An environmental group has urged people to voice their opposition to the proposed "massive" development project at Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay in Gozo.

The call comes as the planning authority opened a period of consultation up to May 12 about the environment impact statement for the proposed hotel, villas, apartments, shops and a yacht marina planned for the area.

Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq said Gozo could not afford to turn Ħondoq ir-Rummien into another commercialised zone like Xlendi, Marsalforn and Mġarr.

Qala residents have already expressed their opposition, with 85 per cent voting against the project in a referendum.

Ħondoq Bay, facing Comino, is a small pebble beach with an old quay on one side. An old water distiller lies empty behind the bay and a quarry, from which rock for the Grand Harbour breakwater was cut early in the last century, lies disused on one side of the road leading to the bay.