Major residential development for Marsalforn unveiled

Luise Salmond

Feb 26th 2010, 19:43

As a regular visitor to Gozo for the last 36 years I am truly saddened at the prospect of this development in marsalforn. This is not progress, its destruction and it cannot be to be to the benefit of anyone except the developers pocket. The tourists that come to Gozo come to your island for its tranquility and natural beauty, continued destruction of the island by mindless development can be in no-ones interest. If we wanted high rise, gaudy, soon to be out of date structures we could all head to Southern Spain!. Preserve and protect what your beautiful island can offer and tourism will flourish.

Anthony Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 18:38

@Astrid Vella : ENGO rally in favour of increased legality on Saturday 13th March at 10am at City Gate Valletta. Thanks for the date Astrid: I for one (and the family ofcourse will be there with you).
We must continue this crusade as long as it takes to make this Administration aware that it will not go over us like a bulldozer without a fight for our rights!

Wish you were the Prime Minister of this country...but then again...no: you are already giving sterling service in your present capacity.

Astrid Vella

Feb 26th 2010, 12:44

@ Raymond Sammut- well said, you put it in a nutshell! Only unlike you and the rest of us are being given the false impression, this monstrosity is not on the waterfront but in a backstreet and therefore will cause even more traffic congestion.

@ Malcolm Borg: the Tourism capos already know what you say as questionnaires to tourists departing at the airport have for years shown that many chose not to return due to construction. While in Italy on an extended holiday this summer, all of the scores of people we met who had visited Malta said they would never come back again except for a student who liked Paceville.Ask the Xlendi tourists, woken up every day through summer by illegal costruction works at 5.30am!

We must all show the Government that we have had enough of these illegalities, including 12-storey blocks in a four-storey area, by attending the ENGO rally in favour of increased legality on Saturday 13th March at 10am at City Gate Valletta.

Rachel Robinson

Feb 26th 2010, 09:42

More apartments doesn't equal more costumers and more sales - if there is no demand it just means more empty apartments - and Gozo has thousands of those already. Oh for a government with the guts to call a halt to new building in Gozo and just allow refurbishment of the ones we already have empty. 12 storeys in a 4 storey zone when most people I know can't get a pool permit or put a railing on their roof?

Raymond Sammut

Feb 26th 2010, 09:36

@ Chris Pisani

Commenters here are not being negative. They have actually given you several reasons why this type of developments in Gozo should not go ahead. When you visited Marsalforn, you simply formed an impression about the place, but obviously you don't seem to have interacted with the people.

One reason that doesn't seem to have been mentioned here is the claim that this is a 22M euro project. I think the cost-benefit to the public is highly arguable. With 150 apartments, 2-bedrooms on average, not including the shops on the ground, it's a conservative estimate of 140K euro per apartment to build. The developer will be selling these units once it gets the go ahead, but who will gain in the long-run?

Much will depend on who will be buying them. You are either going to have empty apartments, or you are going to have more and more people converging on a tiny ecological island. Either way, it simply doesn't make economic sense. People living in these apartments are going to have to be well-off so that the economy they bring can sustain Gozitans on their own island --reminiscent of colonial times.

Anthony Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 09:10

@Chris Pisani states: "Why does everyone have to be so negative about everything that MEPA does".... Good question Mr Pisani....I think the answer is in the picture itself above this article. Do you honestly think that monstrosity is compatible with the Gozitan culture/landscape???? Don't be naive...this is not a service to the Gozitan/Maltese: it is a few million Euros more in the property speculators and construction companies' pockets.

Chris Pisani

Feb 26th 2010, 01:43

Why does everyone have to be so negative about everything that MEPA does, secondly can anyone give me a good reason why this development shouldn't take place..... Its about time Marsalforn is going to be transformed as the last time i went {few weeks ago} it looked like a ghost town, as everywhere was closed and doorways covered up with wood. Another reason why this development should take place is because almost all the buildings are outdated and ghetto looking.

