Fourteen organisations this morning echoed the concerns expressed by the Għaqda Bajja San Tumas regarding a proposal for “agro-tourism” development at Munxar/Xrobb l-Għagin.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers’ Association, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Din l-Art Helwa, NatureTrust Malta, MOAM, Sustainable Built Environment, Youth for the Environment, Greenhouse Malta, Kunsill Studenti Universitarji, Kopin, Gender Liberation, Zminijietna and the Jesuits insisted that this was an area of high landscape value, ecological and scientific importance, abutting on the outside development area designated for a national park.
“The organisations are not against genuine agro-tourism, however a project of over 2,000 square metres on virgin land defeats the very purpose of agro-tourism, as any construction project this size would destroy a significant stretch of undisturbed natural landscape.”
This, they said, confirmed the concerns voiced by environment NGOs that in spite of the claimed restrictions imposed by the planning authority’s new rural policy, this would simply be used as screen to develop in the countryside.
In its screening letter to the developers, the authority states that the site in question was within a very sensitive and scenic rural location and the proposed
works would result in formalisation and uptake of land within a sensitive area. This, it said, was not compatible with the conservation of the rural characteristics and scheduling status of the area.
The organisations said the proposed project included administration offices, tourist accommodation, beach pontoon, swimming pool, a beauty and therapy salon, fitness centre, a wine bar, an activity hall and workshops, a restaurant and a fully equipped conference centre to cater for multi-purpose events.
“Most of these facilities have nothing to do with any real agro-tourism. The tag is simply being used to disguise a hotel development,” they said.
The organisations said the project would have a severe negative impact on the visual integrity of the park, would require roads to be created to service the complex, and could create light and noise pollution in the area.
The proposal to build a campus at Zonqor would already deprive the area and Malta of one stretch of virgin land and Malta could not afford to lose more, they said.
The NGOs said they firmly believed that no outside development zones were expendable for tourism projects. Priority should be given to the redevelopment of abandoned prime sites given over to tourism such as the nearby Jerma Hotel, which was derelict.
“Malta is so small that the stated agro-tourism activities can be conducted with tourists accommodated in nearby vacant properties, of which there is no shortage. This would create a genuine national benefit,” they said.