Archbishop Charles Scicluna commented indirectly this morning on the government's decision to reduce the size of the Zonqor footprint for the new American University of Malta (AUM).
In a tweet he said: "There is indeed reason to be grateful that land destined for a natural park at Zonqor has been spared. Thank you MG!"
When the controversy broke out over plans to host the whole of the AUM campus on virgin land at Zonqor, the Archbishop had spoken out against the “rape” of pristine land.
The government announced yesterday that the campus will be split between Zonqor and Cospicua and the use of undeveloped land in Zonqor is to be reduced substantially.
The area to be used as a nature park in Zonqor has been extended.
The Malta Developers Association said this morning it welcomed the decision on the AUM, saying that the government "took on board its suggestions, when it drew its attention that too much pristine land (90,000 m2) were to be used for this project."
"With this final decision, as announced by the Government, a tangible compromise has been reached. Through the negotiated efforts, the intelligent use of land and public property have been achieved. This minimises the environmental impact and helps to achieve a regeneration of an abandoned and neglected property in Cospicua as well as creating a modern centre of learning in Marsascala, which is to be built on government land earmarked for development and taking up only 18,000 m2 of adjacent land," the association said.
"This is a project that, without doubt, will leave a highly positive social impact on the people of this area. This would mean that the quality of life of society in the south of Malta will improve."
The MDA said it will be on the look-out to ensure that this project will be solely for the purpose of a university and not residential or commercial purposes.
"The MDA therefore insists with the government that the conditions imposed in the contract should be respected and not leave any room for public land to be used for speculative purposes."
AD DISMAY
Alternattiva Demokratika expressed dismay at the decision.
Party chairman Arnold Cassola, said that it was unacceptable that 18,000 square meters of ODZ land in Zonqor would be taken up for the new American University of Malta, while it was positive that part of the campus would be sited in the former Dock number 1 in Cospicua.
Prof Cassola said that garigue land, such as that at Zonqor, did not mean it was abandoned land, since garigue land was an area of natural importance. If necessary the garigue land could be restored and nature would take care of the rest.
Carmel Cacopardo, deputy chairman, welcomed the siting of part of the campus in Cospicua, saying it would encourage the rehabilitation of areas surrounding Dock 1.
He, however, hit out at the plans for Zonqor. "The development of ODZ land at Zonqor is not only unacceptable in principle. By placing the residential area (dormitory) of the University at Zonqor there will be undesirable impacts on the Marsascala residents similar to that experienced by Swieqi residents as a result of the presence there of students of English," he said.
Cospicua local council welcomed the decision to house some of the new university's faculties in the locality, saying it would boost the area.
CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL HEAD WELCOMES PROJECT
The chairman of the government-appointed Consultative Council for the South, Labour MP Silvio Parnis, welcomed the government’s decision, saying it confirmed how the South was a priority and the government was seeking to exploit its potential.
The project, he said, would improve quality of life and create jobs.