"The introduction of electricity cabs in the centre in Victoria. The improvement of the health services and the energy system at the Gozo General Hospital. An all-year cleaning system of the Gozitan countryside by a purposely set-up unit, which will also be responsible for its upkeep and supervision. The creation of more job opportunities to stop the brain drain of the island's most dynamic and qualified human resources. Education campaigns to increase awareness - even from as young as primary school level..." This is a sample of what the public had to say during the Eco-Gozo public consultation.

From the Gozo General Hospital to agrotourism, from renewable energy to coastal waters, the 1,500 proposals received for Eco-Gozo touch on every aspect of life on the small island.

The Eco-Gozo concept has already generated a massive amount of interest and feedback. People do want it. About 25 meetings have been held with stakeholders by the Gozo Ministry and suggestions have poured in through e-mail, through the media and through the Eco-Gozo brochure. Less than a year since the concept was officially launched, about 55 per cent of Gozitans are already aware of the project, which has asked Gozitans, visitors and any interested members of the public to dream, to aspire, to think how they would like to see the island transformed.

Aiming to turn Gozo into an ecological island by 2015, Eco-Gozo is a vision that aims at transforming Gozo and Gozitan society into a sustainable reality in its broader sense - not only environmentally but also socially and economically. In its sweep, it includes large projects such as the investment in renewable energy sources while also filtering down to individual people's efforts on wasting less water or preferring local produce. This model recognises that Gozo's natural beauty and rural patterns lie at the core of its appeal; strengthening these means a solid base to market and brand the island, attracting tourism and quality investment to Gozo.

Now that the initial extensive and long consultation process is finally over, the Gozo Ministry is working on putting together a strategy that will help focus efforts to make Eco-Gozo a reality. This report - which brings together the public's aspirations with input from various experts - will then again be submitted for a short public consultation process before being officially adopted later this year, laying the groundwork for one of Gozo's broadest and most ambitious projects to date.

Thought up by people who love and know the island's patterns of life well, running through the suggestions made is a concrete and sensitive knowledge of Gozo - interspersed with the dreams of those who can look beneath the layers to how it can be transformed.

Mrs Debono is Minister for Gozo.

www.eco-gozo.com