How a once natural pond became a saline environment

The Ghadira road project has caused quite a controversy not only on the local environmental scene but also in EU circles. I hope that, as being requested by Birdlife Malta, a proper study will be carried out as to the effect of this road on the erosion and formation of this beach.

What could make interesting reading in such a report is the way the original "Ghadira" was tampered with by the same environmentalists who are now requesting reports.

A once natural pond was dug deeper, resulting in the pond being turned into a highly-saline environment.

What used to be a dry plain in summer and a sweet water pond in winter is now a brackish water pond. In our hot summers, through evaporation, this brackish water is transformed into water with extremely high levels of salinity very unsuitable for most bird species' salt glands to cope with.

Apart from its detrimental effect on some resting birds, the lowering of the pond to below sea level has made this area prone to flooding in high seas.

This explains Birdlife's panic at the removal of the existing road, which they claim as their "sea wall" and their complete objection to a project which could in all fairness, return this once beautiful beach to its former glory for the enjoyment of all.

Birdlife's interfering with the natural state of this pond together with the positioning of the existing road also resulted in the hindering of the natural process of beach formation. The natural flooding of this pond and the surrounding valley and the silt carried out to sea are what, over the years, has formed this beach. The only existing exit for rainwater and silt to drain onto the beach is a miniscule hole that is far from what nature intended. The removal of the existing road would definitely contribute towards a natural process. The scaremongering tactic being suggested, that by removing the road we risk losing this beach, is nothing but nonsense. This beach existed long before the road was built, as did the once natural freshwater pond.

BirdLife Malta expects to see scientific studies that justify the building of this new road.

I am sure these will be made available and all factors contributing to the erosion of this beach mentioned.

I hope that this report would suggest remedying their past unprofessional interventions that unfortunately required no reports at the time.