Suzanne Muscat

Feb 26th 2010, 01:34

.......let our children breathe.........leave them some space, some beaches, some countryside

Raymond Sammut

Feb 26th 2010, 01:04

They show them only from the water-front end. The affected areas behind these gruesome structures are the greatest victims, apart from the place like Marsalforn in general. Accommodating people at the expense of others is always going to be totally deplorable.

If these "apartments" are going to enjoy sea and country views, then what about the privacy and views of those who will not be living in them? This type of developments is clearly not suitable for small islands like Gozo, not even Malta. Small islands simply become unlivable.

"There will also be three storeys of underground parking." With an average of two bedrooms per abode, one is looking at up to 300 vehicles coming and going. That alone can't possibly be lifestyle quality. Malta and Gozo need a stone-glass-concrete crusher 24-hour a day working machine to start pulling buildings down and not keep propping them up.

Etienne Zammit Lupi

Feb 26th 2010, 00:51

Shame. It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. A novelist once wrote that the difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 26th 2010, 00:46

The Urban Conservation in the Core of St..Julians seems to be only applicable to the CONSERVATION of the STREETS' in having them rustically PAVED , and conserving their width of authentic alleys ! Lapsi , St.Angelo, St.Elia , Main and Carmel average a width of just 4 meters , TLETTAX IL-PIED ! An average car hardly navigates the corners . Imagine what EIA has been carried out
This monstrosity in Marsalform , is out of all proportions in Gozo, and what about the Building Height Regulations . Phase One Completion in November . In just 9 MONTHS ?That's a record ! At this rate, It appears that we might as well stay in Sliema .

M Cuschieri

Feb 26th 2010, 00:13

Horrible....just horrible! :(

SBonnici

Feb 25th 2010, 23:31

I'm utterly ashamed & disgusted that i'm a Maltese citizen. Instead of taking care of what we've left of our country we're ruining it. Marsalforn was once one of the most beautiful places we had on the island & now its just a whole big block of unused apartments!! Shame on the Mepa who are giving the green light on this project & shame on the authorities!! I'm speechless!

Ray Sultana

Feb 25th 2010, 23:29

GREED and CONCRETE... here's eco-Gozo and sustainable development we were promised. I'm utterly disgusted!

Joe Fenech

Feb 25th 2010, 23:16

Malta is becoming as ugly as Hong Kong.

Marisa Attard

Feb 25th 2010, 23:12

Blocks and more blocks. Marsalforn will be ruined forever. Please someone tear up those plans. It looks like plenty of people will be very grateful.

Ivan Attard

Feb 25th 2010, 22:44

What an utter MONSTROSITY!
Do the authorities believe that with this total eyesore and rape of what remains of Marsalforn, they will be closer to their 'ideal' of Gozo as an ECO island???!!!!!!
Do they think that this will attract MORE quality tourists??!!!!!
Go on and speak to any of the present expatriates living on Gozo and they tell you they are thinking of moving away as development has run astray and the 'feel' and 'uniqueness' of Gozo is fast diminishing!
Go on, hammer the final nails in Gozo's coffin Gonzi and you think you will get away with it!
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!

Janet Bayes

Feb 25th 2010, 22:32

Well, all the comments are negative, and that is as expected. My point would be this - - - are there any plans to provide some kind of road infrastructure? Schools, shops and other services? Or are we going to be blind to the needs of the people again? Never mind the existing strips of potholed tarmac cant deal with the traffic, just shove a few more places to "live" in the village. What about a good bus service? Improved roads?
As for the palm trees, where will they come from? Mellieha? With disease and/or infestation?

Gaz Doyle

Feb 25th 2010, 22:00

After coming to Marsalforn for over 20 years and living there for 5 years I have seen the place destroyed my parents bought me here in the 80 because of the laid back quite pace of life. Good bye Marsalforn as we know it, it will never be the same.

