Ghadira Road: Ministry mystified by BirdLife reaction

S Gouder

Dec 14th 2008, 06:02

Does anyone really care about sand dune migration?!? I think we should be more worries about URBAN Migration.

Richard Cachia Zammit

Dec 12th 2008, 20:20

Just a thought. Has anyone noticed that during summer, people (including tourists) who frequent the area, congregate en mass along the water’s edge even though there is still plenty of space on the beach further away from the sea? I have a feeling that even if the beach becomes twice the size, the beach would still accommodate the same number of people because just the same, bathers would want to be as close to the sea as possible and avoid the beach further away from the sea.

M Borg

Dec 12th 2008, 19:48

I have already asked these questions but unfortunately no one answered to them:
1. European TEN-T Network Funds (under the European Regional Policy Cohesion Funds) asks specifically for PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. When will Dr Gatt inform us who is this Private Partner going to be??

2. The same TEN-T Network policies, Council Regulation 2236./5 EC as amended by regulation 1655/99 EC makes reference to the "electronic toll" system and specifically states: "the project must be capable of generating revenue within a reasonable timescale".
What does this mean Dr Gatt? Are we going to have some kind of CCTV system, like the one in Valletta, and anyone who will be using the new road, will pay accordingly????

am still waiting for an answer........

L. Bonnici

Dec 12th 2008, 19:38

The natural system should be allowed to take it's own course. If the removal of the road (to which I'm in favour) means the migration of sand dunes inland, then so be it!! It's about time we start caring about the only sand dune system we have in our islands. Besides a soft solution, such as sand dunes, are a better option than hard structures in the defense of the valley behind Ghadira Bay. With major issues at hand such as sea level rise and climate change we have to start thinking of SUSTAINABLE ways of defending our coastline, if we don't want to be wiped out by these events!!

J. Borg

Dec 12th 2008, 19:19

Andrew Gatt
Guess BirdLife as Din L-Art Helwa, Ramblers, Nature Trust and (your) FKNK amongst others are just pointing out that IF the concern is beach erosion this can be addressed differently - including possible topping up every decade or more.
Moreover the road is also in a way protecting the beach against flooding.
But maybe as a Maltese citizen you may wish to contribute more than the fellow Europeans who are safeguarding our environment - what are your proposals/opinions?
What Austin Gatt should do is the focus on a factual and accelerating erosion - that of our common pockets - that his govt. is inducing with the unproportional increase in utilities costs.

M Grech

Dec 12th 2008, 19:14

A weak reaction if ever there was one. Dr Gatt would do well to note that by keeping information from the public he is simply denting his own credibility. He should have stated from the outset that the environment specialist sitting beside him was commissioned by the sole beneficiary of this project.

Edgar Gatt

Dec 12th 2008, 18:55

Birdlife is saying that building a road behind the Danish village shall endanger the birds migration, or something to that effect. Excuse me, but what about the present road in front of the Danish centre? I am to understand that if this new road is built the present one shall be removed, so the birds shall still have to fly over ONE road. So what exactly is birdlife complaining about? I believe that if the authorities can proof that by eliminating the present road, the beach shall be enlarged and saved, then sacrificing some garigue is worth the saving of the beach.

Karl Abela

Dec 12th 2008, 18:45

Guys, do you know that this proposed road in reality already exists??? There is a secondary road that is littered with used washing machines and other abandoned appliances with rust dripping on the land and ruining the whole area.... we might as well cover it with tarmac and maintain it decently. Then we can close the ghadira road and reclaim the beach for ourselves and our kids. We have a great opportunity to ehance our country for tourists and Maltese citizens alike which, in the end, will create more jobs. Isnt that what the country wants? So why grumble?

This is another classic example where the party who likes saying no to everything has yet again opposed another project. As expected, half the country will get hypnotised on what the leader said and in the process kill every chance for the brain to reason out matters.

Joseph Bilocca

Dec 12th 2008, 18:37

The smell of stench is too much....there must ne more that just one rat !!!!!

Andrew Gatt

Dec 12th 2008, 18:33

@ J Borg......please don't put words in my mouth! And kindly leave the Hunting Federation out of it. I write in the same capacity as you - a Maltese citizen, unlike your executive director et al.

Let me repeat - what, exactly, is Birdlife proposing?

John Saliba

Dec 12th 2008, 17:48

@J. Spiteri
The problem Mr. Spiteri, is that very few people, are still capable of believing that what Minister Gatt is proposing is the right thing. Some of the notoriously known PN representatives are loosing face and thus credibility. It's essentially very easy to understand what is happening, people with some sense of rationality are immediately capable of understanding this, however people like yours truly seem to be unaware of what is really going on.

J. Borg

Dec 12th 2008, 17:48

Andrew Gatt,
Pls note that your hunting federation has expressed itself on this sticky project
If you want to attack BirdLife, don't try to do it by supporting this destructive project.
What one should ask is that when it is established that it would be more cost efficient and sustainable if the present road is retained and that the minor sand losses are replenished every quarter of a century - then will Austin Gatt personally refund the unneccessary costs incurred?

Andrew Gatt

Dec 12th 2008, 16:54

Besides the usual no, no, no, no................what, exactly, are Birdlife proposing? Apart from wanting studies that will no doubt cost an arm and a leg and drag on for years and years?

