The Għadira Bay kiosk that has put at risk the beach’s Blue Flag status after concrete was placed in the sand to serve as a platform for its ‘upgrade’ had two enforcement notices before the permit was granted, according to NGOs.
Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Ramblers Association said the permit for the kiosk had been repeatedly refused and the kiosk had two enforcement orders swept away by the approved permit issued as a Development Notification Order (DNO).
This newspaper published photos last Friday of a sizeable hole dug into the sand that was then filled with concrete for a platform to host a kiosk. Mepa said the development was approved as a DNO and was only one of seven such permits issued on the Natura 2000 site, which is also designated as a Special Protected Area and a Site of Community Interest.
DNOs are usually issued for temporary structures, leading to questions on how such a permit could have been issued on such a sensitive site. “This DNO system bypasses public consultation to fast-track applications for minor works,” the NGOs said.
Blue Flag International, which administers the prestigious award granted for the sustainable management of beaches, last Friday requested a report on environmental assessments made before the permit was granted, which is a requirement.
The President of the Chamber of Architects, Chris Mintoff, described the development as “tragic”. Environmentalist and biologist Alan Deidun said he was “baffled” at how the application for such a kiosk was not screened more rigorously.
Mepa said the upgrading of the kiosks was part of a plan by the Malta Tourism Authority to “embellish the area” as part of an agreement between the kiosk operators and government in 2012.
It said the permit, referred to as a Development Notification Order, was approved in last May “after assessment was carried out”.
Nine of Malta’s beaches have been awarded Blue Flags. They are assessed regularly to ensure that the award remains deserved.
The flag’s mark of quality is so important in the tourism sector that Mepa last week conceded public land to a restaurant so it would move from its central location at Golden Bay which was preventing the beach getting its deserved award.
Dr Deidun said the Għadira development was inconsistent with the long overdue enforcement action taken by Mepa at Golden Bay.