Malcolm Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 21:42

I really wish to see the look on the face of the Tourism Minister when he/she starts pumping money to the MTA and no tourists come. He/She will then decide to make a survey about the potential tourists abroad and ask them: 'Why are you not coming to Malta anymore? Tourist replies: 'Why should I?' Minister: ' well...because we have quiet villages, beautiful countryside, nice clean beaches, the sun is so charming'. Then he/she realizes: 'Sh*t, over-development, pollution, climate change, high-rise buildings...those qualities are long gone.' Minister to tourist: 'oh sorry...you can see what life was like with those qualities in our Malta 200 years ago museum. Now you can go to our gyms and spas! :-) '

Anthony Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 21:26

@james grech...” People, next Sunday's protest is also aimed at such incompetencies. Join and voice your concern”.

Yes, James, I will be there too, whatever Net TV propaganda says to discourage the people from attending. I have no agenda regarding politics, but I want to at least voice my concern at the blatant abuses that are going on unhindered. I hear that Alternativa Demokratika will be there too. Perhaps the Catholic Church in Malta should be more vociferous about this issue.

P.S. Wasn’t the Prime Minister, Dr. Gonzi, supposed to make a reform at MEPA?
What’s taking so long? We will not forget when the time of reckoning comes.

John Mann

Feb 25th 2010, 21:11

As I semi-regular tourist from America, this is an extremely sad development in many ways. Gozo is one of the last unspoiled paradises left in this ugly concrete and steel world. I go to Gozo is a haven harkening back to the way things were before our ugly, modern world took over. I hope that Malta listens to the Gozitans and stops this monstrosity before it gets started, but if your politicians are like ours, money is all that talks anymore.

Moira Heath

Feb 25th 2010, 21:02

To the Maltese and Gozitan Tourism Authority

stop kidding tourists with words like 'unspoilt' and 'rich in history'. we are destroying everything we have. a bigger and louder lie has never been heard.

Astrid Vella

Feb 25th 2010, 20:57

@ Frank Grech, Yes, in fact I just checked, the area has a height limitation of 4 floors plus washroom, and yet in 2006, in the same week as the Local Plans were ratified, MEPA issued an Outline permit for 12 floors.

I am speechless. And I don't know what faith we can have in MEPA reform when permits keep on going out like the Seabank permit of two weeks ago.

I warn St Julian's residents that a nine-floor development, PA/04851/07 Site at Birkirkara Hill &, Triq Sant' Elija, San Giljan has been applied for in the heart of the St Julian's Urban Conservation area where the height limitation is only three floors!

The closing date for objections to this project is this weekend. St Julian's residents please note.

lgalea

Feb 25th 2010, 20:56

A Galea good comment
More concrete matchboxes?
Are you going to allow this monstrosity to go ahead MEPA?
MEPA, ARE YOU THERE?
Eco Gozo? Pull the other one, its got bells on.
Reminds me of the series "Carry on...."
Only this time it's "Carry on destroying".

anthony vella

Feb 25th 2010, 20:55

perhaps it does not make economic sense to build a 5 storey development. that's why they want to make it as high as possible. i cant believe these mepa people. very inconsistent. the Prime Minister should not allow so many apartments in such a small area, mainly because of sewage problems, parking problems, traffic congestion, overcrowded marsalforn!!!!!! i remember the bay before it was invaded by developers. now the invaders are back to build more flats as if people are sleeping in the streets...i tell you its a main disaster for gozo if this government allows all these flats in marsalforn. it surely does not deserve all this. the people of gozo do not like it; its not good for those who are already condensed there. is it for money, for greed...for sure its not to make marsalforn a better place, not for tourists and not for us gozitans either..and the maltese visitors who come here for some peace of mind, where would they go now....i think that mepa should not allow this mistake to go ahead, for the sake of gozo and marsalforn and all the maltese visitors. if enough people comment on this the PM would notice.

Suzanne Muscat

Feb 25th 2010, 20:42

Is this supposed to be ECO Gozo?...........unbelievable!!

Danny Muscat

Feb 25th 2010, 20:42

great ... just great.
i live in sliema and my nannu has shown me loads of photos of old sliema. now its full of noise, dust and tall buildings. now marsalforn too?
i mean if they want to build up big tall buildings might as well build on the rest of malta than in gozo.where are they going to build it there. its packed as it is . are they gonna destroy those lovely small buildings. its a shame .

