Herman Grech
13 new marinas chosen
St Julian's, St Paul's Bay proposals shelved
The location of the proposed new marinas at Kalkara and Menqa.
More than 1,100 additional yachting berths are set to be created under a Malta Maritime Authority proposal to build 13 permanent and temporary marinas.
The government plans to forge ahead with new permanent marinas at Sa Maison, Ta' Xbiex and Menqa, while proposals for new berths in St Julian's and the Veċċja area of St Paul's Bay have been shelved following a series of objections because of their proximity to swimmers' zones.
"With these new marinas we should solve the problem of demand for the next 10 years," Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told The Sunday Times.
The decision was taken following the publication of a consultation document.
The document underlined the environmental constraints against major interventions at depths of less than 20 metres and significant cost constraints on interventions at depths of more than 20 metres. Therefore, the locations identified for permanent marinas were those within existing harbours.
"We looked at all bays and coves in Malta which could cater for environmentally-friendly marinas, which didn't depend on speculation," Dr Gatt said. There are currently six main yacht marinas in Malta, three of which are managed by the Malta Maritime Authority (Msida, Ta' Xbiex and Gozo), while the other three are privately run (Manoel Island, Portomaso and Grand Harbour).
Dr Gatt said the authority selected the sites after taking into consideration several technical aspects, including projected capital costs.
At Sa Maison, the MMA will carry out an environment impact assessment to obtain a full development permit for the marina and necessary breakwater.
The planning process is expected to be concluded by September 2010.
For Ta' Xbiex/Manoel Island the authority will issue a request for proposals for the privatisation of the marina once the development of the breakwater is completed.
At the Menqa industrial site, the authority is in the process of assessing alternative options with respect to the relocation of the petroleum berth at Flagstone Wharf. Once this berth is relocated, the wharf will be developed into a yacht marina.
The MMA is proposing the following sites for temporary marinas: Mġarr (Gozo); Ċirkewwa; Marfa (ex-Gozo ferry quay); Qawra (East side); Ta' Xbiex (next to Royal Malta Yacht Club); Ta' Xbiex (between Gżira Gardens and the waterpolo club; Kalkara (between Villa Bighi and Villa Portelli); Marsascala (Żonqor point) and Birżebbuġa (San Ġorġ).
Sa Maison will initially be a temporary area, pending the development of a permanent marina. There are also plans to transfer the Gozo ferry berth to Grand Harbour while the Armed Forces maritime squadron will be incorporated within the marina.
The government needed to increase the yachting facilities available throughout the year because of rising demand in what is becoming an increasingly lucrative business. More than 17,900 boats are listed on the Small Ships Register.
Applications will soon be submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to ensure that the winning bidders do not face planning obstacles. The government intends the temporary marinas to be up and running by next summer.
Locations
Sa Maison: 310 berths
Ta' Xbiex: 100 additional berths
Manoel Island (South side): 280 additional berths
Menqa: 170 berths
Total number of berths: 860
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11 Comments
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JJ MELI
Aug 2nd 2009, 12:39
@JOE FENECH; J. Oatman; Daniel Jackson; David A. Agius; Paul Borg; Mrs. G. Hoare; Darby Allen; Charles Sammut: You all formed your opinion against the new..Yacht..Marinas, some on that of..Ta' Xbiex, while..other..on..other..sites. Well, the worst..one is the one to be build in Ta' Xbiex Coast Road, which is surrounded with shallow water and..has..millions..of..small fish fry that had just been born..and in..deep water they don't stand a chance to live.
The same with the movements or action of motor propellers, and the toxic material that might be dropped into the sea. Unfortunately, we do..not..have any..regulations..or..rules..yacht marinas.
No one knows if the..consultants,..ECORYS of..The Netherlands, conducted any on-the-spot studies and what impact assessment studies have been carried out, as this part of the shore has very shallow water filled with fish fries, including shrimps, snails, worms, octopus and other small breeding marine life.
Could anyone publish parts of these feasibility studies confirming that motor crafts or yachts will not do any harm in this area while operating in shallow waters and that they won’t cause any marine environmental destruction?
Having gone on http://taxbiex.epetitions.net did not..see..your..names, hope..you..all..join..us by signing this petition on line or direct, and..everyone..can..sign..this..petition.
C. Meli
Jul 30th 2009, 12:23
If you are against the new proposed Ta' Xbiex Marina please go to http://taxbiex.epetitions.net where you can sign a petition to show your disapproval of this development which will continue the destruction of our marine environment.
