Fiona Galea Debono
Tunnel wins strong support from Gozo’s tourism business sector
“The missing link... Gozitans want their island to be connected to the mainland and are willing to prove it. Photo: Google Maps
Gozitans yesterday welcomed the proposed tunnel to connect the islands, some even calling for a referendum among them to show exactly where Gozo stands on the issue and quash any doubt about its need.
They were attending a public dialogue on the proposed link at the Grand Hotel in Mġarr, where Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said continued to stimulate the discussion he has managed to put on the government’s agenda.
Transport Malta will be conducting a detailed study on the proposal to build a three-lane tunnel across the channel and provide a clear picture of the situation.
During the meeting, aimed at feeling their pulse on the construction of a permanent link, it was highlighted that the matter primarily concerned Gozitans and that they should have the strongest say.
Gozitan organisations pledged their full support, some having already set up subcommittees to focus on the issue in the couple of weeks since the ball got rolling after Gozitan businessman Joseph Borg made a public mention of in the presence of the Prime Minister.
The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU was also present to confirm its support and has also set up a subcommittee, while the Gozo Tourism Association last week conducted a survey that showed an “overwhelming” 90 per cent of its members were in favour of the tunnel.
Economists, students and even Maltese, who live in Gozo and work in Malta, joined the discussion, projecting their views as to why the tunnel should go ahead, citing the suffering they underwent to commute to the neighbouring island to earn a living and other economic considerations.
Some felt the project should go ahead irrespective of its cost and cautioned against money being the priority – a point that was echoed by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono.
Dr Said, who stepped up the momentum on an issue that has been in the pipeline for decades when he recently called on the government to commission an assessment, stressed the importance of a feasibility study, insisting that, based on the examples of other countries, such tunnels were the “best solution”.
He stood by the estimated cost of €150 million, in spite of comments by former Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett, who put a €500 million price tag on the project.
Dr Said maintained the expert studies would tell, but he gave examples of tunnels in Nordic countries and their costs, including Norway’s Eiksund, which was built in 2008 at a depth of 287 metres beneath the seabed, as opposed to the proposed 50 to 100 metres, and cost €108 million.
Three parallel tunnels in China, six kilometres long, unhindered even by sand, were inaugurated last week to the tune of about €300 million, he said, pointing out that Malta would only have one.
Dr Said invited the public to search the Internet for similarprojects and see for themselves how they were carried out, their cost and impact on the economies and lives on islands that were being linked by tunnels to the mainland.
He called for an informed debate and urged Gozitans to voice their views, because ultimately, it was their issue.
Fears that Gozo would lose its characteristic charm would also be considered, however Dr Said insisted that would only come about through bad planning decisions that had nothing to do with the link.
Gozo “is not a crib of statues”, he said, highlighting the exodus it was experiencing, leaving behind an ageing population.
As regards timeframes, Dr Said expected that once it was decided the tunnel should be built, following the study, works should start straightaway.
The Gozo Minister said investment in good services and short-term strategies for the island would not be put on hold due to the tunnel project and that the Prime Minister has assured her works on the Ċirkewwa terminal would take on an even faster rhythm.
The study, she said, should also consider other options to be sure the final decision was the right one.
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wally vella-zarb
Feb 7th 2011, 20:33
Is there anybody willing to bet that it will only be AFTER the next election - irrespective of who wins - that the project will be declared as 'Not Economically Viable'?
C Cassar
Feb 7th 2011, 19:34
Give it another couple of months and this childish, ill-thought out idea will have been forgotten. Once the EU have run their eyes over what's being talked about and reminded these amateurs of the safety and construction standards that are mandatory as an EU nation, there will be no further mention of such nonsense. Another couple of ferries is way more than adequate for those wishing to travel betweent Gozo and Malta and will cost a fraction of a fraction of even the most underestimated costs being thrown around. Better the Maltese stop embarrasing themselves right now than making it wose as the weeks go on.
Alf Galea
Feb 7th 2011, 19:33
Half of the fun of going to Gozo is taking the ferry there. The other half is the insularity. Take both these away and for me Gozo is a dead duck. Might as well take a low cost flight to Madrid or anywhere else as hotels and food are not more expensive. Ok there are the odd days (2 or 3 a year) when the ferry doesn't work because of bad weather, but does this really hamper the travel from/to Gozo. And if and a big if, there is a tunnel, the travel times wouldn't be much faster as the same there will always be cues at peak times waiting to pass.
Peter Gatt
Feb 7th 2011, 18:06
The construction of a tunnel linking Gozo to Malta is a brilliant idea. However, Dr Said is being misled by comparisons to the tunnels in Norway. The Norwegian tunnels were excavated through ancient metamorphic rock which is very hard, although it has localised problems of clay partings.
