Golf course: incomprehensible proposal

Any development in a small island must be made within the context of the available limited environmental resources. It is common knowledge that land and water resources in Malta are becoming exceedingly scarce. Yet, the Prime Minister recently challenged all common sense by announcing plans for the construction of a large golf course at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra, located in the rural northwest of Malta. Not surprisingly, the golf course being proposed by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) was met with protests from environmental NGOs and the local farming community.

This proposal is another addition to the catalogue of incomprehensible decisions taken by the PN administration. The PN government has gained notoriety for proposing developments that are totally out of context to the site and local environment. Suffice it to mention the proposed landfill at Mnajdra, a stone's throw away from a world heritage site and the expansion of the waste recycling plant at Sant'Antnin, just under the noses of residents of Marsascala.

Why this government continues to challenge common sense and nature itself remains an enigma. Rationality, an attribute long vanished from the minds of PN leaders and their minions, makes us conclude that this is yet another senseless project by a senile administration that seeks the advantage of the few at the expense of all of us.

Labour supports the construction of new golf courses since these may prop up the ailing the tourist industry.

Nevertheless, such a costly endeavour must be made within the context of sustainable development rather than within the context of selfish personal advantage. However, everything points to the latter case.

It was unusual that the Prime Minister had to be the harbinger of the controversial site at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra. His stratagem was to clear the way and brush aside bureaucratic hurdles and any officials who may reasonably oppose this development even while the site selection process for a golf course was in progress at the competent authority (are we reverting to the time when ministers made planning decisions single-handedly?).

Malta already has a golf course at Marsa, which is wisely located in one of the island's widest valleys, where the thick soil is abundantly watered by winter rains. The golf course site proposed by Dr Gonzi at Xaghra il-Hamra lies in a completely different situation. It is exposed to dry winds, incapable of holding much soil, but blessed with abundant diversity of plant life typical of garigue that will now be destroyed to accommodate one species of grass!

Moreover, the area includes arable farming adjacent to Pwales, one of Malta's richest arable farmlands which is now in danger of being eradicated if urban development is allowed to sprawl away from the proposed golf course (a likely scenario in Malta where land speculation is strife).

While land is a scarce commodity in Malta, freshwater is even scarcer. Golf courses place large demands on the water supply. Even countries like Spain are finding it difficult to maintain a supply of water for golf courses. Constructing a golf course in an area where even nature would not permit the growth of natural grassland puts an even greater strain on our water supply.

Malta is already plagued with poor water quality, a direct result of its scarcity and callous protection of the water table by the authorities. A report commissioned by the Water Services Corporation in 2000 shows that tap water in a number of localities contains contaminants that exceed limits in the EU Directive for drinking water. These contaminants include cyanide, boron, bromate, nitrates, fluorides!

Despite this, WSC annual reports which are presented to Parliament always portray a glowing picture of good water quality where only high levels of chlorides seem to be the only problem. Let us make good quality drinking water for our citizens a priority and then start thinking of watering grasses in golf courses!

It should be obvious to all that the decision to build a golf course at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra is purely political and will add more strain to our exhausted economy and scarce environmental resources. This decision is moulded in the ancien régime concept that the government serves the few, while the rest pay the consequences. Such method of the government is approaching its natural end as Labour prepares to lead this country towards the future.