New Għadira road project a bad idea

While it is true that the creation of the road separating Għadira bay from the hinterland has significantly interfered with the natural beach dynamics and dune formation process, and while it is also true that the removal of the road may help to restore this, there are other important facts to consider.

The Għadira road caused an enormous disturbance to the ecology of the site, but over time the site has adapted to the situation we know today. Another change may cause more damage, which the site may or may not be able to adapt to. Can we afford to take this risk?

The area is now a Natura 2000 site, protected as a Special Area of Conservation for its habitats and species, and as a Special Protection Area for migratory birds. The Għadira Nature Reserve is a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Convention).

The Maltese government is therefore fully aware of the area's current ecological importance and its duty to protect the area from adverse impacts. The EU places a clear emphasis on the protection of biodiversity, stating, through the Habitats Directive, that Natura 2000 sites must be protected from the impacts of development. All plans or projects which may significantly affect Natura 2000 sites must go through a rigorous assessment of impacts and cannot be accepted if such impacts are deemed significant.

All possible alternatives should be assessed and studied, in order to find a solution which does not cause significant damage to the site.

If there are no available alternatives, a Natura 2000 site can only be significantly damaged in the case of overriding public interest (and this is up to the EU Commission to determine).

EU funding will still be lost should Malta opt to ignore these regulations and go ahead with its plans without following procedures, and Malta will run the risk of facing yet another infringement for breaching environmental regulations.