Malta's rock succession through which the tunnel will have to be excavated is very different from those of Norway. Therefore, comparing methods of tunneling, ease and dangers of tunneling and cost with those of Norway seems unrealistic. The proposed tunnel should be Malta's tunnel and not a copy of a Nordic tunnel.
A simple desk study that ignores the vagaries of local geology will give unrealistic results.
E Gatt
Feb 7th 2011, 17:22
GERMANY TO DENMARK TUNNEL COST PUT AT €4,200,000,000 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12347525 Granted, at 4.5km the distance between Malta and Gozo is ¼ the 18km length of the proposed tunnel between Germany and Denmark . It is also true that costs may be higher up North. However ¼ of €4,200,000,000 is €1,050,000,000. The cost of the Gozo tunnel was reported at €150m. Could it be that whoever estimated the cost forgot a ‘0’, between the ‘1’ and the ‘5’? €1,050,000,000 is equal to around €2,500 per head in Malta. This does not cost the annual maintenance, or the environmental cost. It also does not include the reduced profit for Gozo Channel ( which means less tax revenue) from reduced custom. It also does not include the transport disruption, or the issues of where to dump the dug up rock. ..... all this for saving how many minutes of crossing time?
Joe Spiteri
Feb 7th 2011, 15:00
If they want it then they must pay for it.
Maria Meilak
May 1st, 18:55
Yes...and if we dont want il-progetti li qed jsiru l-belt u li ha jsiru il-quddiem go Malta....we still pay for them hux!!!! taf tirraguna...prosit.
david debattista
Feb 7th 2011, 14:37
If you are not careful you will destroy Gozo for all of us. It is easy to play with words,you do it all the time, but this is different. If you see Gozo as a crib then you and the likes of you should move to Malta but you have no right to destroy this beautiful small island which is the only things we have. The time will come when you, DR Said will regret it if this madness materialize into fact.
A. Borg
Feb 7th 2011, 15:43
You need much more millions to do this work. Mr. Kenneth Grima, you think that you are a professional and maltese, the cost goes on the people that belives in the maltese flag, it mean everybody. And Mr. W. Cauchi if you don't know the Gozitans pay more vat than the Maltese.
J.Bonnici
Feb 7th 2011, 14:37
Ibqghu oholmu. Ara Malta qatt tistax tidhol ghal spiza bhal dik.
Bilkemm ghandu biex ihallas il-pagi l-Gvern. Huwa triq gieli ddum sentejn biex issir, ahseb u ara mina fonda bhal dik.
Kieku ndumu xi 65 sena inhaffru. Kultant niskanta kif nies intelligenti jaqghu ghal dawn il-bluhat.
Gorg Mifsud
Feb 7th 2011, 14:34
Attenti Ghawdxin! Attenti x'tixtiequ! Din tat-'tunnel' bhal kaxxa ta' Pandora. Qabel ma tifthuha, ahsbuha sew!
C.Formosa
Feb 7th 2011, 16:56
J'alla din il-kaxxa ta Pandora tigi miftuha mill-aktar fis! Sur G. Mifsud, jien Ghawdxija u nhoss li about time li tax payers Ghawdxin igawdu mill-frott ta l-inizzjativi kolla li jsiru ghal Gzejjer Maltin. Wisq nibza li shabna il-Maltin jibzghu mill-kapacita ta l-Ghawdxin. Il-prosperita tal-businessmen Ghawdxin waslet f'punt li dan hu l-unika tama ghas-success misthoqq!
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 7th 2011, 13:38
@KENNETH GRIMA. Do you mean the gas pipeline that Gonzi said wasn't an option but now has decided might be an option after all? Perhaps the Government should have looked at a Malta/Gozo link which would benefit all the people rather than wasting the money on a new and unnecessary Parliament building to plant their lazy butts in.
W. Cauchi
Feb 7th 2011, 13:03
Tell the Gozitans it's OK, the tunnel has been approved, but they will pay for it from their VAT contributions........maybe by 2525.
In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if women can survive, they may finnnnnd.... remember that song. It's appropriate as a slogan for the tunnel.....
KENNETH GRIMA
Feb 7th 2011, 11:32
If Gozitans feel they should have the strongest say on the tunnel, as a Maltese i feel i should have the strongest say on who is going to pay it, and i say they want it they pay it. With all that money( EURO150 million quoting Mr.Said and much more quoting Professionals ) better to do something more beneficial for both Maltese and Gozitans such as a gas pipline.
Ramon Casha
Feb 7th 2011, 11:21
I think that, once the capital and maintenance costs are known, the government should indicate whether this tunnel would be considered to be a public roadway and therefore free to use, or whether a cost would be associated with each use. In the latter case, what would the projected fee be, and whether there will be a subsidy for Gozitans, including those "Gozitans" who give their address as a small flat in Xlendi where they supposedly live together with some 20 other "Gozitans" who have the same address.