Noma Island 'very unwelcome' in Comino, mayor says

Updated 5.53pm

A controversial floating entertainment platform slated to open this summer would not be welcome in Comino, the locality’s mayor has said following reports the luxury venue is set to operate close to the island.  

Għajnsielem mayor Kevin Cauchi, whose remit encompasses Comino, told Times of Malta the 1,750-square-metre ‘Noma Island’ venue is “certainly not something we would like”, following claims about the island’s destination by political party Momentum. 

In a statement earlier Friday, the party said the venue's operators “intend to keep the boat off Comino, thereby destroying the island’s peace and beauty”. 

Cauchi said it was “already difficult" to manage existing commercial establishments in Comino, explaining the council “already has a problem with noise pollution and waste from kiosks” while describing such establishments as an “environmental disaster”.  

The venue would “take advantage of Comino’s scenery while posing an environmental risk," he said. 

The venue houses a restaurant, bar-lounge and freshwater swimming pool, and can accommodate up to 350 guests, who arrive via private yachts or a speedboat tender service.

The mayor added that with scant details available about Noma Island and the council unclear which authority is overseeing its operation, he asked: “Who will be responsible for any environmental damage?” 

The venue would be a “very unwelcome addition”, he said.

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) told Times of Malta it had "not received any formal applications for the operation being described" when asked if a licence had been sought for the rumoured Comino operation.

The MTA added that the activities of Noma Island did not appear to fall within its remit.

'Lack of enforcement'

Cauchi is the latest mayor to voice opposition to the project after the Sliema and Mellieħa mayors expressed their opposition to the venue, echoing concerns of communities on the French Riviera who rejected plans for it to operate over environmental concerns.

Lending its support to the mayors while raising environmental concerns of its own, Momentum said coastal residents “face almost daily disturbances from party boats that generate excessive noise late into the night” during the summer.

“These become even more annoying when there is bad weather, and such party vessels move into the harbour areas, where the impact on nearby residents becomes even more direct.”

The party noted that increased traffic and light and noise pollution from vessels “frequently” reported operating close to protected coasts and Natura 2000 sites, disturbed marine habitats and coastal fauna.

The platform has already faced opposition from communities in Malta and abroad. Photo: Facebook.

Momentum leader Arnold Cassola stressed the “deeper issue is the persistent lack of enforcement at sea during the summer months”, noting the sea should “not become an unregulated extension of the party industry”.

He called for the police’s Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) to be strengthened with additional personnel and equipment such as dinghies, drones and cameras, and to operate 24 hours per day.

Cassola also raised concerns about the operators of Noma Island, claiming the Zammit Tabona family, who he described as “regular Labour [party] donors”, are involved in the venue.

The floating beach club will be operated in Malta by 356 Entertainment, an events firm that also operates the UNO club in Ta' Qali. Members of the Zammit Tabona family are involved in a shareholding company of 356, according to the Malta business registry.

Questions sent to 356 Group earlier this week remain unanswered at the time of publication.

Petition expresses 'serious concern'

Meanwhile, a parliamentary petition lodged Tuesday by Valletta resident Billy Joe Mc Bee expressed “serious concern” about the platform’s presence currently moored close to the Valletta cruise port, while calling for an independent assessment of the venue.

The petition said it “represents a semi-permanent occupation of public maritime space and raises serious concerns regarding negative impacts on the marine environment and public tranquillity".

Highlighting a “real risk of damage to fragile ecosystems”, including seagrass meadows, the petition also drew attention to noise and maritime pollution concerns, as well as the potential impact on residents.

“Furthermore, this case risks creating a dangerous administrative precedent that may undermine regulatory control over the use of Malta’s territorial waters.”

Petitioners warned the platform posed environmental risks and would prove a nuisance to residents. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

Stressing that no environmental assessment of the venue had taken place, the petition said its presence in Malta raised “serious concerns of non-compliance with applicable environmental and planning laws”.

The petition called for the immediate suspension of all operations related to Noma Island and full disclosure of all permits and licenses granted to the structure, as well as the venue’s operators and beneficiaries.

It also called for public consultation on the project, environmental assessments and underwater surveys and for the application of all relevant national and European laws.

The petition had lodged more than 1,100 signatures at the time of publication.

eNGOs condemnation

Nine eNGOs issued a statement on Friday condemning the proposal to introduce the floating entertainment barge NOMA, saying this will not only impact the quality of lives of people in the area but also severely affect marine and coastal environment.

Nature Trust Malta urged the authorities to prioritise environmental protection and public interest over short-term commercial gain.

“Malta marine environment is already under severe strain from overdevelopment and cumulative coastal pressures,” the eNGO said.

“Malta’s natural heritage is not an unlimited resource to be continuously exploited. Our coasts and seas are the country’s last remaining shared natural spaces. They must be safeguarded — for biodiversity, for the well-being of society and for our future generations.”

The statement was endorsed by BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust FEE Malta, Ramblers’ Association of Malta, and Wirt Għawdex.