NGOs threaten EU action on Ghadira road project
The Ghadira Nature Reserve forms part of the Natura 2000 area, which the NGOs are saying is threatened by the proposed road development. The reserve is an important stop over for migrating birds. Photo: Aron Tanti
Environmental NGOs are threatening to lodge a formal complaint to the EU against the Ten-T Ghadira road project should this be accepted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Nature Trust Malta, Ramblers Association of Malta, Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth Malta, GAIA Foundation, and BirdLife Malta said the project, being proposed by the ADT, was based on the allegation that the existing road was causing the erosion of Ghadira beach.
The environmental NGOs said that in the absence of any scientific evidence on the alleged beach erosion and its causes, MEPA should inform the ADT that the proposed project was a non-starter.
The NGOs decided to take action at EU level after they learned that the ADT had submitted four draft Project Description Statements (PDS) to MEPA on August 4. The NGOs were informed these were still in draft form and therefore not available to the public. In March, the ADT had submitted three outline proposals for the TEN-T Ghadira road project to MEPA and a fourth proposal was submitted in April.
“By submitting the draft Project Description Statements for all four options to MEPA, the Maltese authorities are evidently pressing on with this destructive and unjustified project in spite of overwhelming public opposition," Tolga Temuge, BirdLife Malta executive director said.
Three of the proposals call for the removal of the existing road and the building of a new road in the EU protected area, while one contradicts the apparently “fundamental” reason for the road project - the alleged erosion of Ghadira Beach - by calling for the existing road to remain and be upgraded, the NGOs said.
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Edward Camilleri
Oct 14th 2009, 20:30
@negative comments below
don't jump to conclusion and criticise the NGOs. I bet if there was no NGOs on this island, then we would built every open space that exist!
If the road is not acceptable as is, lets not destroy another place just because we must hurry up to utilise funds. This is madness. Proper study is needed to solve the problem. Setting unrealistic deadlines because of the funds will not help anyone.
Stephen Borg
Oct 14th 2009, 17:30
It was the Maltese MEP Louis Grech that first had risen the issue in the European Parliament . He had got a reply from Commissioner Dimas on the 10 th February 2009.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+P-2008-7081+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN
Joseph Calleja
Oct 14th 2009, 17:16
It's about time the the NGO's stop worrying about their little nest and start worrying about the erosion of Ghadira Bay. Nobody is going to touch the bird sanctuary or upset the birds in it. Birds go and come, and the only way the birds are disturbed is when hunters shoot at them and that should be the NGOs priority. The only problem with the road project is, that they want to replace the 4 lane road like it is, with a 2 lane road. Ghadira Bay is very important to the Maltese economy,the Maltese people and the Tourist Industry. and should be protected by all means. People protested when they moved the road back 50 or so, years ago, thank God they moved forward with the project and set the road back, or there would not be any sand left today. If planned right, the road could go around the Danish Village and around the Bird Sanctuary without disturbing anybody or anything. The main concern is to save Ghadira Bay from corroding..
Joe Camilleri
Oct 14th 2009, 15:32
Here we go again, birdlife crying, scaremongering and threatening of taking the government to the EU court. Well maybe they will be proved again wrong by the same court !!!!
J Farrugia
Oct 14th 2009, 13:30
These NGOs have spoken - this project is not to be carried out. These know alls in their infinite wisdom have the government at their mercy. WHO IS GOVERNING HERE? The NGOs or the Government? The people have elected a government. Stands to reason that this Government must act in the national interest and not in the interests of these self appointed NGOs.
Mark Galea
Oct 14th 2009, 12:54
should we live in caves?
r ferriggi
Oct 14th 2009, 12:46
while i totally understand the worries of these organisations, beacause in principle i am mostly intheir favor on most issues.............................
it is a fact ,,,, and believe me,,,,,,,, i am honest and have no interest in lying,,,,,,,,, that the road,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, as it is,,,,,,,,,,is not acceptable.
for many many reasons.
how,,,,,,,,,,, this can be changed,,,, i do not know. but it definitely ha to be changed/altered/rebuilt/removed etc.
this is an honest opinion.