Save Hondoq supports FAA on use of EU funds
- Our aim was, is, and will be, to have Hondoq enjoyed by everyone – Save Hondoq
- Bid to save Hondoq ir-Rummien from development
- Fight to save Hondoq ir-Rummien continues
- Urgent action needed – Save Hondoq Movement
- University students provide design solution for Hondoq
- Hondoq Ir- Rummien doesn’t count – Readers Letter
- Mega projects will destroy Gozo’s distinct character
- An open letter to the Malta Labour Party – Readers Letter
- What right does anyone have to spoil such a gift from God in the name of financial profit?
- Alternattiva Demokratika Meeting with Qala Residents
- Hondoq ir-Rummien development plan proposal
- Qala Local Council organise clean-up at Hondoq Bay
- A rather strange interpretation of honesty – Readers Letter
- Moviment Graffiti welcomes the revoking of the Ramla permit
- ‘Nature and Heritage Park’ – Moviment Graffitti
Moviment Harsien Hondoq (the Save Hondoq Movement) agrees with and supports the proposal of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) urging the authorities to use EU funds in order to purchase from landowners, heritage sites and ‘green lungs’ which were of vital importance to the cultural heritage, health and well-being of local residents, one such site being Hondoq ir-Rummien.
Something similar has already occurred in Qala in 1937 during Sir Temi Zammit’s time, where the government bought land with a Menhir on it.
The Hondoq creek project which includes buildings seven and nine storeys up the valley side, hotel and yacht marina does not fit in with government’s much publicized vision of Gozo Eco-Island. Such over-development can only harm Gozo’s image as an unspoilt touristic destination and put off tourists.
On FAA’s initiative, together with the support of Moviment Harsien Hondoq and the Qala Local Council, an award has been launched for the University of Malta’s third year architectural students to draw up creative plans for the abandoned water distillation plant and also the neglected quarry in the Hondoq ir-Rummien area to be transformed into a national park. With such an initiative everyone would be able to enjoy this area which would draw far more tourists to Gozo than a mega-project.
It is to be noted that up until 2002 the land in question was still in Government’s hands and plans were already made by the Qala Local Council to make a national park. In the 2006 Gozo Local Plan, the Hondoq area was changed from a recreational area to a development zone. We would like to highlight the fact that a referendum was held in Qala where 85% voted against this project. Another point is that when the EIS was published, this project had the largest number of registered objectors in MEPA’s history.
Therefore we cannot understand how this harmful project which has so many objectors is still being processed by MEPA.
Moviment Harsien Hondoq
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Quite obviously the idea is still being looked at because someone stands to make a lot of money from it. Hondoq was, still is and always will be a recreational area and should be turned into a national park for the benefit of all the people who love the area so much.
The fact that the zoning was changed in 2006 to show the Hondoq area as a development zone stinks to high heaven of corrupt practices. How in the name of all that is holy can anyone decide that this beautiful bay should become a development zone?
Mepa has not changed since the bad old days of Andrew Calleja. When the new chairman took over I remember several NGO’s saying that it was a breath of fresh air for the authority. Well the breath of fresh air definitely needs a mouthwash as something stinks here!
Can anyone tell me if the Ministry for Gozo has fixed the damage that was done during January. What are they waiting for?
I personally have been following the Hondoq saga through this website.
Read this article “The Fastest job ever done in Gozo” and you will soon see why things somethimes get preferential treatment
http://gozonews.com/featured/the-fastest-job-ever-done-in-gozo-readers-letter
It is incredible how we persist so pig-headedly in destroying what’s left of the Maltese natural environment.
Wasn’t the destruction of Xlendi Bay proof enough of how short-sighted such development is? Why spend millions on artificial sandy beaches when mother nature has blessed our shores with such natural gems?
This plan to build at Hondoq is just another scheme hatched by real estate speculators parading as tourism developers,
Dr Gonzi please wake up for our rights. You promissed to lift MEPA’s image but I am afraid that this did not happen. I am only 17 yrs old but can tell right from wrong .
JUST HAVE A LOOK AT THIS MORNINGS NEWSPAPERS AND YOU WILL SOON FIND OUT WHAT THE PEOPLE REALLY THINK.
Why oh why will the Ministry for Gozo not make a definitive statement as to what is going on with regard to repairs to Hondoq????
Someone must know the answer or is something being hidden!!!
What is it going to take to get answers???
Everyone has got to support this idea for Government to spend money wisely as it can have EU funds.
Why can`t we learn a lesson from the other hotels in Gozo that have closed because of lack of business.
Furthermore they have now destroyed the surroundings and have gained a licence to build flats. It sounds to me that this is the same reasoning that that this developer wants to do and is using to gain a licence to build flats eventually. That is where the money lies.
Like what happened in San Lawrenz when half of it was demolished to build flats, a hotel in Qala in that area is a losing business proposition. Name me one investor that will invest money in a losing business proposition….name me one banker that will loan money for a losing business proposition.
It is sceptical that a piece of asbestos pipe was found on Hondoq Ir-Rummien beach Qala Gozo. The piece of pipe in the picture that was reported in the Times Monday May 11/09 looks that it was broken off very recently. Did somebody plac it on the beach and call the Times for some reason?
There was no big waves or bad weather to speak of for weeks before for a piece of pipe that size to be washed on the beach. It is also hard to believe that fragments were found scatterred among the pebbles which the Authorities dont show in the picture.
I agree with the director of Environment that he is going to wait for the report to decide who is responsible for this report. There was no reporters name on the story or on the picture. The Times must explain how this all started. Was the Times at Hondoq Beach when the sea washed this piece of pipe on the beach?
There is no danger because a piece of abestos pipe was found on the beach or on the ground for that matter. If this was danger, then the Authorities should remove all the asbestos pipes from all the buildings on the Maltese Islands.
In the classes I participated on safety in North America about asbestos say, it is dangerous when there is fibers in the air in a closed or semi closed area for a prolong periods of time. Did somebody mislead the Times and the Authorities to scare people? Something like that should be reported to Qala Council first.
The is a danger in Qala but not asbestos, they are the overloaded dump trucks that service the quarries going through the narrowest of roads spewing Diesel Fumes, CO2, Carbon Monoxide, Dust, Noise and damaging properties. Some of these roads are so narrow that a car and a truck cannot go by each other unless one of them drives on the sidewalk or back up.
Some residents installed CO2 Carbon Monoxide Alarm Dedectors so there is proof. Another proof is the number of Cancer deaths in these narrow roads. This is what the Environment Health Authorities should be working on and not a harmless piece of asbestos pipe lying on beach to scare people enjoying Hondoq Bay.
The Ministry in Gozo must repair the storm damage at Hondoq and get on with it without delay,everybody is tired of excuses. It is already very busy at Hondoq with Locals, Maltese and Tourists. Hard to believe five years have past since we joined the E.U.and we are still at Base Camp.