Suzanne Muscat

Feb 25th 2010, 20:23

.......are the palm trees supposed to represent ECO Malta?

martin said

Feb 25th 2010, 19:57

Oh God!

Hasn't anybody realized that this is all about money.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

And who is responsible for all this? Maybe the minister responsible for MEPA? (i mean the PM) What reforms do we talk about? The old habits never change.

I Aquilina

Feb 25th 2010, 19:56

Beautiful Gozo will soon be a distant memory...... About time the Maltese ditch this place once and for all and seek less built up destinations for their holiday breaks. After all, why should the Maltese want to go and visit another overbuilt Malta. Take a low cost flight.. loads of lovely destinations in the South of Italy.

lesley kreupl

Feb 25th 2010, 19:54

@ Paul Borg
One of your comments:
”MEPA has destroyed more of Malta than the Germans did in the war. I cant understand how a leading heritage group gave an award to the Director General of MEPA...”
I also couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Din l-Art Helwa giving an award to Godwin Cassar, who was Director General of MEPA for the last 20 destructive years, probably the most destructive in the history of Malta and certainly of Gozo.

It appears that the current crop of MEPA officials have never been away from their computer screens, let alone gone into the countryside or on-site! To believe that this project will look anything like the finished product is very naive. This project will not overlook a lovely wide tree-lined boulevard, but the surrounding blocks of 4-storey buildings, most of which are pretty tatty and empty – this will be the view from the back, and the front and the sides! The new Baron block above this site will block most of the view. The two proposed high-rise projects will effectively negate the use of any solar heaters installed on buildings on that side of Marsalforn as well!
Shame on MEPA.

Joseph Brincat

Feb 25th 2010, 19:46

Once, not long ago, I called the 3 Towers a Paola a white elephant years before they were completed. I was right.
Now I will call this monstrosity the last of the Blue Era Elephants!!!
Time will proof me right once more.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 25th 2010, 19:31

All apartments will share public areas including a promenade and landscaped gardens,supermarket, gym, spa and coffee shops. Yes but the question still is. WHAT ABOUT PARKING? Is this development going to have parking spaces to accommodate all the patron's cars and then some? If you are willing to share the promenade and the landscaped gardens etc are you also willing to share the parking with the public, if there is any parking projected?
Helloooo MEPA! Forgot something?

Joseph Zammit

Feb 25th 2010, 19:30

High-rise buildings are so ugly!

REV JOE INGUANEZ

Feb 25th 2010, 19:23

DISASTROUS!.... THIS WILL RUIN GOZO.... even for the GOZITANS. This the the promised ECO-ISLAND. WHO IS the Hon Giovanna Debono trying to fool!

james grech

Feb 25th 2010, 19:13

MEPA is haphazardly allowing permits that project progress as a form of regression. The much acclaimed and needed reform is still on the shelves. PM has now shed responsibility of this entity onto a parliamentary secretary after having allowed it to degenerate into this pathetic state. Responsibility my foot. People, next Sunday's protest is also aimed at such incompetencies. Join and voice your concern.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 25th 2010, 19:07

What a shame? Maybe the best solution to stop this land ravaging is for the government to put a moratorium on all construction for the next five or ten years. If tourists want to visit countries with tall ugly buildings, they can go to just about anywhere. Tourists used to come to Malta for peace and quiet and now it's just another island. Why would a tourist come to Malta when there are so many other places offering the same and please don't tell me Malta is special. Unfortunately Malta is becoming just another tourist stop. Malta is losing it's charm and beauty, even the people are changing. The roads cannot handle the number of cars on the roads and public transportation sucks. Now with all this construction, Malta and Gozo are losing the little bit of open land we have. A good example is Mellieha. You see more construction cranes visible than any other village. They call it progress, I call it greed.

