Six environmental groups are calling on the planning authority to revise the local plans for Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay and revert the area’s designation to a national park.

Led by Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq, the appeal was also made to the public to take part in the ongoing consultation process for the revision of local plans and “voice their dissatisfaction” at the pending application for a tourist village.

The groups said “significant changes” were made in 2006 (when the local plans were approved) to the Gozo and Comino plan, which altered the policy for Ħondoq from one of rehabilitation to one in favour of development.

Even the planning authority’s Audit Office admitted these substantial changes should not have been made without public consultation, the groups said.

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 Qala local council is also against the project.

The original proposal was to build a five-star hotel, 285 flats and villas, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 shops, five restaurants and a 150-boat marina. The developers then filed new plans to scrap the marina and replace it with a swimming lagoon. However, the planning authority refused to accept them, saying they should be filed under a separate application. The developers then filed an appeal.

Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq together with Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers Association, Nature Trust, Friends of the Earth Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa are also calling on the planning authority to refuse the permit.

In an online petition, the groups are calling on the public to request that the planning policy for the area was changed back to one of rehabilitation as had been agreed upon by the planning authority and the Qala local council in 2002.

It also calls for Ħondoq be turned into a national park so everyone can continue to enjoy the area “for generations to come”. The petition can be found on: http://soshondoq.blogspot.com .