Wednesday, 3rd December 2008 - 19:59CET

New Ghadira Road: Nationalist MP urges government to reconsider

Nationalist MP Charlo’ Bonnici this evening urged the government to reconsider its plans to build a new road at Ghadira.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Bonnici said he did not doubt the good intentions of the project, which was to save the sandy beach from erosion.

“However important this beach is, I still do not feel it is justified to harm other areas just a few metres inland by building another road which could cause us the loss of 500 Danish tourists who come to Malta every Saturday, as they have been doing for 30 years,” Mr Bonnici said.

This new road, he added, would be built in an environmentally sensitive area which also formed part of the Maltese tourist product.

Mr Bonnici said he agreed with the minister (Dr Austin Gatt) that doing nothing was not an option, but if what was being proposed could do more harm than good, his view was that one should not hurry unduly, in order not lose EU funds.

Malta should seek more time so that it could more carefully consider its options.

He said the Danish Village, Foresta 2000 and the bird sanctuary constituted value added for the country, and he knew first hand of tourists who stayed at the Danish Village and then went on to praise Malta abroad.

He said the importance that the budget was giving to the environment should not be thrown to the wind with projects that would evidently be harmful, even if the aim behind them was noble. In contrast to what was happening over Ghadira Bay, some projects took too long to be decide on. A case in point was the Opera House project which could now finally go ahead.

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Comments

Carmel Saliba (on 5/12/08)

The Foresta 2000 planning. Part 2.

Today we are aware that when trees are planted it is difficult to be removed to modify the area. Therefore it should be considered if the resource of hard rock under the Foresta 2000 should have been used for building prior this activity. Then replaced by waste building material, i.e. totally waste material and other material that is not organic, and it is buried with soil so that the trees be planted in a richer environment.

Then we will really have a planned recreation Foresta 2000 to be proud of.

NOW WE NEED TO FIND THE WAY FROM WHERE THIS ROAD PASS.

Carmel Saliba (on 5/12/08)

This letter was sent to editor but was not published.

The Foresta 2000 planning. Part 1.

Between 26 and 28 October 2007 is being organised the National Tree Planning Weekend. The Weekend is being held at the Foresta 2000 site in Mellieha, and a number of trees will be planted to replace the 3000 trees vandalised at this site.

A total of 9000 trees will eventually be planted, thanks to an overwhelming response by various companies and organisations and by the general public.

However, although the organisation will be at its highest, my impressions are that to plant an average of 3000 trees a day is not acceptable. A formal activity will take place and then the planting will continue gradually and on a planned pattern.

After the rehabilitation of il-Maghtab and il-Qortin in Gozo I feel that in ten years’ time we will not have to rehabilitate Foresta 2000 because it was not planned well today. Does the inner part of the Foresta 2000 is reached by the Fire Brigade in case of fire?

Part 2 to be continued

Frans Sammut (on 5/12/08)

Unfortunately we've reached a point where opinions not emanating from the PN fold are either suspect or liable to cause their subject more harm than good. This regardless I am going to take the plunge and tell the Hon Bonnici: PROSIT for all it is worth. Your speech was glaringly honest and sincere deserving the support of every decent-minded citizen of this benighted Republic. Since you found the courage to air an opinion that might be considered to be less than conveniently partisan, you should garner also the support of people who are not too blinkered to see reality in its stark colours. We need more MPs of your stature if we want to retain the democratic system in this country. Well done, Sir, well done indeed.

Joe Galea (on 5/12/08)

At least there is a PN parliamentary member who has the guts to speak against an obscene project like this. This project is based on the eye of Austin Gatt and not on any scientific study. It will cause more harm than good both economically and especially environmentally. We don't need to have a TEN-T road, if the adequate upgrades to the present road are made, it would be enough. Most probably Gatt wants a TEN-T road so as when new legislations are enforced by the EP (which will be discussed very soon), one being the charging of everyone who uses this road, which means another form of income for this amateur money-sucking government.
@J Farrugia & co: Those who want disastrous projects like these to be effected, kindly give us serious scientific environmental, economic and social impacts to back your pleas. Otherwise stop being your party's parrots.

mario borg (on 5/12/08)

the alternatives Mr.charlo?...where are they?

J. Abela (on 4/12/08)

Irrespective of which political party?. I strongly disagree with this project - first Malta is sinking with debt so why should be invest in a new road in the middle of Mellieha (nothing against an mellihin) and second fixing other arterial main roads such as the gzira, round-about, ex-christmas tree or whatever you may call it, would be more reasonable and third I support birdlife, fourth malta is turing into one big mass of rock and fifth why one should build in a reserve? mind-boogling....