Michael Vella

Feb 25th 2010, 18:57

What the hell is the point of MEPA? To allow maximum destruction of our once beautiful island?

john attard

Feb 25th 2010, 18:42

that's it. destroy my country. i wanted my grandkids to grow up in a concrete box anyway. when will the greed and stupidity end? and we dare get angry when others call us third world? Go on, build your scrummy flats. tell you what, sell them for €230,000 a piece so that NONE can live there, but hey, you've destroyed the valley and the zone, so it's OK, right?

brian grima

Feb 25th 2010, 18:36

Well....that's new..another blokk bil-kaxxi tas-sulfarini. I wonder whether people at MEPA live in a seperate country! Surely this new hideous thing will be ECO SUSTAINABLE!!! X'ahna nghamlu Gonz?

Michael Neville Cassar

Feb 25th 2010, 18:25

Money talks, what a horrible sight .How can the authority accept these apartments, is it not enough that a jungle of buildings ruined every front sea promenade stop this massacre now Mepa.

Chris Ebejer

Feb 25th 2010, 18:23

...u kif beda jgholli wiehed, ta' warajh intradam w inghatalu permess biex jgholli wkoll. Ta ma gembu thajjar biex hu jgholli bhalhom. Ta quddiemu protesta, ''mhux sew lill dawk tawhom u lili le'' u johroglu l-permess biex jgholli wkoll. Ta triq l-ohra m'humiex suwed u tawhom permess ukoll... u f'demokrazija kulhadd ghandu jkun stmat l-istess, filwaqt li Marsalforn inbidlet f'cappa konkos,torrijiet bil-pent houses bhal tas-Sliema, dawk tax- Xlendi thajru biex itellghu 2 torrijiet bhalhom. u l-istorja ser tibqa sejra w sejra.............

Berti Mercieca

Feb 25th 2010, 18:21

What a shame guys !!!! If this project has been taken into account when launching the Eco-Gozo initiative, I wonder what’s next?? Perhaps a marina in Marsalforn Bay to compliment the scenery!! Hope not because this would certainly be the cherry on the cake AND we could all say bye-bye to Marsalforn.

Silv. Cutajar

Feb 25th 2010, 18:20

This latest building mania in the form of HIGH RISE SUPER DENSE APARTMENT BLOCKS looking like gallinari has now also reached Gozo. MEPA still lacks the relative holistic policy on high rise development for the whole of the Maltese islands to date. The result is this.... a TOTAL ANARCHY. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION and Public Health my foot dear Hon. DeMarco and Dr. Gonzi! The reform you are talking about, the buzz words you are using is only cheap talk and is not going to impress all those who genuinely have been waiting for that administration that can curb this abuse. The building lobby is clearly reaching new heights. Decisive actions to halt this disaster are really lacking. MEPA's credibility has reached a historic low. No reform will ever change this MEPA monster whose only contribution to the Maltese society, with the current setup since the 2003 failed merger, is this building chaos. Shame on MEPA!!

carmen Gauci

Feb 25th 2010, 18:02

I seriously think people in Mepa are doing their best to ruin our Islands from their natural beauty.

frank grech

Feb 25th 2010, 17:55

Just what Marsalforn needs, another ugly block of apartments. Marsalforn is fast becoming
a shanty town , the favela of the Maltese islands! As far as I know no more then 5 storey buildings are allowed in Marsalforn, where is Mepa? and this is being built at a time when there is an oversupply of apartments!

lesley kreupl

Feb 25th 2010, 17:54

This is disgusting. How on earth can MEPA allow something like this? There must be hundreds and hundreds of ugly, tatty, derelict and/or uncompleted apartments in Marsalforn already. I believe that the Baron Group is also building a huge complex where the Atlantis hotel used to be. Has anyone ever thought about the amount of water that is going to be required by these super-duper, water-consuming, state-of-the-art monsters - or the resulting sewage? Let's hope that they will only be occupied by 'virtual' creatures, who do not have normal bodily functions or requirements! Goodbye eco-Gozo - I wonder if there will be anyone left to say the Last Rites for this poor island?