J Spiteri

Dec 12th 2008, 16:08

@ Pierre Grima.
I am non of the above mentioned. So sorry for letting you down.

What I suggest to all of you who are pointing against this development and are constantly referring to a resignation, to go to Mellieha and see for yourself the environmental impact of the present road and also the green-shack village.

Imbghad kellimni....

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Dec 12th 2008, 16:06

@J.Spiteri---If you want us to believe Dr.Gatt about this project could you be so kind as to answer these very pertinent questions please..
------------Why did the Minister not draw up an EIA??
-----------Is it true that this land is ODZ?? If yes, should we take this as another broken promise??????
-----------Why did the government not consult with the Danish Village, Mellieha council and Birdlife before forging ahead????
-----------Why does the government not have a study from true environmentalists to prove this loss of sand??
-----------Will Gatt give Seabank Hotel 33% of the beach as originally requested by the entrepreneur who at the time was ready to build the road himself???
------------Why has Gatt rejected the idea of an Irish Bridge?? Because Muscat came up with it??
------------How much countryside will be destroyed exactly due to trench works, service rds, new carparks and possible new development????
--------------Will those who planted trees at the Foresta2000 site be told about the destruction of the trees they planted???

Our only agenda is the future of this Nation................is Gatt's the same??

Joe Galea

Dec 12th 2008, 16:06

@J Spiteri:
Can you give us a document showing an independent professional environmental impact assessment before parrotting what Austin Gatt said? My friend you won't find any, I assure you. The only professional study is that Austin the almighty can calculate how much sand has eroded with his naked eyes. Very professional...or may be he is bionic.
This report shows clearly that it is another PN tangenti perhaps!!

Where is the original PM? Is he busy Christmas Shopping with our taxes?....oh I forgot, he is busy buying the 5 eenergy saving lamps he promised us!!!!

Pierre Grima

Dec 12th 2008, 15:52

@ J. Spiteri
Let me guess. From your input you're either an employee at Dr Gatt's ministry or an employee with the Seabank Hotel. Or maybe you're just one of those PN-government-can-do-no-wrong specimens. Good thing this last group is becoming extinct.

Martha Micallef

Dec 12th 2008, 15:13

The puiblic's perception is that there has always been a "hokkli darek ha nhokk tieghek" side to the whole affair. After a number of serious and scandalous issues involving the same minister, the PM risks more the erosion of his credibility than the erosion of the sandy beach at Ghadira if he does not take immediate action.

mario mifsud

Dec 12th 2008, 15:04

If this thing carries on it means that there is no real democracy here in Malta. we have gone back 30 years in time. How can these things happen and the PM does not even care to speak about the issue? Not that I am expecting that gonzi will ask mr Gatt to resign. No most probably he will back him and support him... with just one MP more in parlament than the oppposition he is really in a tight situation. Poor guy
My only remorse is that I voted for this Govt because I believed!

J Spiteri

Dec 12th 2008, 15:04

Hmmm ... incrdible how all you guys fell for what the birdlife said without having proof that what is being said is true.

Instead of slamming the gov, we better focus on how to remove the hideous road slashing one of our largest beaches.

I dn't think an underground tunnel would affect birds. Ma nafx ta ... imma karozzi ga qed jghaddu minn quddiem r-riserva.

@J Portelli ... the gov is actually finding ways to make the place greener ... by removing the road. Your comment makes no sense sry.

lgalea

Dec 12th 2008, 15:01

Hahaha.
Didn't I say from the very beginning that this was to take care of friends and friends of friends?

michael fenech

Dec 12th 2008, 14:59

@ MR.G.Swindells.

Sir, the press in Malta have a lot of sting it's tail,as long as it is against the other POLITICAL PARTY and not their own.

J Portelli

Dec 12th 2008, 14:53

Typical of an enviornmentally corrupt administration. Come on Mr Gatt, and Mr PM stop insulting our intelligence.

LEAVE WHAT LITTLE IS LEFT OF OUR GREEN AREAS - ALONE !!!!

George Swindells

Dec 12th 2008, 14:26

I can smell the bad smell over the internet.
Can we have a PM clean up of this mess please.
As for the press, I think they should all go back to school, outside Malta, to get a sting back into their tails.

Tony Attard

Dec 12th 2008, 14:23

shame on you Mr Gatt..........need to resign mate

M Grech

Dec 12th 2008, 13:41

I fail to understand how a Minister of the calibre of Dr Gatt has put his foot in this one. Dr Gatt comes across as one of the best performing mininsters in this cabinet. How come, then, does a minister of such standing appear to be ommiting certain important details while pushing forward with all his might such a project. How come Dr Gatt fails to tell a press conference that this report was commissioned by the only entity benefiting from this project. Why did no journalist ask the question? Is Dr Gatt still nonchalant about whether the project will lead to a 33% beach concession?

michael fenech

Dec 12th 2008, 13:35

Is GonziPN still with us???? If he is when is he going to ask Dr. A. Gatt to RESIGN.

This one smells fishier than FISH.

J.Borg

Dec 12th 2008, 13:32

That's news.....an owner of a hotel presenting a report. I wonder why all this interest.
I think people in administration should be ashamed for treating us common people like fools.
Where is the scientific report.
How come everybody is against this proposal and still we have Minister gatt steamrolling over everybody.
Wher is GONZIPN, or was it a one man show only for the elections.
Is there a hidden agenda after all this.