Alex Casha (on 4/12/08)

I totally approve of Charlo Bonnici's words on the project. The road will have a very negative effect on Ghadira Bird sanctuary and the foresta 2000, and in the whole area of special conservation. The road will destroy the peace and tranquility of the area, destroy a landscape (especially when viewed from Red Tower area- both locals and tourists admire the scenery), degrades the sensitive garigue habitat and turns the sanctuary into a roundabout. Viewing from the birdwatching hide will be the continuous flow of traffic with all the noise that it generates. The road will simply destroy a beautiful landscape once and forever. I sincerely argue that there is no need to construct another road to "protect" a habitat but then destroy another one and destroy a whole landscape that is admired by many people. The road will bring only harm to the environment.

alexander pace gouder (on 4/12/08)

Wel done Mr.C.Bonnici. Your statement is exactly what most Maltese will agree too. I am more then convinced that among them a good number who voted PN. It is high time that OUR GOVERNMENT decides to stop acting without consulting the men in the street. This goes especially to The Hon.Austin Gatt. Flimkien Kollox Possibli pre election Promise.

Joe Camilleri (on 4/12/08)

As can be seen from the ariel picture the proposed road isin't going to disturb any arable land.Also a lot of fuel will be saved by traffic moving smoother and steadier in a safer way not in the midst of beach users.Regarding the Danish Village what difference does it make in having a road on the west instead of the east.The beach will naturally develope sand dunes like Ramla il Hamra with the relative flora and fauna.Above all an enviormental mistake by our ancectors will be put right.

J.Spiteri (on 4/12/08)

So not ALL Nationalist MP's are lemmings!

Marco Cremona (on 4/12/08)

Well done Charlo.

I share your concern that taking decisions in haste can do more harm than good.

Adrian Wirth (on 4/12/08)

Some ten years ago an official report predicted a significant rise in sea levels at Ghadira consequential to global warming. Then Minister Josef Bonnici was most concerned about the implications and an option being considered was moving the route of the E.U. trunk road inland but an appropriate methodology to achieve an environmentally acceptable yet economically viable route was proving difficult. Seems nothing has changed. Perhaps one option might be to consider 'cut and cover' tunnels at sensitive locations [Danish Village & Foresta areas]. To think tunnels have to be horizontal is 'flat earth' thinking. Maybe we ought to employ 'outside the box' thinking to find a solution.

martin portelli (on 4/12/08)

If more Maltese politicians on both side of the house can find the political courage to act as Mr. Bonnici then perhaps hope remains for a less tribal political culture. Well articulated reasoning is welcomed by citizens of any political persuasion . Well done indeed, our children need good role models who can think outside the box.

Patrick Spiteri (on 4/12/08)

Like it has already been said dont these people think that it is much easier to do like it was done at Cirkewwa and pump the sand on to the shore from deeper water ,maybe even remove the 'sikka' from the middle of the bay and ..............who knows maybe some of the funds could go to fixing Sliema Rd from the roundabout to S.gwann. because it can be used as a track for off road bikers and 4X4's........ Yeah, right, maybe it will snow this Christmas .

lgalea (on 4/12/08)

Ray Gatt
PN = Partit Nepotizmu, Partit Nepotista

How on earth can the minister tell us that instead of having a 4 way road having a 2 way road will upgrade it and expedite traffic?

Does he think that all the Maltese people are that dumb?

If we want to decrease sand loss big boulders could be stacked at the mouth of the bay as a sort of breakwater to act as wave-breakers while sand from the outer parts of the bay could be taken to the inner part to increase it.

Raphael E Vassallo (on 4/12/08)

The only reported reason for the proposed new road is the erosion of the bay. I agree that over the years the area of the sandy beach has decreased. The sand has simply been driven out to the sea. One can walk for a long way and still the sea does not reach one's shoulders. Can't we simply push the sand towards land, thus increasing the 'sandy area', and thus eliminate this useless controversy? Am I being too simplistic?

Ray Gatt (on 4/12/08)

Well said Charlo. Thank the lord you make part of a party were democracy is the rule of the day. It's good to voice your opinion, but at the end of the day decisions have to be taken for the best interest of all. If you have any other suggestion, just put it in. You know our party listens. We are proud that our party introduced dialogue in this country. Other parties go for an early gen. election as soon as there's a conflict of opinion. Opposers are expelled, like T. Abela, W. Mintoff and others. To all PL (Partit Le) followers, take this as an example and copy it. DEMOCRACY IS THE WAY - THE SAME DEMOCRACY WE WERE STARVED FOR IN THE 70IES AND 80IES. We PN followers are not here to apologise as I Galea and other reds seem to think just because we voice ourselves. We have nothing to apologise for unlike your joke of a party. Not that I expect PL (Partit Le) to do it.