Joe Fenech
Jul 20th 2009, 10:26
How pathetic? Is making money all we think? Is Marina, hotels, flats and rubbish like that all we can think of? It's like someone who prostitutes himself when short of money. Keep destroying our coastline and country!!!!! Have you ever ever thought about the fauna and the rest? Where are Graffiti and the NGOs in this?
J Oatmon
Jul 20th 2009, 09:23
All these proposed marinas will need proper car parking - this could be a problem at Sa Maison, as this is a major traffic thruway to and from Valletta, and it is often nose to tail heavy traffic, with long tailbacks of vehicles.
310 boats, means a need for probably 200 cars somewhere close by in Sa Maison, with easy access to the Marina (you cannot lug loads of heavy boat equipment and supplies very far!).
Ignoring this access/parking requirement will mean catastrophic traffic problems, for everyone, every morning and evening - especially for those working in Valletta, Floriana, Pieta, Msida etc.
Daniel Jackson
Jul 20th 2009, 08:55
The new Ta' Xbiex yacht marina should be shelved. It cannot be held according to the Structure Plan - this is certain. And residents should speak up too.
D. A . Agius
Jul 20th 2009, 04:36
@ms g hoare
SHITXIJA???????? Have you come to the bay in the last 5 years? Walking along the promenade is nothing like you say! Rather, it's one of the last areas where you can have a walk without having to deal with gabbanas, dog excretements and where you still find a spot for parking during the week.
With some bay management in place and enforcement, parts of the bay itself may be returned to the swimmers as it's nowhere as bad as you say.
Xemxija is already being overburdened with overdevelopment, don't turn it into another St. Julians/ Bugibba style location!
Paul Borg
Jul 20th 2009, 02:20
@ ms g hoare: Just so typical of a selfish attittude. So Xemxija is "Shitxija": Therefore don't suggest cleaning it up and remove all those "causes" of the environmental disaster (e.g. the fish farms at the top of the bay and all the excreta of the fish which is naturally swept in by the sea to gather at the bottom of the Bay i.e. Xemxija) but add more "causes" to extend the "dranagg" even further up St. Paul's Bay so "I can moor my boat where I want to" and bother the disaster and the loss of a natural amenty for ALL the Maltese people. What sort of Malta are you leaving your children and furture generations. ? Why would tourists seek to come to Malta to see "millionaires" yachts taking the sea space available for swimming?
Galea. L
Jul 19th 2009, 13:22
Remove the plans for a Marsascala marina. This is the last beach apart from St Thomas bay which is not yet polluted in the South of Malta. This is apart from underwater archaeological heritage which may be destroyed or endangered in the process.
WHEN ARE THE SOUTHERN LOCAL COUNCILS, MARSASCALA, ZABBAR, ZEJTUN, KALKARA, XGHAJRA ETC GOING TO ORGANIZE A PETITION AGAINST THE MARSASCALA MARINA? OR ARE YOU THERE ONLY TO COLLECT YOUR SHARES FROM TRAFFIC FINES?
ms g hoare
Jul 19th 2009, 12:54
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE XEMXIJA PROJECT BEING SHELVED ,,BUT THIS PROJECT CAN BRING MONEY AND JOBS TO THE AREA AFTER ALL XEMXIJA BAY IS UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING
EVEN WALKING ON THE PROMINADE OF SHITXIJA IS BAD ENOUGH BUT TO SWIM IN IT , ITS LIKE SWIMMING IN SEWAGE BUT IT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR BOATS ,SO I HOPE THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BE SHELVED FOR LONG.
Darby Allen
Jul 19th 2009, 12:26
'"With these new marinas we should solve the problem of demand for the next 10 years," Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told The Sunday Times.'
Ten years will go by in the blink of an eye; you should be looking much farther forward than that!
Charles Sammut
Jul 19th 2009, 10:43
"Dr Gatt said the authority selected the sites after taking into consideration several technical aspects, including projected capital costs."
Just to put matters in perspective, a new yacht marina has just been opened in Ragusa, Sicily. The capital expenditure was €70-80 million. Capacity 850 boats (max size 50 metres). This marina is equipped with the most modern and safety facilities in Europe. It has a helipad, parking for 500+ cars, residence for the harbourmaster and landscaping.
I am writing this for comparison, because for some reason, capital expenses in Malta tend to run out of control. Already a figure of some €150 million has been mentioned!