Rough seas demolish Hondoq quay

Vincent Buttigieg

Jan 17th 2009, 18:22

I agree with F. Chini. It would be much better to remove what concrete there is left to restore Hondoq to its pristine state. Besides natural rock does not require the regular maintenance, periodical replacement due to deterioration or storms and other expenses that concrete would entail. All this costs a lot of money; therefore Government may find this option actually attractive!!!

Carmel Saliba

Jan 17th 2009, 17:26

The concrete used and the package done by the Italian contractor in 1967 is self explanatory why it was destroyed the quay at Hondoq ir-Rummien.

On Sunday before this destruction of this weak project I parked my car and stayed for two hours viewing the rough waves with my family. So did others.

I thank God that no one was there when the project collapsed.

F.Chini

Jan 17th 2009, 16:44

Who knows maybe it is better this way. Hondoq never deserved such an unattractive grey, block of tarmac. Maybe it is a sign. What about forgetting any plan of a marina and bringing back instead some of the natural beauty the bay once had?

John F.Wiltshire

Jan 17th 2009, 16:20

Its just sheer luck that no one was hurt. As far as i am concerned Hondoq is the main attraction in Gozo and should be maintained for everyone to enjoy as we do, lets face it if it weren't for natural beaches such as Hondoq we wouldn't visit gozo or Malta in the first place.
J.Wiltshire (UK)

paul buttigieg

Jan 17th 2009, 07:58

@vince buttigieg.
I agree with you. Lets hope that this time it will be fixed properly and finsihed at least before the summer season.
If it was up to the qala council alone, the hondoq area by now would have been a unique park where everyone could enjoy.
.

Paul Buttigieg

Jan 16th 2009, 22:52

@ vince Buttigieg
Vince you left nothing more for me to explain .You replied to all what was written below .Well done .One thing for sure is how the GOV after it built the Mgarr harbour did not rehabilate the area again as it should have .
During Summer Hondoq is Jam Packed with swimmers and Bar B Ques This area is a vital part to us and it should stay for everyone to enjoy not for the few .

Ivan Falzon

Jan 16th 2009, 19:43

Well said Vincent! For once I agree with you!

lesley kreupl

Jan 16th 2009, 17:09

What a shame, I am no expert, but it does look like material was saved somewhere along the line!

Hopefully, it wasn't sabotaged on purpose.

I sincerely hope that it will be repaired properly before the summer season starts.

E.Vella

Jan 16th 2009, 14:00

Il-Bniedem jipproponi u Alla jiddisponi - Din hija t-twegiba tan-natura ghall-isfregju li jaghmel il-bniedem...Kepp it up nature

Vincent Buttigieg

Jan 16th 2009, 12:52

Just to put the record straight. That quay was not built by any Maltese Government employees. So they and their employer are not to blame for this one!!

The quay was built as a temporary berthing by the Italian contractors entrusted with the construction of the Mgarr Harbour and Breakwater back in 1967. It was supposed to last for about 5 years: that is for the duaration of the Mgarr construction to be completed. Instead it has lasted for 40 years. That is workmanship for you!

The scope of the whole contract at the time included the refurbishment of the Hondoq area. Unfortunately the Maltese Goverment of the time decided to cut this short and all the successive Goverments have not done anything there again.

So much for the respect shown towards all the Qala residents and all the others who visit this bay for their relaxation by our wise administrators!!

James A. Tyrrell

Jan 16th 2009, 09:41

All joking aside having just come home and looked at this again it's a miracle that no one was killed or seriously injured. I hope there is an inquiry into how this came to be constructed in such a shoddy manner.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 16th 2009, 09:24

No J Grima. They used 'galletti' - and we all know what happens to these when dunked in tea. But Nature is kind. She left the beautifully designed benches unscathed. Had they not been, the sitters admiring the workmanship would have gown down sitting. A bit like the children's slideat the swings - except of course there would not have been a flight of steps at the back for another go. Look mummy, no hands!

A. Attard

Jan 16th 2009, 01:10

it is unbelievable how many Periti are below! Everybody knows how it should have been constructed!

Carl Engerer

Jan 16th 2009, 00:41

How can something like this happen? with such high quality control over workmanship and materials and such high contruction standards I can see something like this to be near impossible, someone has to be held accountable.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 15th 2009, 23:05

@Robert Micallef. .......will regain its former glory. Applying this to the 'Malta saga' , glory has been alien to Malta since the glory day of the 'Konvoj ta' Santa Marija'. Imprinted so strongly in the minds of children and people. The problem is of course that things happened after then, as things do. The Maltese have rested on this particular laurel plus some others. They are still stunned by that glorious vision that was salvation. They are asleep still.
The picture reminds me of a packet of tea biscuits at the bottom of a pile of shopping.

J Grima

Jan 15th 2009, 22:13

Did they actually use rubble for foundations?

James A. Tyrrell

Jan 15th 2009, 19:59

Looking at this photograph I would say that whoever did this work originally would be what we would term a cowboy. Is it possible that a more extensive and indeed expensive job was paid for and then someone decided to cut corners? Surely that wouldn't happen!

Michael Spiteri

Jan 15th 2009, 19:10

Where has the reinforcing steel gone? Cannot see any. Bet we paid a lot of tax money for it.

A.Dalli

Jan 15th 2009, 18:45

It is evident from the picture that the concrete is not exactly the issue, but rather, the foundations were eaten away by water infiltration through constant battery from the rough seas. Once the foundations were carved out by the sea, the top concrete bed didn't have a chance.

lgalea

Jan 15th 2009, 15:57

Perhaps the cement that was supposed to be in the concrete grew legs as we say in Maltese.

Joe Cordina

Jan 15th 2009, 15:01

The thin layer of concrete making up the quay is very evident and even lacking renforce bars. It is a wonder how it did not collapse years ago. Lets hope that the new surface will be constructed according to the required standard.

D. Cassar

Jan 15th 2009, 14:34

Whats the point of fixing it if it gonna be turned in yacht marina in the coming year.

Robert Micallef

Jan 15th 2009, 13:39

How about St' Thomas bay, this was too wrecked in this week's storm. Most of the sand was pushed from the beach to the road and adjacent field. The street had most of it's tarmac peeled by the huge waves, one quay was damaged and the walls were most of them literally blown away by the huge waves! Seaweed is scattered all over the place and if action is not taken by this week the sand can be lost forever. One particular wall has been in the process of being built for at least 3 months! If the workers did one brick a day it would have been ready ages ago! And in the meantime the bay continues to pile on damages that are never repaired, if the government workers do not want to give their input let's get a private supervisor who is not politically biased and I guarantee that with proper budgeting in 2 months time the bay will regain it's former glory!