@ E Mifsud - Is Charlo doing the right thing or is it as you say alienation? Is it too much for you little brain to decide?

GEORGE CUTAJAR (on 4/12/08)

It might perhaps be a good idea for the PM to use the Ghadira Road project to pass a vote of confidence in his government !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chiarlo' & JPO might well vote against giving us a remake of 1998.

Why is it that everything this Government touches seems to create shock waves - Ramla, St. John's, W & E Bills, the Opera House Project....................The list is endless.

A Abela (on 4/12/08)

Prosit Mr Bonnici

david borda (on 4/12/08)

As usual Charlo' you make your constituents proud.

By speaking out you showed everyone what your principles are!

Keep up the good work

J Farrugia (on 4/12/08)

No wonder these people are praising Charlo Bonnici. With such MPs, no wonder that no project worthy of its name is ever done. Because there are too much NOooooooooos. It seems that today, the NGOs are administering the country. Where is the nationalist party? where is the government?

Aaron Sammut (on 4/12/08)

Well done Charlo for speaking out against Prime Minister no. 2 (or no.1!). So, when a Nationalist MP speaks out againt his party, we say "well done" and when Joseph Muscat, not only criticised, but suggested an alternative, we say "dawn dejjem l-istess, jikkritikaw dejjem".

Mike Magri (on 4/12/08)

Well Done Charlo`... PRAISE SHOULD GO TO ALL THOSE WHO DESERVE IT, and in this case, YOU are one of `Those`.

Joseph Sammut (on 4/12/08)

I am sure that all this praise to MP Charlo' Bonnici's stand on this issue is well founded, but I am also sure that by it these people are venting their opinion and dissatisfaction of Minister Gatt. PM please note: ALL Malta is!

Tony Mizzi (on 4/12/08)

Now, also a Nationalist MP spoke out against Minister Gatt's proposal. Little by little, it is become 1 versus all .... when will Dr.Gatt realize this?

Please Dr.Gatt, take note. First the utility bills, and now this ...... This style of politcs is over !!!!

Joe Vella (on 4/12/08)

@ Micheal Fenech

I didn't know that you are so short sighted that you are not aware of circunstances or is it that you just put down on paper what comes to mind without ever thinking. What i have to say,you ask?

That is a very simple question. Unlike the PL, the PN is an open party where everyone can speak up his/her mind without the fear of being expelled or fined from the party.

Perhaps you could entertain us all and tell us if the price 25,000.00 Euros placed over the heads of the PL MEP's and the monetary/punitive measures on other PL party members have been removes if they don't toe the party line during the earthquake that hit the Red Glass building at Hamrun last week.

Perhaps you should learn that the cloths doesn't make the man.

Robert Cassar (on 4/12/08)

This is all drama

This project is needed and this road must be built. Ghadira is getting congested by the second and we cannot simple do nothing just to cover the backside of some tycoon at the Danish village or a tweety bird..

Chris Azzopardi (on 3/12/08)

Bravo Charlo'!

We need these type of people to run this country!!

Respect to this man. Learn something Dr. Gonzi!

Mark Piscopo (on 3/12/08)

Well Done Charlo!! Finally there is an mp from our the government that is not afraid or Dr Austin Gatt. We are fed up of being ruled by Austin Gatt.

E Mifsud (on 3/12/08)

Come on all of you! Can't you see that this is another exercise in alienation. First we get the champion of arrogance to propose a totally insensible project and now one of the PN's new fellows pops up to do a JPO, since the latter's credibility is slightly tarnished.

This is a repetition of the Xaghra l-Hamra proposed golf course. It is so outrageous that it will never materialise, but the PN will try to get the credit anyway. Having said that, Mr Bonnici has done the right thing and herhaps we are entering a new era of doing politics.

simon borg (on 3/12/08)

Very very commendable. irrespective of the argument. its a sigh of relief to see that hope can be found even on the PN's side. well done charlo. the people are behind you and all those, including Dr Muscat, that oppose this project.

