Thursday, 18th September 2008 - 13:27CET

Ħal Ferħ development brief published

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has published a development brief for the redundant Ħal Ferħ tourist complex and its immediate surroundings in Għajn Tuffieħa to direct the sustainable planning development and future use of this area.

Public consultation will take place over the next six weeks and MEPA will be meeting the local council, NGOs, tourism related agencies and other interested stakeholders for the final plan to based on principles of sustainable development.

Stemming from a policy provision in the North West Local Plan, the brief seeks to promote the redevelopment and reuse of the land for tourism, with the goal to develop in a sustainable manner the site’s environmental and heritage assets. It emphasises that the land-use on this site will be used for tourism oriented purposes only.

The brief also encourages energy conservation measures both in the conserved structures as well as any new or replacement buildings.

Hard or digital copies of the development brief may be viewed or purchased from the MEPA offices in Floriana, the Mellieħa council or the authority's website www.mepa.org.mt.

The public is encouraged to send their comments and suggestions to Halferh@mepa.org.mt up to October 31.

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Comments

CLIFFORD VELLA (on 18/9/08)

My suggestion is that we creat this place as a national park like the one that there is at Ta Qali. Apart of that we have to organise in it on every weekend mostly in summer special nights, like for example beer festival,wine festivals,maltese nights,craft festivals,and so much other activities. Although these types of activities we do them already in Ta Qali, most of the people that go for them are Maltese. I think that if we start doing these activities at Hal Ferh as well, we will attract more tourists for them because in the north of Malta we have alot of hotels.

To keep this place alive as well during the week days, we have to build some craft shops but very limited so tour leaders can take tourists there during the day.

Louis Gatt (on 18/9/08)

I fully agree with Mr. Franz Zammit Haber with his idea to convert Hal Ferh into a Senior Citizen complex. There's an acute shortage of Senior Citizens' homes and this would be most wellcome to the ageing population. Surely there's more than enough hotels already as quite a few hotel owners decided to pull down their hotel and build flats instead! Prosit Franz.

Jo Said (on 18/9/08)

I agree that the islands have peaked in hotel rooms. It is not the quantity that we should improve but the quality. Consequently, it is erroneous to focus on more tourist beds.

Hal Ferh should be dedicated to our senior citizens and the development should remain in its present one and two-storey heights. The greenery and the mature trees should also be preserved.

Let us not accept that this area, too, becomes a playground for the land and development speculator.

Franz Zammit Haber (on 18/9/08)

Anybody in his right state of mind knows that Malta has enough hotels - even too much and the occupancy level is not that high except for the peak summer season.
An ideal solution to this complex is to develop a residential complex for senior citizens. This facility exists in many countries and is sought after by a good percentage of retired citizens.
The demand for residential homes for the elderly is very high and it is nearly impossible to find a place unless you are very rich.
No major construction will be needed as the complex already consists of units. This facility would also attract senior citizens from other countries to settle here for the ultime period of their lifespan.

l Galea (on 18/9/08)

@Bertu Cassar
Great idea.
Why do we have to build up every single inch of our country when we already have more than enough buildings?

D. Farrugia (on 18/9/08)

as in other similar sustainable developments.....it should focus

100% carbon FREE
100% renewable energy dependent
100% recycleable waste

Using such approach large touristic complex would be definintely interested: such as CLUB MED and APLI tours amongst others.

can we take such approach ?

caz crutchley (on 18/9/08)

Great idea ... dont build anything... give the land back to nature make it a park and picnic area with nature trails

Bertu Cassar (on 18/9/08)

Hey I have an idea, forget hotels and other tourist accomodation places, we already have enogh as it is.

My idea is, demolish everything, and place solar panels connected to the national grid.

we have almost 365 days of sun but we still here about wind farms.

Ħal Ferħ development brief published

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