Ta' Xbiex yacht owners prepare for privatisation bid
Owners of yachts berthed at Ta Xbiex yacht marina have formed an association which intends to bid for the running of the marina should the governemnt opt for privatisation.
The Gzira Garden Yacht Marina, as the new association is called, groups the owners of yachts berthed between Manoel Island petrol station and Ta' Xbiex water polo pitch.
Association chairman Rino Muscat Scerri said the association hoped to be in a position where it could run and develop the marina. He explained that there was potential to develop the marina through the placing of pontoons. The area, he said, also needed urgent upgrading and better security, especially in the area of the public garden, which, he complained, was badly maintained.
He hoped that should the governemnt issue a call for tenders for this marina, the current yacht owners would be given a right of first refusal.
The government last year privatised the marina in Mgarr Gozo as part of a process which started with the privatisation of the Grand Harbour Marina some years ago.
Last year the government declared a foundation of boat owners holding berths at Msida as preferred bidder for the privatisation of the Msida yacht marina.
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Joseph MELI
Nov 5th 2010, 17:18
I agree with Mr. Smith and I wish to add:-
(1)The main land area is also very important for the breeding of large and small fish stocks spawning during winter/summer times, including lacci, sargi, mullet, accola, awrata, cawla, cerna, dott abjad or tal-faxxi, hanzir tal-fond, imsell, kahlija, makku, u vopi, etc., etc.
(2)Has historical cannons fixed into the shoreline with a Naval History would be..destroyed.
(3)This area includes on it's rocky shoreline which is regularly covered with several vegetation and other life forms such as the breeding of small shrimps, worms, squids, octopus, and many others.
(4) Finally, the birthing of such yachts would be very close to a..residence...area, being subject to the worst three winds, that are coming from the north east, the direction from Manoel island point of lazzareto creek; the north wind, coming from in-front of Manoel island marina; and then
from the north west, that is from near the bridge of Manoel island.
One cannot forget banging against masts causing awful noises + pollution that will be..generated through ropes when the wind which is always heavy would produce a horrible...noise that would not let residents sleep at night time.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Nov 5th 2010, 09:46
Dak x'potenzial hu meta jispicca li jibqa jidher il-wicc tal-bahar , kera daqs qiesek qed tara Pjazza San Gorg mimlija karozzi ipparkjati ! Issir bhall-Imsida , ma tara xejn hlief geggwijijja t'arbli .
Diga hemm "pontoons" fuq in-nahha ta' Manoel Island , li suppost hemm il-progett tal-Midi . B'pontoons ,ukoll f'din l-ewwel Yacht Marina li qatt saret f'Malta ,tispicca is-sbuhija li ghada toffri din id-dahla , u bill kemm jibqa jispicca li hemm gzira faccata . Tkomplux tirrovinaw il-Potenzjal Turistiku !
John J. Smith
Nov 4th 2010, 18:08
Mepa have noted that this site along Ta' Xbiex Coast Road from between the Gzira Gardens (* Actually Ta'Xbiex Gardens) to Water Polo Aquatic Sports Club of Ta' Xbiex, this particular site is first and foremost:
(a) Used as a public bathing site area and that of an area reserved for water-polo playing/training.
(b) Has its rocks formation protected by the Malta Structure Plan and one cannot place any
concrete and damage the rocky area.
(c) Could change the sea current patterns, causing erosion of littoral and sub littoral sediment of the area and its deposition, such as which the present sand slops that are being formed on the coastline area.
(d) With 100 yachts as planned when they go out with their invited guests, the approximate amount of vehicles that would be parked would exceed 500.
Residents already faced with several parking problems opposite their residence during Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the four (4) restaurants and those going by the sea-side during summer months to refresh themselves. A petition with hundreds of persons from these area's signed and circulated as a protest. Enough in our harbors is enough!
Joseph MELI
Nov 6th 2010, 16:13
Good to note that this proposed area of Ta' Xbiex [between Manoel Island petrol station and Ta' Xbiex water polo pitch] contains very shallow water that does contain a very large amounts of small fry breeding fish, these would be 100% disturbed with such yachts activities.
One has to remember what Timothy Asploud that...“propellers may disturb the bottom directly or indirectly through the wash or turbulence they produce, and especially when close to shallow water.” In his study he reports that “This may effect water clarity by increasing the amount of sediment particles in the water or may cause nutrients that are stored in the sediments, such as phosphorus, to become available for algal growth.”
Nutrients can affect the algal growth, beside effecting..water clarity. Dissolved oxygen and pH levels influence the type and abundance of fish. In fact in high time enough amount, metal and hydrocarbons can be toxic to fish and other microscopic animals that can be found in this particular area.” Unfortunately, I have seen the destruction of all sea urchin [Paracentrotus lividus or “rizzi”] that used to..be..found..in great...abundance, but it seems we don't care that..of pollution coming out in ports causing...repairable damages
Steve Borg
Nov 4th 2010, 16:55
This is the way many other privatisations could have taken place by having the direct stake holders as share holders. It motivates the individual and instills a sense of partial ownership of the project. I think this defies the colonial mentality that is still present deep down in the Maltese psyche. It is in that way that we start realising that what is public is ours collectively. It is also the principle upon which co-operatives work bringing also more social justice since the inidividual is participant in the profit of the organisation defying the idea of the monster that is eating up of once savings or someone who knows who has a unique service and sells with a take it or leave it attitude.