M. Balzan (on 3/12/08)

How about building a tunnel instead, then everybody is happy

saviour Grech (on 3/12/08)

One point that seems to have been largely ignored is that the present road and the new road proposed is part of the TEN-T sysem and as such is the main artery for traffice going/coming from Gozo. So whie the garigue, the wetlands, the sand and the tourists all have found advocates to further their cause, scant attention has been paid to the Gozitans and all those who use the present or will have to use the planned road. OPerhaps the minister proposing the road or the Minister for Gozo or in that case any of the other 4 Gozitan MPs enlighten us on which of the two options are better for Gozitans? Which option will make the daily transit smoother and shorter in duration. Perhaps there may be a better option which serves Gozo better. As far as I know the use of EU funds under TEN-T is to construct roads to facilitate transportation between the centres and the peripheral regions so that life in these outlaying is enhanced and development encouraged. All this seems all has been lost in the present controversy. The argument is all bout sand, sand dunes, wetlands and tourists. Where does Gozo featrue?

Adrian Cardona (on 3/12/08)

I certainly don't mind the caravan squatters being wiped out, but replacing a 4-lane road with a 2-lane one borders on the insane. What will happen on summer weekends when families carrying vanloads of BBQ stuff stop in the middle of the road to unload their crateloads of cholesterol, disco equipment, various grannies, kids etc etc? Trucks, buses, cars containers coming and going from Gozo will create massive jams all over the place.

Gorg Borg (on 3/12/08)

OMG. Anybody else wants to go up against Austin Gatt. Give the guy a break.. He's the only Minister doing something at the moment..

Edwin Formosa (on 3/12/08)

@James Sultana. Are you speaking to yourself?
@Maria Falzon Yes, we are finally experiencing a phenomenon where the will of the people, in one way or another, is getting through. It didn't in 1981

Chris Finch (on 3/12/08)

I dont think we have to worry, after all, the St Pauls Bay bypass isn't finished some 2 years after works started.

Also looking at the plan of this road, it will slow traffic down and what we dont see on the plan is the sharp turn required at the Mellieha Bay Hotel end of the new road where it joins the existing road. Surely this will cause more delays and is a potential accident blackspot.

I will hate to be the one to say I told you so after this road is completed and we have our first fatality.

Mark Camilleri (on 3/12/08)

Well Done Charlo -

Paul Caruana (on 3/12/08)

Oh for Mellieha's sake, let us just keep the current road, while upgrading it to the required standard!

If sand erosion is such a huge problem, surely the most reasonable way to counteract this is to dredge the deeper parts of Ghadira bay each winter, and return the recovered sand to the beach.

Raymond Galea (on 3/12/08)

Leave everything as it is. Malta DO NOT need the proposed road (just to spend 15 million Euros). Just improve the existing road and remove the illegally built green shanty town. Do not play anymore with what is left of our natural heritage. Leave a place for wildlife in this minute Island of ours. Garigue is one of the most important habitats of our Islands. All the Garigue area behind the Nature Reserve up to Cumnija and Anchor bay should be included as an extension to the Majjistarl Nature Park.

L Vella (on 3/12/08)

@The Hon. Charlo Bonnici and all those who are cheering

Have you calculated the amount of tourists that will not come to Malta a few years from now when there is no Ghadira Bay left, if so kindly let us know please.

A Caruana (on 3/12/08)

Its stupid when everything on this island is either red or blue.

At last someone who is speaking as a maltese citizen.

Keep it up Mr. Bonnici! this is the proper way!

Jason Borg (on 3/12/08)

Well said, Charlo. Thank you for voicing your opinion.

C Mallia (on 3/12/08)

Finally some political maturity is surfacing in our country and topics of national interest are being discussed openly by MPs without necessarily towing the party line. Prosit tassew Charlo Bonnici

John Azzopardi (on 3/12/08)

Well done Hon. Bonnici. It's good to see a politician talking sense.

A. Mizzi (on 3/12/08)

Why Prosit Ciarlo and not Prosit the Joseph Muscat Leader of the Oppositon , Leo Brincat, Labour’s main spokesperson on environment, sustainable development, and climate change, and 8 Eight green NGOs who are opposing the proposed Gatt road in Ghadira?

Does one have to be a Nationalist to get a Prosit on this island, especially if he stands up to another Nationalist?

michael fenech (on 3/12/08)

Mr. Joe Vella, what on earth are you going to say now that one of your own little elves MP Charlo Bonnici ( A SENSIBLE ONE AT THAT) is against the New Ghadira Road ???

In all your previous comments you defended Dr. Austin Gatt on this project.

Waiting for your reply .

