Thursday, 27th November 2008 - 16:29CET

Ghadira Road: Doing nothing will not solve problems - Ministry

The Transport Ministry in a reaction to the 'strong objection' raised yesterday by Din L-Art Helwa over the proposed new Ghadira Road said that the 'do nothing' attitude would not solve existing environmental problems.

"It is worth remembering that then Transport Minister, the Hon. Jesmond Mugliett, proposed no less than three different variants to upgrade the existing road. All met very strong objections on environmental grounds. This “do nothing” attitude does not solve existing environmental problems," the ministry said.

"Put simply the physical separation between the natural beach of Għadira and the valley behind it has prevented the replenishment of the beach and is leading to its eventual erosion. Għadira ultimately faces the fates of formerly sandy beaches such as Xlendi, Balluta and Marsalforn. Reconnecting the natural flow of sediment and water drain between the Għadira valley and Għadira beach would return the beach to its former natural beauty akin to bays such as Għajn Tuffieħa and Ramla l-Ħamra."

The ministry insisted it is open to any suggestion and is not bound by any single proposal.

"Naturally any alternative route is not without any environmental consequences and everyone, including this ministry, is all for an environmentally safe route for a Ten-T class road connecting Gozo with Mellieħa," the ministry said.

"However it is clear that simply saying 'no' to any of the five suggestions that have so far been made by the government without proposing a better sixth option is simply not on. Allowing the Għadira beach to gradually be eroded out of existence is an environmental crime which neither Din l-Art Ħelwa nor the Government can allow to continue to happen."

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Comments

G.Zammit (on 29/11/08)

Lets hope if they go ahead with this road they will at least continue all the way including the disgusting terrible road of armier which is a disgrace

Graham Crocker (on 28/11/08)

What about a large Overpass?
It costs more, but sometimes the cheapest option is the worst.

You know what?
Lets ignore the environmental dangers and disadvantages, Mhux laqwa we do something.
You know whats wrong with Malta?
Everybody is doing something, but nobody knows what hes doing.

Ray Gatt (on 28/11/08)

I agree with S Cremona as regards to a bridge. My only doubt is whether funds are available for something so expensive. If a bridge is not an alternative, then the new road is essential. By the way, it seems the caravan site will not be touched with the new road. It's the Green Shanty Eyesore that's in the way.

Joseph Sammut (on 28/11/08)

Doing nothing is not an option, BUT a good option must be chosen catering for the principal aim and all other considerations.

If and only if a tunnel is every considered, one way of crossing the Ghadira valley is to build up a tunnel and covering it with soil and vegitation, thus screening and blending it with the surrounds: one can see many of these abroad. It doesn't have to be high, so don't kill me for this idea. The tunnel could say start at Xemxija and end up at Marfa.

Anton Cachia (on 28/11/08)

I would like to point out that the sandy beach at Ghadira has never been as large as it is today. I remember very well the old Ghadira road of some 30 years ago before the present road was built. At that time one will remember that the sandy beach was very much smaller . After the new road was built the beach widened and was sustained naturally except for one year when sand was pumped from deeper water onto the beach. In this period of time there certainly has been no beach erosion , in fact the beach has got wider. The only times when beach erosion occurs is in a heavy downpour when two wide streams run out across the two beaches carrying sand into the sea, and when there is a strong onshore gregale wind which carries sand inland. This is natural erosion and nature has a clever way of replenishing itself . It is only when man interfers that nature is at a disadvantage. The present road has no effect on the state of the beach at Ghadira. Leave things as they are !

Charles J Buttigieg (on 28/11/08)

Mellieha Bay of my youth was our pride before the late Lorry Sant succumbed to the pressers of the ambient fundamentalists. Very much like Austin Gatt, Lorry was an arrogant politician with a drive yet he let us down on the Ghadira project. Hope that history won’t repeat itself on this one.

Yes Minister I see it your way this time, send the bulldozers now and while your at it please relieve us of the green huts miserable slum.

J. Cassar (on 28/11/08)

Is this an EXCUSE to get rid of the legally stationed caravan site at ghadira. IF one notices the road is going to pass exactly in the centre of this site........and also a roundabout is being proposed without any use......
Very good excuse, by mentioning mention EU founds being lost if this is not done urgently....HAHAHA, very funny Mr. Gatt, but we are no fools.

