Gozo’s idyllic Ħondoq bay may be saved from a mega development, as a Planning Authority case officer’s report is recommending refusal of an application for a hotel and marina there.
The report, published earlier this week, recommends that the Planning Board turn down the application for a marina and hotel in a disused quarry along the protected stretch of Ħondoq coastline.
The proposed 104,000 square metre development seeks to turn the entire quarry site and an additional area of garigue into a 110-bedroom hotel spread across nine floors with four levels of underground parking. The developers, Gozo Prestige Holidays, are also seeking to build 25 villas, 60 apartments and 200 multi-owner properties. A decision will be taken by the board at a public hearing next Thursday.
The 40-page report says the project was not acceptable “in principle”. It said it would be a “highly dense urban development within an area designated as rural coastline”, which was contrary to several national policies.
“There is no reason acceptable in terms of the structure plan which justifies an expectation to allowing this development outside of the development zone,” the report reads.
The development application dates back to 2002 and has over the years faced stern criticism from locals and environmentalists who argue the project would be detrimental to the area.
Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq founder Paul Buttigieg yesterday told the Times of Malta he was relieved the case officer had “seen reason” and hoped the planning board would do the same next week. “After more than a decade of fighting against this project it’s good to finally see something positive,” Mr Buttigieg said, adding that it had not been easy fighting against “big money”.
The case officer’s report quotes several objectors, who over the years have raised concerns over the proposed development.
Some 85 per cent of Qala locals voted against the project, and several said the area around the quarry was intended to be a natural park and should be saved from development.
Qala already has the second highest rate of air pollution on the sister isle, and the construction of such a project, with the added traffic it would generate, would only serve to make the situation worse, they added.
Even the developer’s assessors, the report reads, had admitted that the project could have a negative impact on the area, particularly in relation tourism.
Among the national entities quoted in the report, the Tourism Authority said that while the project would offer accommodation alternatives for tourists, it could have an adverse effect on Gozo’s tourism product by detracting from a popular natural area.
Transport Malta raised concerns, meanwhile, over road access to the proposed development, and the State energy provider said energy supply could also pose difficulties.