Juan Ameen
Ħondoq ir-Rummien developers file appeal
Ħondoq from the air. Photo: David Schembri
Developers of the €120 million Ħondoq ir-Rummien project in Gozo have filed an appeal after the planning authority refused to accept fresh plans that eliminate the marina and replace it with a swimming lagoon.
Two months ago, the planning authority informed the developers that the new plans had to be submitted in a new and separate application because they went beyond the site area listed in the current application.
The highly controversial project has been slammed by environmental groups and by the planning authority’s environment unit that had described it as “objectionable” while calling on the authority’s board to refuse it.
The proposal is to build a five-star hotel, 285 flats and villas, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 shops, five restaurants and a 150-boat marina.
A spokesman for the planning authority said the developers have filed an appeal as well as a proposal application to build a swimming lagoon.
However, Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq claimed this was merely a delaying tactic. “For the past nine and a half years since the application was submitted, Mepa spent most of the time waiting for the developers to submit information,” the movement said.
With a recommendation for refusal from the environment unit and Transport Malta, the next and last step in the process was the development planning report before the application appeared before the board, the movement said.
“Why was a new plan filed just before the planning report was about to be finalised?” the movement asked. “Everyone knows that, if they ever get the permit, nobody can stop them from applying to sanction which means changing it back to a yacht marina,” it pointed out.
The movement agreed with Mepa’s decision not to accept the latest application and hoped the board followed suit.
The environmental groups are calling for the Ħondoq area to be converted into a national park, run by the council, and rehabilitated into an open space for everyone as was originally in the area’s local plans.
Together with another six environmental groups, Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq set up an online petition, which has already attracted almost 4,000 signatures, urging the planning authority to turn down the project.
The petition can be found on: http://raxerri.com/soshondoq .
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25 Comments
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Joe Grech
Jan 9th, 21:05
Could we please be told exactly WHO these Hondoq ir-Rummien DEVELOPERS are? It is in the public's interest to know so how come we have not been told? Hopefully anyone in the know will come out with the requested information.
Mr leo attard
Jan 9th, 20:01
The case is closed. These developers should be sent off packing --- i hear they're taking foreign construction workers to rebuild Libya ---- GO THERE AND LEAVE HONDOQ IN PEACE.
Lesley Kreupl
Jan 9th, 18:47
For goodness sake why is the MEPA and the government wasting yet more time, resources and money on a project that should never even have reached the drawing board stage?
The people of Qala voted against the project years ago, the Save Hondoq petition and several other documents give many reasons why Hondoq should be preserved as a nature reserve, what other proof does MEPA need to put a full stop to the project right now?!
When projects like the old Mgarr and Andrea Hotels, and Fort Chambray have been completed, are up and running with all the units sold and when most of the thousands of empty flats and buildings on the island are occupied, then, and only then, should MEPA consider plastering over more of this delightful island!
Emma Xerri
Jan 9th, 19:33
Even then, they should not consider more plastering of Gozo - otherwise it, like Malta, will cease to be a
'delightful island'.
Charles Micallef
Jan 9th, 13:00
We now have to wait and see how much political mussle the developers and those who are representing them have!!
C Galea
Jan 9th, 12:45
Dear Mepa make sure that you refuse this application.Have a look at all these comments and you can see why.Hondoq is a very important place for all of us .
adrian attard
Jan 9th, 13:47
so why not give it a clean-up!
John Citizen
Jan 9th, 11:31
Re comment by Mr Peter Zahra with regard to Armier boathouses (?).
Note that the rest of the Maltese population is already deprived from going near such illegal constructions at Armier (supposedly to be used as boathouses, but unfortunately not enough electricity is being generated for this purpose) and other similar places for that matter.
I for one would prefer a situation where any public land in Malta is regulated as far as its use is concerned and not illegally taken over by the few.
Peter Zahra
Jan 10th, 08:38
Dear John,
All beaches along the coastline in the armier area are accessible to everyone, as the boat houses are situated further up the coast. However, the only exception where one cannot go, are the two small bays which have been occupied by the Rivera hotel (Hola Beach) and the Ramla Bay Hotel. This is my point, that Malta is being taken by private developers !!!
edward ciantar
Jan 9th, 10:49
Now is the ripe time to file an appeal, hux, sinjuri zviluppaturi ghax qedin ixxommu possibilita ta elezjoni bikrija hux?
Misskhom tisthu.