J.Borg (on 28/11/08)

If as it is said the beach will be enlarged......hence more people will be able to go to ghadira bay, hence more cars, hence more companies taking spaces with their umbrellas and deckchairs, has serious thought ben given to this.
It's ok as Austin Gatt said sand is being lost.....but serious thought is to be given on the influx of visitors and cars if beach in enlarged.
Speaking on sand....will the wind trbines eing proposed affect the influx of sand!!!!!!

Franco Farrugia (on 28/11/08)

@Rafel Sammut - The simple difference is that in Malta, we don't have enough land, let alone pristine, virgin land, such as garigue. Abroad, things are different and people can have 'lovely long roads' as you crassly put it because their countries' size can afford it.

I suggest that you respect the natural environment a bit more.

V,Brown (on 28/11/08)

The road is needed for a lot of reasons , so go on with it Dr.Gatt and the majority of the people will say thank you .

J. Borg (on 27/11/08)

@ Joe Vella
Since when have you been appointed as the Melliehin's rep?
You seem to be following your dear austin's arrogance and shortsightedness!
GonziPn the environment in able hands we were told?!
Hands off pls!

E.Vella (on 27/11/08)

I agree with the road plan proposed. Could it be that some of the ambientalists have a hut and don't want to loss it. On the other hand taking off the traffic from near the beach will not only help to regain the sand loss from erosion but will make the air more pleasant, especcially near the sea side.

Go for it...whatever you do they will find something to say

George Gregory Debono (on 27/11/08)

Someone (I Forget who) said

'do nothing' attitude would not solve existing environmental problems.... a 'do the right thing ' attitude would solve existing environmental problems, is that to much to ask?

The BIG question is WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING ???

Replacing one ecological blunder with another might not make much sense.

The obsession with cars and more roads just goes on and on…

G

s.cremona (on 27/11/08)

we should follow the european example, and bridge the two hills from Ta Pennelu to Armier ridge by an elevated road, like the ones found all over italy and france, and also avoid the downhill and uphill struggle by all the trucks that travel to and from gozo.

George Cremona (on 27/11/08)

Din l-Art Helwa frequently tells what others should not do, but rarely says what they should do instead. They are experts in identifying problems but badly lack knowledge in putting forward any solution.

Minister don't lose anymore time, please proceed without delay with the project which after all is the best and only way for the Ghadira environmental redemption.

Joseph Caruana (on 27/11/08)

Go underground - surely will not destroy the top soil/rock.

A.Sciberras (on 27/11/08)

As the minister rightly put it, we have lost too many beaches.Xlendi, Balluta and Marsalforn.What nobody is mentioning is that these beaches were lost to sand erosion caused by walls. When high winds hit a wall or building, it pushes the flow of air upwards carrying sand particicles with it. This in turn disperses the sand sometimes miles away.The higher the wall, the greater the erosion. All those beach consession and the high wall of the existing road itself are all contibuting factors. Also, if we really want to save our sand,why is it that in 2008, our beaches are not equiped with sea water spouts so that people wash away the sand before taking it home with them?

P Ghigo (on 27/11/08)

according to ppl that work at seabank, this is going to happen, as seabank is going to expand and its taking the road going down to ghadira.....so if you have saints in high places you're a lucky soul!!

carmel Saliba (on 27/11/08)

The need of a bypass to eliminate Ghadira Bay is a very much needed for us Gozitans. During summer months the traffic is jammed along the beach.

Those who remember the previous road was nearer to the sea.

The need to enlarge the bay is essential especially when Ghadira Bay is frequented by more Maltese and tourists.

Attention should be taken not to have a bigger beach in the form of how it is today.

Regards the longer road, all bypass roads are longer, but the extra distance in this bypass will not be too much longer when using the Mellieha bypass.

Rafel Sammut (on 27/11/08)

@ Sabrina Bonnici

Just to let you know that in our days speed cameras have been a great help in reducing the number of people speeding and therefore reduce the number of road fatalities !!
Also if millions of people manage to get by on their lovely long roads abroad i don't see why Malta should be any different !!