Paul Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 17:48

Well said, Anthony Borg.MEPA better take down its Mission statement below from the website because it is a bad joke:MEPA has destroyed more of Malta than the Germans did in the war. I cant understand how a leading heritage group gave an award to the Director General of MEPA. They going bonkers or what? "Our aim is to pass onto our children a better country than we inherited. It is for this very reason that we compare our environment to a treasure, something we place our energies in, to protect, care for and improve. The environment encompasses all - nature, cultural and architectural heritage, towns and villages, the countryside, the seas and air. We believe that together we should carefully plan so that our heritage, this gem which we treasure, will not fade away. The Malta Environment & Planning Authority is committed to ensure that land use and the protection of the environment meet the needs of today's society and future communities. We are working to ensure a quality of life that will be in harmony with the our natural, cultural and built environment. In so doing we are seeking to implement sustainable development that safeguard the environment."

Tony Stivala

Feb 25th 2010, 17:48

While they are at it they might as well build the airport and the bridge and the tunnel in Gozo to ruin it completely

Charles J. Buttigieg

Feb 25th 2010, 17:39

This would make Marsalforn and Sliema six of one half a dozen of the other and that will not exclude the village accent. Let me know when this atrocity is inaugurated and I will start spending my Summer week-ends in Sliema or Bugibba. Cheaper and saves me the channel crossing. Ara veru tlifna kull sens ta proporzjon. Issa wasalna ghall qerda kompleta.

e.cini

Feb 25th 2010, 17:39

Eco Gozo!!!! Ma nemmen qatt li il MEPA se tinbidel xi darba. Xoghol il Mepa x'inhuwa ezatt?? Li tohrog il- permessi biss jew li timmanigja l-ambjent ta' madwarna? U iva dan il- permess mur ara! Inkomplu nzidu mal- gzuz ta' blokok li diga hemm, ax hekk iridu l-erba minn nies fil- bord tal- MEPA. Issa jigu iktar turisti!!!!

S Zammit

Feb 25th 2010, 17:34

We destroyed Malta with these horrible appartments...and now not even Gozo can we spare. Shame...eco gozo my foot. Nothing can be spared in the name of money and progress...not even the beautiful valley and village of marsalforn:(

Anthony Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 17:25

This legislation, headed by the present PM, the Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, will go down the annals of modern Maltese history, as the one which did the most damage to the lovely Maltese enviroment. Second position goes to the Opposition who whines a lot but have lost its bark! Let us hope(!) that come the next election, the Maltese electorate will stop voting according to tradition and give a third Party a chance to make the peoples' voice count in parliament.

A.Sciberras

Feb 25th 2010, 17:25

Komplu hemm. MEPA reform , my foot

J Gatt

Feb 25th 2010, 17:12

I am looking at the picture and can't believe my eyes !! is today 1st April?

Joe Morana

Feb 25th 2010, 17:10

With reference to unsustainable development in Sliema, Readers may wish to note MEPA's own Northern Harbours Local Plan (2006) states in no ncertain terms that Sliema is suffering from a limited recreational space, infiltration of traffic, noise and other effects resulting from tourism development, commercial intensification and high housing densities’ (234 dwellings per hectare) and is considered as “an area which cannot comfortably accommodate further development.”
MEPA’s continued approval of more projects is undermining its own NHLP which states that, in the congested areas of Sliema, the emphasis will be on new housing through rehabilitation and selective redevelopment rather than through extensive building, height relaxation or re-designation of open space.
It further advises that in localities such as Sliema, further development would increase further noise, traffic, overshadowing, and sense of enclosure and degradation of the public realm.
With 25% of Sliema housing units still vacant, Sliema residents are suffering from air pollution which has already surpassed the EU threshold for NO2 and Benzene. This is expected to rise higher in the eventuality these vacant premises being occupied and when the approved Tigne development projects on plan, in progress and built are occupied and functioning.
Bye Bye and Good luck Marsalforn!!!

