Front explains why Verdala golf course project should be refused

The Front kontra l-Golf Kors, which is opposing the development of a golf course at the Verdala slope, Tal-Virtù, Rabat, plans to take legal action if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approves the project.

Developer Angelo Xuereb, who is proposing to build a golf course on 72 hectares of fertile land worked by around 96 farmers, is expecting MEPA to approve the project at a public hearing on Thursday.

But five days before the decision, the Front, a coalition of more than 20 environmental, social, religious, agricultural, political and cultural organisations, said MEPA should decide "in favour of rule of law, the structure plan, sustainable development, social justice and environmental protection by rejecting the proposal."

"If the project is approved, the matter will not stop there," warned Fr Jimmy Bartolo, a Jesuit priest and University chaplain.

Fr Bartolo said at a press conference yesterday that the golf course violated the 1991 agreement between Malta and the Holy See, under which agricultural land at Verdala, that had been leased to at least 90 families for generations, was passed on to the government.

The Church, in fact, had passed on land to the government "to promote the safeguarding of the environment and the development of agriculture and to meet the country's most pressing social requirements, such as social housing and public utilities, as well as for humanitarian, educational and cultural purposes."

"The golf course violates the agreement on many counts," Fr Bartolo explained. "Evicting farmers and replacing cultivated fields with a golf course does little to promote agriculture."

Besides, the project would reduce the water available for agriculture. "Water currently available to other regions in Malta, such as Bingemma, would be needed to water the grass in Verdala," he said. Much of the water that would be used, could be treated and used for ordinary consumption.

Fr Bartolo said the project breached the agreement because an "exclusive, profit-oriented and elitist project of this sort necessarily prevented the public from using and enjoying the property."

The argument - used by successive Tourism Ministers - that the project would meet pressing social requirements because it would attract tourists, did not hold. "The agreement requires land to be used in way which 'directly and in themselves' meet the most pressing needs and social requirements," he said.

Fr Bartolo said Archbishop Mercieca was against a golf course in Verdala not just because of the Church-State agreement but also because the farmers' livelihood was at stake, and because of the ecological damage that the project would cause.

He said the Church would oppose any proposal to develop a golf course on all former Church property covered by the agreement.

The Environment Commission within the Church stated that the Environment Impact Assessment submitted by AX Holdings failed to address the negative effects of the proposed developments, said Dr David Zammit, representing a group of University lecturers who have taken a stand against the proposal.

"The project fails to satisfy sustainability criteria on the use of land. Approving this project would give out contradictory messages to Maltese citizens, putting in a bad light any efforts to devise a national strategy for sustainable development. The project contradicts clear policies," according to the Environment Commission report.

Joe Farrugia, of the Progressive Farmers' Union, said nobody had the right to take agricultural land from farmers if this was being worked regularly.

He said the farmers had lost a lot of money because MEPA had dragged its feet in taking a decision. Mr Farrugia explained that "huge" amounts of water, much more than the developer was stating would be necessary, were needed to cultivate turf in a valley that was hit by the sun's rays for most of the day.

Explaining the project's environmental impact, Annalise Falzon of Nature Trust said the golf course would have a major impact on present ecosystems which cannot adapt to sudden change.

Giving a list of reasons which made the development "unacceptable", Ms Falzon said the golf course would change the characteristic environment of traditional landscape, "The aspect of how artificial pesticides used to maintain turf affect the biodiversity have been neglected in the study," she said.

Ms Falzon said the developer would introduce an alien species of grass that spreads uncontrollably and replaces indigenous flora. In addition, the Malta Resources Authority had warned against the possibility of contaminating the water table as a result of pesticides.

Michael Briguglio, of Graffitti, said the front is made up of the Progressive Farmers Union, the Jesuit Province, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Moviment Graffitti, Alternattiva Demokratika, Inizjamed, Move! organisation, Zminijietna, AD Zghazagh, International Animal Rescue, the Farmers' Central Co-Operative Society, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Azzjoni Pozittiva, Animal Rescue, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association and Ghaqda Zghazagh tax-Xellug.

"It is strongly supported by the University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin, Farmers' Central Co-operative Society, Front Insalvaw Wied Garnaw and the Third World Group."

Rabat council, AD, the Labour Party and a large number of civil society organisations are officially opposing the project. Besides, various opinion makers, including exponents of the Nationalist Party and the Church newspaper Il-Gensillum are also opposing the golf course.