Planned development near Ta’ Pinu

I would like to bring this appalling situation to readers’ attention: further desecration of Gozo, this time again by the Church.

When reading the list of applications submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, printed in the news media on February 12, I was at first furious, then sad and finally disgusted. Once again the Church has applied to build totally unnecessary buildings in an out-of-development zone. This time it is on the hill opposite Ta’ Pinu. The new application is as follows: PA/03959/07 full development application for the construction of retreat house, visitors’ centre and ancillary facilities, coach and car parking areas and the replanting of indigenous trees on Għammieri Hill.

Firstly, the proposed area on which the visitors’ centre and the coach/car park is to be built is in an out-of-development zone (ODZ). This was confirmed during my visit to the Mepa office in Gozo on February 14. Despite not yet being approved, a huge portion of the top soil from one of the fields, I assume earmarked for the car park, has already been excavated.

Secondly, the proposed large, ultra-modern, unsightly visitors’ centre would be highly detrimental to an area of “high scenic value” such as the Għammieri Hill. In case one is unfamiliar with this area, the Għammieri Hill is home to a Way of the Cross route consisting of numerous life-size marble statues and is frequented by many tourists and pilgrims. It can be seen from all over the island and it would be a pity to destroy the unspoilt surroundings of this hill more so than it already is (due to the police station and toilets). The route does, however, need to be repaired as unfortunately the hunters also frequent this area and have had fun shooting off the noses and other protuberances of said statues.

The building, which houses the police station and public toilets, is also ODZ but has obviously been ignored in the past because nobody really cared, however, it should be removed. Is it necessary to have a police station in this area?

The public toilets could easily be accommodated under the present parking lot in the area where the old café/restaurant used to be; in fact there are probably more than adequate facilities already available which just need refurbishing. Is it really essential to mar the side of this lovely hill with a building dedicated to public toilets and crime?

While the reforestation of the hill with indigenous plants is commendable, the building of a retreat house is debatable – I would have thought that there were more than sufficient buildings belonging to the Church that could serve this purpose. The depletion of our only natural resource - stone - is imminent.

I have talked to many people living in Gozo and, perhaps with the exception of the Pope’s visit 20 or 21 years ago, nobody has ever experienced a shortage of parking places at Ta’ Pinu. If such visits or special occasions occur in the future, surely it would be more feasible to provide public transport from specific areas on the island than to permanently concrete over hundreds of square metres of agricultural land and destroy areas of high scenic value.

In addition, has the Church, or the Gozo Ministry, taken into consideration the damage that will be done to the brand-new, not-quite-completed, multi-million euro road and its supporting walls, if this development is approved? I do realise that this would mean a lot of extra money in some people’s pockets but I think the time has come to stop thinking of now and us and to think about what sort of state we are going to leave the island in for our children and grandchildren!

As an afterthought, and thinking about the Nadur disaster, I suppose that we can be thankful that a cemetery was not also included in this application!