Monday, 1st December 2008 - 17:55CET

Ghadira beach to grow by 34,500 sq metres with new road - ministry

The Infrastructure Ministry said this afternoon that in objecting to the new Ghadira Road, Labour leader Joseph Muscat was objecting to a much needed 34,500 square metre extension of the sandy beach.

The ministry explained that the existing road would be removed once the new one was built, thus restoring the link between the beach and the valley behind it.

Contrary to what many thought, one of the most important elements for the regeneration of the beach was the sediment from the valley, the ministry said.

Malta had lost the beaches at Marsalforn, Xlendi and Balluta, because roads were built behind them.

In contrast, however, this new road would make possible the biggest beach extension ever in Malta, upgrading an important element for the tourism industry.

The ministry noted that Dr Muscat had proposed an ‘Irish bridge’ instead of a new road further inland, but this had been objected to by the same NGOs which were now opposing the new project.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

J. Borg (on 1/12/08)

If Austin suddenly wants to enlarge Ghadira - we can grant him 'his' wish by simply expanding outwards - not inland (and pls dump everything about this senseless new road).

C Cassar (on 1/12/08)

If the existing road is removed, then how would people gain access to the beach from the opposite side of the nature reserve? Where would they all park their cars? This whole idea seems horribly badly thought out.

LUKE Gatt (on 1/12/08)

The Hon Gatt should have said that the hotels near ghadira will increase by 34500 sq metres

Joe Vella (on 1/12/08)

To all the nay sayers to the proposed Ghadira Bay why then not turn Ghadira Bay to its' former state. That is a two lane road with a buffer between the road and the Nature Reserve as it was before.

Franco Farrugia (on 1/12/08)

@ J Busuttil - 'The extension of the beach is most needed.' For what, may I ask you? To have more third parties encroaching the beach and earning money from public land?

'good for Tourisim by which we earn foreign currancy' Who earns foreign currency? What foreign currency?

M. Storace (on 1/12/08)

I wonder whether ''this new road would make posssible the biggest beach extension ever in Malta.................'' or perhaps such a project would accommodate some hotel thus giving it easy access to a private beach/parking?

J Busuttil (on 1/12/08)

Yes the Government should listen but it has also to Decide. The extension of the beach is most needed and good for Tourisim by which we earn foreign currancy.

John Azzopardi (on 1/12/08)

why don't we make the whole of Malta on big sandy beach? It would hold a lot more people! What a ludicrous argument! Ghadira beach has a finite holding capacity. End of story.

Paul Caruana (on 1/12/08)

Well, it had to happen sooner or later....the issue has now become a political football, which in practice means that the government will now, sadly, never accept to change its plans for fear of appearing weak in front of the opposition party!

I fear it is time to wave goodbye to one of the few remaining areas in Malta untouched by Human development. Then again, I would like to think that the ministry would be content to simply upgrade the current road.

Jack Caruana (on 1/12/08)

If the Hon PM No. 2, Dr Austin Gatt or the gifted experts in his Ministry make a statement - on any subject under the sun - then it must be considered as infallible as a papal dogma. And any other ideas, options or proposals put forward by anybody else are bound to be bull-dozed to the ground. How long will the PM allow such arrogance and big-headedness by one of his ministers?

Ghadira beach to grow by 34,500 sq metres with new road - ministry

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