C Borg
Jan 9th, 11:59
tal-misthija huwa l-istat li fih tinsab il-bajja u l-madwar, ilu snin hekk u jidher li hekk se jibqa, fi stat tal-misthija
Ivan Calleja
Jan 9th, 14:40
Lil C Borg nghidlu li jekk il-bajja tinsab fi stat dilapidat ma jfissirx li allura ghandna bzonn lil dawn is-sanguisuga ta' zvilippaturi biex jirrangawha!! Dawk ghall-interessi taghhom jaghmlu BISS u ma jimputahomx mill-qerda ta aktar ambjent u kruha li jhalli bini mostruz bhal dak li hemm ippjanat. Is-sit jista jigi ittrangat facilment bi ftit spejjez u jsir park naturali kif gew ikkonvertiti postijiet simili f'Malta. F'dan il-pajjiz hawn wisq interessi u ftit wisq kreattivita kif nistghu nsebbhu l-ambjent taghna bl-inqas impatt possibli!! Mela nibnu aktar hotels, marina bla bla bla....dak kuncett antik ta' turizmu!! Tal-Misthija hi kif hadd mill-Gvern u mill-Oppozizzjoni (sa fejn naf jien) ma hareg ufficjalment kontra il-progett!! Xi bazuzlu probabli dan li jhokk dahar iz-zewg partiti meta jkun hemm bzonn. REFUSAL pls MEPA NOW!!
John J Borg
Jan 9th, 15:35
@ Ivan Calleja
mela bill kuncett gdid tieghek nistghu nghalqu il lukandi kollha!!!! biex tparla bil kreattivita u li bi FTIT flus se ssebbah kullmhemm ma trid xejn!!!! ir ritratt ta fuq lanqas biss juri parti fejn hemm ippjanat il progett!!!! ahseb u ara kemm tigi int u tghid lill kulhadd xghandu jghamel....
C Borg
Jan 9th, 17:50
sur ivan calleja, l-ewwel nett jien ma semmejtx li ghandu jinbena xi mostru, barra minn hekk nixtieqek tghidli fejn go Malta saru parks fuq art Privata.
city busuttil
Jan 9th, 10:04
Make that almost 4,000 + 1.
Salvinu Buttigieg
Jan 9th, 10:03
On all fairness i think that Hondoq will improve and bring in alot of visiters and a much needed income for the Gozitans., just look at Malta, its now prospering damn sight faster then the sleepy island, Time is not standing still for Gozo and the area needs to move on, its called progress. Jasper Willimas. freq.visiter from the UK.
Carmelo Aquilina
Jan 9th, 12:10
Oh yes, just destroy unique natural beauty to become like Bugibba, Portommasso and thouands of other mediterranean resorts.. that's "progress" Salvinu...?
Ivan Calleja
Jan 9th, 14:43
Iddahakx b'li qed tghid Salvinu!! Ghadek ankrat fil-passat kif tista tisfrutta it-turizmu lokali u barrani bl-inqas impatt ambjentali!! Tifhem li l-poplu Malti ma jridx aktar zvilupp ta'postijiet li ghadhom fi stat naturali. NO MORE DEVELOPMENT!!!!!
ALISON BAGLEY
Jan 10th, 09:37
Has it not occurred to you, sir, that a sleepy island to you may mean paradise for someone else? One of the few left on this planet.
Daphne Ellul
Jan 10th, 10:48
@ Alison Bagley
i don't see how one can refer to an old disused quarry full of dump as paradise
Mr Peter Zahra
Jan 9th, 09:48
That's what will happen when armier boathouses will be demolished. Some developers will soon turn the sight into a business opportunity and then bye bye that the maltese would enjoy themselves during summer in that particular area.....
Mr phil sam
Jan 9th, 12:50
Peter, are the majority of Maltese, able to enjoy themslves at present at Amier, with the illegal summer occupancy of the boat house ??. At least any new scrutures will be legal.
Carmel Farrugia
Jan 9th, 09:44
Why do these people want to open a new hotel in gozo when in the last years hotels in Gozo have closed. My guess this is a ploy similar to the hotel that had to be built at Fort Chambray and was never built or the hotel at Tigne point again which was never built or the one at Tas-Sellum which was not built. This seems to by the carrot to ask for a permit to built a hotel and then not to build the hotel at all.
John J Borg
Jan 9th, 13:41
tridna sew int wkoll....mela issa ghax ghalqet lukanda HADD mhu ser jiftah ohra!!!! ix xoghol malta qed jispicca jinqasam mal ghawdxin wkoll, u int gej bill ploy ghax se jsir investiment li se johloq ix xoghol f ghawdex ????
Asta Peterson
Jan 9th, 15:01
Yes right, however Carmel Farrugia the reason in my opinion as an ex resident of Gozo, is because the majority of the hotels and restauranst especially in Xlendi/Marsalforn/Qala restaurants are not exactly up to standard as we forigners are accustomed to, most herd us like sheep , get out money for rubbish grab and can't wait for the next poor soul to walk in and get done like a kipper. They should try and update and get themselves a proper chef and learn a thing or two from us outsiders.