Joseph V. Grech

Feb 25th 2010, 17:09

There are points about which people - especially Gozitans - have every right to know more about:
''construction work has already started...'' Has a valid permit been issued or have the developers been assured by people in high places, including MEPA, that this project will be built at all costs? If such is the case then there might be justifiable cause for serious inquiry.....
''major residential development...'' Speculative development not in keeping with Gozo's environment'' might describe it better.
Would the apartments sold just be summer residences? Admittedly this is open to debate.
WHY is it that no mention whatsoever is made to any Commercial Activity that will probably be an integral part of this ''residential develoment''?
How many storeys deep down will be excavated - ostensibly to provide additional parking slots for the increase in extra vehicular activity?
Is such ''residential development'' really required in overbuilt Gozo? Is it sustainable and healthy?
Does the project respect MEPA's own policies and the Gozo structure plan? Or are some people just concerned with providing work for the construction industry - at all costs?
Has an Enviromental Impact Assessment been produced and if so by whom - by the developers themselves?

Paul Barrett

Feb 25th 2010, 17:03

"Marsalforn and other localities in Gozo can afford to blend cutting-edge design with old characteristics, without ruining the aesthetical aspect of the place, thus adapting to a modern living environment," Mr Tabone says.

This must be a new definition of the word "blend". I really just do not understand how the lovely Island of Gozo can be allowed to be ruined in this way. Another absolute disastrous decision to add to the destruction of a once beautiful Island.

S Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 17:03

Tourists used to visit Malta because our island was very different from other worldwide tourist destinations. Nowadays we are hosting less tourists because in the past forty years or so we have been building and ruining our country. Let us stop ruining our country, we are still in time to do so. In our unsustainable country there are people which are making good money at the expense of others working within the tourism industry that are losing their bread and butter.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 25th 2010, 16:56

There is no way anybody is going to stop the new construction. They call it progress, and as they say with money you can build a highway in the sky, and that is what rich and greedy developers are doing in Malta and Gozo, with the blessing of the government of course. Marsalforn was ruined long time ago and now it's going to get worse. Vista Point, will consist of 150 apartments of one, two and three bedrooms. I have one question, IS PARKING INCLUDED IN THE PLANS? Or are local residents supposed to put up with the parking problem? Already crowded enough.

Carmel Saliba

Feb 25th 2010, 16:52

DOES the south side apartments overlook Marsalforn’s countryside OR THE ALREADY BUILT BLOCKS OF FLATS.

P. Mizzi

Feb 25th 2010, 16:51

Bring it on!! Gozo needs more quality properties like this!!

tony abela

Feb 25th 2010, 16:47

"Conctruction to start soon"

Does thia mean that MEPA has already approved this project or that they are already told that it will approve it?

Can somebody from MEPA or the Developers explain the exact position.

All returning tourists saya that we ruined Malta with over building, I hope we do not make Gozo in the same state. 12 Storey building, and for that any high rise building ruined the characteristic of these islands.

Malcolm Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 16:45

I think these people are under the impression that we or tourists don't have anywhere to stay. Hey! HEYYY!!!! There are enough vacant places for everyone.
Since this is obviously a case of trying to make a lot of money, look for something else. Try the slots...you can get some cash in much less time and with much less hassle.
I want to put your mind at rest that no tourist or resident will be sleeping outside and there are enough options for them to choose from. :-)

R Grech

Feb 25th 2010, 16:41

@G Pace

So when the property you just bought in Gozo was being built there was no dust or noise pollution whatsoever? Din bhal ta' Tas-Sliema l-ewwel bnew huma u meta issa qeghdin komdi ma jridu hadd jibni aktar!!

RAbela

Feb 25th 2010, 16:39

Great!!!just what this country needs!!! More EMPTY apartments! And where is the parking space? 150 apartment can generate more then 200 cars in the area, add that to the summer crowd cars and you got a disaster!

Jason Borg

Feb 25th 2010, 16:39

How original and eco-Gozoish!!! Qisha xi xena minn Miami Vice.

J. Cassar

Feb 25th 2010, 16:36

ohhhh really sorry for the gozitan environment...This is going to be the tallest building in Gozo reaching up to 12 floors. What is going inside the Mepa??

And what about this development:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090222/local/euro-18-million-marsalforn-project
There is no need for more apartments.And where is the eco-Gozo that we were promised
Wake up Gozitans..dont leave Gozo to become like Malta!!

