Moviment Graffitti has said that it strongly objects to the development described in No. 5277/96 which seeks to develop large tracts of virgin land at Ta’ Cenc as a first heritage park and Multi-ownership tourist hotel development including approximately 33 bungalows and 37 villas.

“If the permit is given it will continue to reduce the precious little remaining natural landscape that we as Maltese citizens still have and should be actively preserving for future generations.”

Moviment Graffitti is against further development at Ta’ Cenc for the following specific reasons, listed in detail below :

? the development will cause irreversible harm to the flora and fauna that inhabit the Ta’ Cenc garigue including unique species that may only be found in this area.
? It develops in an area of ecological importance, all the way down to Mgarr ix-Xini.
? The Area is classified by MEPA itself of high landscape value (MEPA Landscape Assessment Study of the Maltese Islands)
? Area is of scientific importance as categorised by MEPA.
? The proposed area designated for the proposed development falls Outside Development Zone (ODZ) boundaries.
? The development violates Structure Plan Policy TOU 10 which limits any development to the ‘vicinity of the hotel’, effectively sounding the death knell for the panoply of villas and bungalows being proposed for the area, since these are detached from the existing hotel.
? The bird conservation area will be affected due to noise pollution and the dust generated during development.
? If the permit is given it will give rise for further development applications in that area, especially in zone 7 which was excluded from the Environmental Impact Assessment. We demand that such area be included and viewed holistically. The Impact generated from Development will affect the whole area not parts of it.
? It gives in to pressure from the mass tourism market that has already spoiled so much of the coastline in Malta, and increasingly so in Gozo.
? The proposed project will not give right of access to the public, but only to a limit number of visitors each day (from EIS).
? This ‘project feasibility’ appears to be a recurrent hurdle for local white elephants, which often fail miserably to justify the carte blanche they are clamouring for. This might lead one to think that the only true reason fuelling the proposals is speculation, rather than genuine concern for the Gozitan tourism sector.

Furthermore, the Malta Tourism Authority website utilizes beautiful photographic shots of open countryside including Ta’ Cenc. It is incomprehensible how this application seeks to spoil this very same scenic spot in the name of promoting tourism. Such developments simply create short term gains but result in long term loss of the very attractions that create a tourist destination in the first place.

In short we believe that this development should never be permitted if MEPA truly serves as an independent authority that protects and safeguards the environment. The entire Ta’ Cenc area (and not just the coast) qualifies as a Natura 2000 site.

David Pisani
f/Moviment Graffitti