Joe Vella (on 27/11/08)

I wonder how many of those who have commented remember the way that Mellieha Bay looked like when a local wrote the words and the late Sammy Bartolo sang those original words. For the Benefit of all the original words were "Mellehin Imkabrin b'dan il gmiel naturali" The word :Mellehin" was only substitued by "Maltin" when the title was cut into a song. The song it self was the opening tune for a local Mellieha Festival ran by the LA Vittoria Band Club and presented by none other than Frans Fenech

Joseph Cauchi (on 27/11/08)

Get on, Austin. Let's roll.

Unfortunately, in Malta, everyone is an expert!

../..

Joe Vella (on 27/11/08)

@ Saviou Parnis

Pylons yes, but along the back of the nature reserve. There is already an eyssore with the green shacks and certainly we do not need another won in the way of a concrete jungle running along our BAY.

Joe Vella (on 27/11/08)

@ Sabrina Bonnici

By your comment you certainly shows that you are from Mellieha and that you are not to
familiar with the proposed road. Contrary to your belief the travel distance and time will be much shorter. In addition, much traffic that still passes through the Mellieha Village core will be diverted to travel via the by pass. In other words less air pollutanes for us Mellhien to breath.

Joe Vella (on 27/11/08)

Mr. Minister

Please get on with it. It has been promised for a very long time. We the locals, Mellehin. want you to procede with the project. We beg you and do not listen to the voices that are suggesting to elevate the existing road. We already have an eyesore and have put up with it for over THIRTY YEARS and certainly we do not need another one.

Din L' Art Helwa have certainly planted a sour taste in my mouth.

Please, I beg you get on with it and restore Mellieha Bay the way it was back the way I remember it as a boy growing up and driving by with my father on a daily basis on our way to Armier.

Paul Gauci (on 27/11/08)

@ Mark Gauci

I just gave a suggestion. The Minister wanted more options. I gave him one.

N.B. Do tunnels harm the water table so much?

fredmallia (on 27/11/08)

the pnbulldozer, the arrogance at its peak..... so he said, so will be done.... the pmgattopn
but we are helping our famers............ we are ruining our few fields..... but someone is going to make good.....

lesley kreupl (on 27/11/08)

This project needs to be buried very deeply along with the ones for Dwerja, Hondoq and Ramla in Gozo. Preferably together with the "designers/architects" who think up this sort of rubbish!
Before digging up serviceable roads, how about repairing ones that already exist? Mr Gatt should take a trip to Gozo together with the Ministers of Tourism and of Gozo. The mode of transport should be eco-friendly bikes and the route should include the most popular local and tourist attractions of Hondoq, Dwerja, Xlendi and Marsalforn. First aid and puncture equipment should be carried!

Jesmond Bonnici (on 27/11/08)

Careful Austin. You're treading on dangerous grounds now.

Ian Bartolo (on 27/11/08)

...that's what i Call ...A Beach !!

Sabrina Bonnici (on 27/11/08)

As i can see from the above picture the road to cirkewwa will be much longer that than present one which means that the number of car accidents on way to cirkewwa will increase because people will be speeding to get in time for the ferry!! So apart from building a new road which will surely ruin the present environment it will also contribute to more road fatalities!!

Saviour Zammit (on 27/11/08)

Why not build this road on high pylons. The land beneath it would hardly be affected and could continue being used as its being used now. There are some beautiful roads built like this in the North of Sicily.

Marcel Axiaq (on 27/11/08)

Ok so a solution needs to be found, it seems however that all your solutions, Mr. Minister, are either flawed or too drastic. Is this a repetition of the havoc u generated with your claims about the water and electricity tariffs? I think its time that ppl in your position think, and think hard before coming up with solutions, unless you want to remain credible.

edgar gatt (on 27/11/08)

If the building of this road means saving the bay, lets get on with it. After all we have lots of garigue, but only a few bays. Yes of course, going over some garigue is a shame, but ruining one of Malta's most beautiful bay is more damaging. If this road means going over the green huts, no big deal. There is more to gain in building this road than doing nothing about it.

