 400 new jobs.

Eleven studies on the archaeology, geology and flora and fauna of the area have already been carried out and presented to MEPA.

But when contacted, Qala mayor Paul Buttigieg said the project as proposed was excessive, disproportionate and would give rise to speculation to the detriment of the environment and picturesque Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay.

Mr Buttigieg said the development was too extensive for an area as small as Hondoq ir-Rummien, and would effectively mean that the population in Qala would double.

This means that there would be a massive strain on the infrastructure, the mayor said.

Mr Buttigieg shot down suggestions that the local council was putting pressure on residents.

"We are merely informing residents what we think about the project, the same way the two main political parties give their views on the EU. No resident is being forced to vote one way or another."

The local council yesterday sent a letter to all residents spelling out the reasons for its objection.

He confirmed that certain members of the clergy had expressed their thoughts on the matter, but added that everybody was entitled to an opinion.

"We are not against the development of the quarry, but we are simply against this project as is being proposed."

Mr Buttigieg said the developers intended to excavate the present parking space to allow the sea into the quarry.

"And what guarantee do we have that Hondoq ir-Rummien will not end up like Portomaso beach?" he asked.