The Prime Minister is prepared to consider alternative sites for the proposed American university and campuses in Marsascala amid mounting opposition to the Outside Development Zone (ODZ) project.

“It’s very clear to both sides that if another site that is earmarked and can satisfy the needs we will welcome it. But it has to be feasible,” Joseph Muscat told The Sunday Times of Malta in an interview.

Joseph Muscat

About 90,000 square metres of ODZ land has been controversially earmarked by the government to be given to a Jordanian company that wants to develop it into a private ‘American’ university.

Dr Muscat said the only parameter he was insisting upon was that the university had to be built in the south of Malta.

“Saying they welcome the investment is not enough. If not there, where? I’ll welcome a feasible alternative. But someone has to decide.”

Asked whether the university needed such a big stretch of land, Dr Muscat replied: “Maybe not. But their first consideration was that we would have low-lying, scattered buildings rather than high blocks of buildings,” pointing out the building would be around 40,000 square metres.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander

The Prime Minister also took a swipe at the Archbishop – who has said virgin land ought to be protected – pointing out that the Church had submitted an application for two schools on 80,000 square metres of ODZ land. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander...I will not take double standards,” Dr Muscat added. However, Mgr Charles Scicluna hit back (see page 5), saying that he was not at all in favour of schools being built on ODZ land – the application was submitted long before he was appointed Archbishop – and he urged the authorities to find an alternative site.

Meanwhile, opposition to the location earmarked for the university project has brought together unlikely bedfellows like hunters and bird conservationists.

In a meeting with lobby groups yesterday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said his party was ready to do its part to oppose the plans but urged civil society to take the lead.

The groups have voiced their opposition to the construction of a university campus on land that had been earmarked for a natural park in the 2006 South Malta Local Plan.