Mark Sciberras (on 27/11/08)

I hate to say it but the government is at least partially right on this one. The current road needs to go in order to save Ghadira's sandy beaches from disappearing. Of that there is and should be no doubt - the various NGO's know this. But the solution is not a road running close to the nature reserve. The existing road to Golden Bay must be upgraded, and hard as it is to stomach, the existing scenic road leading past the Ghajn Tuffieha barracks through Manikata and on to Mellieha similarly widened into the barrowest possble two lane thoroughfare. Its either that or the government's solution - or the disappearance f Ghadira as a natural beach in a few years time, maybe less if we suffer a really huge storm. Yes it means a big road running through manikata. There is no easy solution on this one.

marc cassar (on 27/11/08)

Dont you see what is really happening - Malta's elite "Road Builders" need more work and Gov. needs some more favours.... wonder what damage will be done to the immediate boundary of the proposed road.... we've all seen the disregard in the past, and it will happen here again, and again.
AG will (as he always has) bulldozer his way through - and everybody else can got and get themselves Stuffed (turkey style).
with 4 years left of this Gov., it's time to do whatever they want, hoping that the old political proverb "in 4 years they'll all forget" will still apply.

S ZAmmit (on 27/11/08)

Drop those hideous illegally built green so -called "houses" or huts rather, then build the road or perhaps the government could take the opportunity to do both at the same time, it would be a good excuse too!!!

Vincent Galea (on 27/11/08)

Why is gratitude so hard?
We throw in the word 'but' and think ungrateful thoughts.
Thank you for the house, but it's too small, thank you for the job in spite of world economy, but I feel I need a promotion, thank you for the nice roads, but you know now there are many holes, thanks for Mater Dei, but parking is a bit costly , congratulations for your new Mercedes John, but have you looked for any invisible dents? thank you for the nice flowers, but it's a pity they soon decay, you look lovely to-night, love, but I have nothing to wear on opening the wardrobe and there lies 80 dresses,.......and this continues ad nauseam
I think if I were to resurect my dear grandfather he will thank God, for the prosperity, ease and comfort. However it will take less than 3 weeks to stop marveling about the miracle of the air condition - and start complaining about our roads and electricity bills.

A. Mizzi (on 27/11/08)

'do nothing' attitude would not solve existing environmental problems.... a 'do the right thing ' attitude would solve existing environmental problems, is that to much to ask?

Roderick Chetcuti (on 27/11/08)

Go on. Do it. Lets all join hands and clap them as one of the last greenspots in Malta is literally torn apart. Malta is like a beautiful woman dressed in rags. BLEHH !!!

A. Attard (on 27/11/08)

Roll on AustinPN rollll

Mark Gauci (on 27/11/08)

@Paul Gauci

and the water table????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.Schembri (on 27/11/08)

I wonder what plans are being hatched when that road is ready! What will happen to the Green Huts not my problem. But what will be in their place makes me wonder!

albert leone ganado (on 27/11/08)

If we are honest with ourselves we would accept that the current road is the biggest eyesore and environment sacrilege to the natural beauty of Mellieha bay.

Carlo Mifsud (on 27/11/08)

I dont think having a new road is a bad idea but has any though been given on creating a proper parking area? Maybe under the new road itself? Good public transport links from to bay? Anyone visiting the bay in summer knows how difficult it is to find parking and to navigate past the busses! The current road needs upgrading and if its easier and cheaper to build a new one then go ahead with it. The only thing i cannot understand is surely people involved knew that if left too late the funds will be lost! What has taken this long and so close to the closing date to submit such application? Maybe we want to ram it down people's throats with the excuse of loosing the funds? Who are these incompetent people in-charge of such sensitive projects?

Luke Gatt (on 27/11/08)

they can suspend and elevate it when passing over the bay!!!

J. Borg (on 27/11/08)

Simply importing sand every half decade will be cheaper
in the meantime, if one really seeks to protect the bay
suspend all fish farms
but then, vested interests reign supreme!

Paul Gauci (on 27/11/08)

Why not making a tunnel stretching from the Mellieha bypass (the zig-zag part) up to the Red tower? I know it would cost a lot of money but it may be an acceptable option for both the state and the NGOs.

Ghadira Road: Doing nothing will not solve problems - Ministry

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