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Armier rape sealed

Armier boathouse owners have finally got what they want albeit at a price but environmentalists are worried about the government’s intention to triple the land area on which new beach houses will be built.

An approximate calculation made by MaltaToday shows that the illegal boathouses in Armier cover a total land area of around 67,000 square metres, which is equivalent to eight full size football fields. The government’s proposal will see the area increase dramatically to around 231,000 square metres or 28 full size football fields.

The government’s proposal means that pristine land will be used to construct 1,600 beach houses that will be rented out for Lm250 per year. There are currently 1,200 illegally built boathouses in the area, which government intends to demolish.

The Marfa Action plan made public on Thursday identifies four zones to be used for the development of beach rooms with Zone One, at Ramlet il-Qortin being the largest.

Although the solution seems to be a good compromise, the proposal to increase the land area can only be viewed as a retreat by government on its previous tough stand on the illegal structures.

Asked to comment on the proposed solution, Friends of the Earth (Malta) activist Julian Manduca said that it was a compromise, which did not suit the national interest but was better than doing nothing at all.

"In the national interest it would have been better if government had adhered to the 1992 structure plan and pulled down all the illegal structures," Mr Manduca said. He continued, "The solution found is a compromise, which is not the best solution in the national interest but not the worse possible solution. It is better than the inaction we have witnessed over the years."

However, Mr Manduca reserved harsh words for the increased land area, which will be taken up by the new beach houses.

"Friends of the Earth strongly objects to the increase of the footprint over which beach houses will be constructed. It is a national disgrace to increase the boathouses’ land area when these should not have been built in the first place."

Contacted by MaltaToday, the Armier boathouses central committee chairman Tarcisio Barbara said that the Marfa Action Plan is a positive development although a number of details have to be discussed.

Mr Barbara’s primary objection concerns the Lm4,000 current boathouse owners will be asked to pay for a guaranteed lease on a new beach house, apart from the yearly rent of Lm250.

"Although, nothing has been said officially, current boathouse owners will be given a 10 year lease on a new beach house. However, the one-off payment of Lm4,000 to secure the lease is a hefty sum for a structure that will not remain the property of the owners after the 10 years are up," Mr Barbara said.

Another concern stems from the fact that government will involve a contractor to build and maintain the new beach houses. "This can give rise to speculation," he added.

Meanwhile, on Friday the central committee issued a press statement in which it described the plan as a positive step even though it did not agree with all the aspects contained in the proposal.

The central committee said that the financial conditions and other details have to be studied in depth adding that the proposals will be discussed with the various boathouse organisations before counter-proposals are presented.

The Marfa Action Plan announced by government on Thursday is subject to approval by the Planning Authority board. However, government will be receiving proposals from interested parties as long as these conform to the general outline of the plan.

Apart from the beach house zones the Marfa Action Plan identifies two areas to be used as a campsite and caravan site.

Coastal access for the public is also guaranteed and two large areas are designated as ‘informal recreation’ zones.