G Pace

Feb 25th 2010, 16:32

This is simply obscene! We have just bought a property in Gozo to get away from the construction and dust in Malta and it seems to be following us here. MEPA don't allow Gozo to be spoilt!

A Galea

Feb 25th 2010, 16:32

there goes eco-island ... and here comes 'island of the 4 hills' !!

R. Azzopardi

Feb 25th 2010, 16:28

Eco Gozo my foot! This really makes me wonder whether the powers that be know the meaning of the word ecology.

kmercieca

Feb 25th 2010, 16:27

X'pastazata ta block...minflok niehdu hsieb biex nirrangaw il post ta Marsalform wara dik il maltempata harxa, ser jinaghta permess ghal dan l-izvilupp mostruz f'post fejn suppost tmur tqatta gimgha jew tnejn ghal mistrieh, jew ghal ghawdxin li jinzlu ghal festi tas sajf fir rahal ta marsalforn. Bizzejjed wiehed iqies il problemi kbar li jinholqu f'dawk il gimghatejn ta' Santa Marija (bhal nuqqas ta parking, hmieg, traffic congestions etc). Issa ser nisploduwhom iktar dawn il problemi billi jkollna SLIEMA number 2 in Gozo. Miniex kontra l-investiment, anzi il kuntrarju. Favur ghal investiment tal post/pajjiez koncernat bhal manigjar tal-ambjent etc, li jista jgawdi minnu il poplu malti u dawk ghawdxi kollu plus dak it turist li jzur pajizna fis sajf, mhux biss erba min nies diga stabbilit sew fl-industrija Maltija (ghala volja konsapevoli illi dan l investiment mil privat ser jiggenera xi postijiet tax-xol ghal haddiema maltin). TAL-BIKI...

Franco Farrugia

Feb 25th 2010, 16:27

Exactly, Adrian. Viva eco-Gozo! U halluna. Qas tafu fejn sejrin! Imbasta tridu tbellghulna li qed tibdlu l-MEPA!

Adrian Borg Cardona

Feb 25th 2010, 16:22

"the south side apartments overlook Marsalforn’s countryside" - how lucky they are! I hope and pray that a similar development will be built just behind this block to eradicate their view! There is no guarantee further development will not take place in the "Marsalform countryside". Viva eco-Gozo!

Franco Farrugia

Feb 25th 2010, 16:20

There you are. That's the death-knell of the island of Gozo as we know it. We destroyed Malta - now it's Gozo's turn!

o galea

Feb 25th 2010, 16:16

OH NO :-(

........ and why so many stories ? Ghastly....

joe attard

Feb 25th 2010, 16:14

My point is "Who is going to live in this apartments?". Non-Gozitans do njo need to go to Gozo to live in a concrete block in a noisy street in front of a crowded beach. There are not enough Gozitans , or better put, jobs in Gozo, to fill all these apartments.

Marco Cremona

Feb 25th 2010, 16:12

Should we be pleased? Do we need more apartments when we have more than 70,000 vacant properties on these small Islands?

And lets not call the building of useless properties 'development' any more. The word 'development' signifies progress - I cannot see such unnecessary construction as being the way forward for this country.

Ferdinand Sant

Feb 25th 2010, 16:10

Nice palm trees ... but thats it !

Joe Calleja

Feb 25th 2010, 16:07

So this is what was ment by ''ECO GOZO'', I never thought of it.

Edgar S. Galea

Feb 25th 2010, 16:02

Has a parking area been considered or are the cars going to be parked on the streets? Developers never learn. MEPA wake up and commence enforcing developers to provide well planned parking areas.

R Micallef

Feb 25th 2010, 15:57

The end of Marsalforn as we know it :(

J. Cardona

Feb 25th 2010, 15:55

What an eye sore!! A real brick and concrete country!!

c. camilleri

Feb 25th 2010, 15:46

We have ruined Malta especially Sliema with over development and high building. Now Gozo is next which is suppose to be left as rural as possible. Hands off Gozo.

adrian agius

Feb 25th 2010, 15:43

lets just hope MEPA will stop this disaster and not become another scandal !!!