Nature Trust (Malta) has objected to proposals for the building of a road to Xatt l-Ahmar in Ghajnsielem, saying the road would be laid  through the watercourse.

"This area features one of the very few watercourses in the Maltese Islands where fresh water flows during most of the year, even after several dry months. It is also one of the very few watercourses which flows from north to south on the island of Gozo," the NGO said.

The supply of water comes from the overflow of the nearby large freshwater pond known as 'L-Għadira tal-Papri'. Both the freshwater pond and the watercourse are important from an ecological point of view. The freshwater pond keeps the nearby vegetation green even in summer and sustains residential and migratory birds such as Moorhen, Mallards and Kingfishers. Other fauna that visit the pond are several species of dragonflies which need freshwater for their reproductive cycle. Rare plants such as the Corn Marigold have been noticed along the watercourse, which is also home to a few salt-loving shrubs such as the Maltese Salt-tree and the Shrubby Seablite.

Nature Trust (Malta) flora conservation officer Jeffrey Sciberras said: "There is no need to construct a new road to access the small beach, as it is already accessible via a concrete road running parallel further west. The road passes near the local fougass and eastwards towards the beach/

Moreover, the watercourse supplies water to the adjacent fields. Allowing the construction of such a road will destroy the rural and natural beauty of the area, and limit the space for the necessary agricultural land, which is a source of local income for the locals.