S.Sammut (on 3/12/08)

Well done Charlo. Let' have more of this from other MPs on whichever other subject crops up for discussion. We may have voted our representatives towing a Party line but we want them to represent us and speak their minds notwithstanding one's Political Party line. We want real people in Parliament and not simple robots echoing what a supreme leader might say or Party headquarters dictate. At long last, some real discussion can take place in our Parliament as well rather than the usual monotonous bi-partisan discussion.

Marco Spiteri (on 3/12/08)

Well done Charlo,

Albert Gauci Cunningham (on 3/12/08)

Prosit!! Prosit !! Prosit!!!! So some MP's have the guts to stand up to this Minister who thinks he can run roughshod over everyone. Well done Charlo!!

Qed tara ghaziz Prim!! The PN has better people to offer than some Minister you put in your cabinet!! These are the ppl. we want to see at the forefront of the PN, these are the people who represent the voters, these are the people who should be governing this country!!!

The longer this indecent arrogance is left in key posts in the PN the further we will drift and with such a good, approachable and fresh Leader of the Opposition we are drifting towards Labour!!! And we're not the slightest bit ashamed of it!!

George Swindells (on 3/12/08)

Another point that seems to be missed in all these discussions is the illogical proposal to replace a 4 lane road with a 2 lane road. This is after all a major part of the Maltese Road system and is the ONLY road for ALL the traffic coming and going to Gozo. Including some very heavy and slow moving vehicles. I see another bottle neck being planed.This stretch of 2 lane road will be a weak link joining on either end dual carriageways? Consideration should be given to and made a priority before any other new road is built, to making the stretch from the top of the Hill near the Red Tower to the ferry into a Dual Carriageway. After all it is dual carriageway to the top of the hill? Come on ministers and planners there are more pressing needs for the rebuilding other stretches of road before any consideration is given to this ludicrous proposal.

Anthony Buttigieg MD (on 3/12/08)

Its good to see that some MPs can rise above partisan politics and look at the bigger picture. Many people have grave misgivings about Austin Gatt's plans. Apart from the issues mentioned many a time over the last few days, the new road will cut right though the middle of the narrowest part of Malta, effectively cutting off two large tracts of what little remains of our countryside from each other. I commend Mr Bonnici for making his opininion heard.

K.Saviour Scerri (on 3/12/08)

It is so clear that the new Ghadira road project would slice through the present Ghadira Caravan Site.
I guess it's a polite way of evicting squatters on this illegal caravan camp site from the area.

f bonello (on 3/12/08)

Well done Charlo'. Keep up the pressure !!!!

M Grech (on 3/12/08)

Well done Hon. Bonnici. It's good to see we still have MPs ready to openly speak up their beliefs. Otherwise, I can't help rememering the maltese saying about the "qattusa ghaggelija", the meaning of which will be lost in translation. One has to question the haste

James Sultana (on 3/12/08)

But why does Labour keep opposing progress ?? WHy do then have to do the U-turns ? Why are all Labourites so glum ? When will they will learn ? Don`t they understand how important is Ghadira Bay (as if today after all, with all the beach concessions one can really FREELY enjoy it !)

OOOOOPPPPS .... Charlo Bonnici is NOT A PL MP !! Oh ... I see, so now the apologists will tell us that they are an "open party", they are "open to suggestions",... probably even that "if EU funds are lost its not a problem, the important thing is that there is a consensus" ,etc etc

After all, no wonder that people didn`t understand that it won`t touch Foresta2000 - not even Charlo Bonnici, a fellow MP of the project promoter, Dr. Agostino Pio understood it!!!

Gerald Fenech (on 3/12/08)

Finally we are seeing a real new way of doing politics. Prosit Charlo' - let us hope more will take up a courageous stand like this. Ater all self-criticism is important

Maria Falzon (on 3/12/08)

Thanks Charlo. Finally someone is listening. We are finally experiencing a phenomenon where the will of the people, in one way or another, is getting through.

Franco Buttigieg (on 3/12/08)

I agree with Nationalist MP Charlo’ Bonnici that this new road proposed to be built in an environmentally sensitive area is not an option in order not to lose EU funds.
Why do we not use the funds to build a new road at a higher level just above the existing one under which the beach can also exist, this way we do not harm any environmentally sensitive areas and improve the existing area that has been committed in the past. It will also permit the beach to pass under. I also suggest that funds are used to reclaim sand that has been eroded by the sea and increase the beach area.

New Ghadira Road: Nationalist MP urges government to reconsider

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