Action against beach erosion

Labour MP Carmelo Borg called on the government in parliament yesterday to take measures to protect Malta's beaches from sand erosion, saying the removal of sea grass and pebbles from the beaches was leading to the sand being washed away. He said that embellishment works in Xlendi and Marsalforn were examples of how well-intended work had led to the loss of sand.

Tourism Minister Michael Refalo, whose ministry is responsible for beach cleaners, said the Labour MP was right. It was for this reason that sea grass was not removed from the beaches until shortly before Easter.

Dr Refalo said he was recently at a Xlendi hotel which had an old picture showing how the sandy beach there, before the road was built, was much bigger than it is now.

He explained that the government was engaged in a pilot project, which had now been approved by the Planning Authority, to restore the sandy beach at St George's Bay. The designs provided for a sandy beach stretching out some 40 metres with protection against sand erosion.

The project would be incorporated into other embellishment works in and around St Julian's and Paceville. If successful, the St George's Bay project would be adopted for other bays.