MLP still to take stand over golf course

Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion yesterday said the opposition still had to take a stand on the proposed development of a golf course at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra, which falls between Ghajn Tuffieha and the outskirts of Mellieha.

The government's intention to have an 18-hole golf course in the area, made up mainly of garigue and patches of agricultural land, has been met with widespread opposition from environmental NGOs and farmers in the area.

Asked by The Times what the MLP's stand over a golf course in the area was, Dr Mangion said the party was still gathering data and information about the impact that the golf course would have.

"We need to evaluate the holistic picture, including the effects of the development on the people of the area, tourism and even environmental considerations," Dr Mangion said.

However, he added, the parliamentary group had to discuss the matter properly before coming out with an official stand.

Asked whether the party was for or against developing golf courses as such, Dr Mangion said the party favoured golf courses. "We had not come out against the Verdala golf course in 1996. It's a question of choosing the appropriate site," Dr Mangion said.

A Labour MP who did not wait for the party's official stand to voice opposition to a golf course on Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra and Qortin was Evarist Bartolo, the opposition's tourism spokesman and MP in the 12th district. He has already spoken to a few of the Manikata farmers who recently received a notice of termination of their lease from the government.

"I think golf courses would be an added value in terms of tourism. However, I don't agree that the garigue land earmarked by the government should be spoilt," Mr Bartolo told The Times.

He said it would be a good idea to develop a golf course on sites which were already irreparably damaged such as the Maghtab dump.

Mr Bartolo said the islands were already overbuilt and were fast being transformed into a giant road network and traffic islands.

"Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra is one of the remaining natural unbuilt spaces. Garigue is characteristic of Malta and makes it different from anywhere else," he said, insisting that the government should not consider development projects on garigue or agricultural land.

Mr Bartolo said he feared the government did not really have an open mind on the issue and that the process was being "fast-tracked" so that the project could go through as soon as possible.