The possibility of having a golf course at the White Rocks complex was considered to have potential, but was ruled out because of its limitations and what it would have incurred.

Speaking in Parliament in answer to a supplementary question by Noel Farrugia (PL), Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said those limitations included the nearness of the road, the course of which would have to be changed, and the fact that the countryside below the site did not afford the flatness needed for a full-size, international-standard golf course.

Dr de Marco said the possibility of extending the Marsa golf course was currently being considered, but even so, this would not be enough to attract purely-golf tourism to Malta because such tourism needed at least three golf courses, with their inherent large capital and recurrent expenditures.

Gino Cauchi (PL) recalled that a golf course had already once been considered for the White Rocks area, but Mepa had ruled it out because it would have severely affected the garigue towards St George’s Bay. He asked if the garigue would be involved in the current project.

Dr de Marco said he was sure that Mepa would consider the project with the same sensitivity as it had shown on the previous occasion.

In his reply to the original question by Stefan Buontempo (PL) the Prime Minister had said the original White Rocks site had been subject to a development brief approved in 1995. The whole area covered 221,174 square metres.