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James Debono
Leading biologist Dr Edwin Lanfranco has told MaltaToday that the Ghajn Tuffieha site known as ix-Xaghra l-Hamra, which has been identified for a golf course, includes half the number of the native species of flowering plants, and other plants found only in the Maltese islands.
The government and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority have as yet not substantiated the Prime Minister’s claims on the suitability of Ghajn Tuffieha for a golf course, over and above other sites already identified by MEPA back in October 2004.
According to a report by golf course consultants Hawtree and Sons, commissioned by MEPA, the Xaghra l-Hamra site is not “as straightforward to develop as (their) previous favourite – the Habel Bellu site and certainly much more expensive.”
This statement is so far the only disparaging comparison with respect to government’s choice of Ghajn Tuffieha, which the report makes with the other sites evaluated by MEPA.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had stated government asked Mepa to consider this new area after the Hal-Ferh complex at Ghajn Tuffieha was passed on to the government and that in the end, “it turned out to be the best location.”
So far no document has been issued by MEPA showing that Ghajn Tuffieha is more suitable for a golf course than the other sites, or on the ecological impact of a golf course at ix-Xaghra il-Hamra, leaving Gonzi’s assertion that MEPA had indicated Ghajn Tuffieha as the best location still to be tested.
In the absence of an ecological assessment MaltaToday asked biologist Edwin Lanfranco and environmentalist Alan Diedun to assess the ecological value of this site, which includes large stretches of well-developed thyme, garigue and rocky steppe.
“This habitat is a characteristic of the coralline limestone plateau of the Maltese islands, which is fast dwindling,” Lanfranco said.
The Ghajn Tuffieha garigue can in fact support over half the number of the native species of flowering plants, which include several endemic plants such as the Maltese Leek, the Maltese Dwarf Garlic and the Maltese Fleabane, found only on Malta.
The garigue is dominated by low shrubs such as the Mediterranean Thyme and Olive-leaved germander which are accompanied by a wide variety of herbaceous species as well as plants with bulbs and tubers such as asphodels, squills and several orchids, some of which are very rare.
The steppes at Ghajn Tuffieha are far from barren wasteland and are just as rich in species as the garigue environment although in summer they appear bleak.
This steppe habitat can support most of the herbaceous species found in garigue areas and are particularly rich in grasses, thistles, umbellifers and legumes.
The Mediterranean Thyme is the most important species found in this environment. In fact the production of Maltese honey and apiculture is practised in the area.
Apart from the rich plant bio-diversity Lanfranco also refers to multitude of animals which live on this site. These include several reptile species including the endemic Maltese Wall Lizard and numerous insects, arachnids and molluscs such as the door snail and the top-snail.
Environmentalist Alan Deidun told MaltaToday that the coastal cliff area running from Benghajsa to Mellieha, which also encompasses the Rdum Majjiesa area close to ix-Xaghra l-Hamra, is a Special Area of Conservation of international importance. The Rdum Majjiesa is also being proposed for a Marine Protected Area.
“Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra could provide a good buffer for this protected zone,” added Deidun.
Ghajn Tuffieha vs Habel Bellu
So far the only study on the Ghajn Tuffieha site was conducted by Hawtree. The report deals mainly with location, access and landscape character, from the perspective of a golf design consultant. From this perspective it emerges that the Habel Bellu site had several advantages over the Xaghra l-Hamra site at least as regards cost.
In the report published in October, Hawtree was asked by MEPA to assess five sites which were identified from the shortlisted lists.
These sites were the Mqabba Quarry area, the Marsa Golf Course, White Rocks, Ta’ Cenc, Ghajn Melel and Tal-Gawhar.
Despite MEPA’s recommendation that the Habel Bellu site should not be considered due to the agricultural value of the area, the consultants said “the great advantage of the Habel Bellu site over all others is the potential for developing full, par 5 length holes over 500 metres.”
They also said the gentle topography and the existing topsoil make this site very easy to develop.
The Gawhar site, which was identified after the consultant’s visit, was considered by MEPA as having a similar topography to the Habel Bellu site. According to MEPA “this site could potentially offer a course of a quality as suggested for the Habel Bellu site.”
It is still a mystery as to why the Ghajn Tuffieha site was given precedence over the Tal-Gawhar site. According to MEPA’s October report the development of a golf course on this site would have upgraded the environmental state of the area.
The only disadvantage mentioned by MEPA was that the site is “well far away from main tourist areas.”
The Habel Bellu site was dismissed by MEPA because of its high agricultural value, although the authority also said the site has a “low ecological and landscape value.” One of the pluses of this site was land availability due to the fact that the land in question is already owned by the proponent of the Habel Bellu golf course.
According to environmentalist Alan Deidun ix-Xaghra l-Hamra “certainly outshines all of these in terms of footprint, with its 112 hectares, whilst White Rocks is a distant second with 80ha.”
According to Deidun the Tal-Gawhar site in Safi is largely composed of degraded land and has a low landscape and ecological value. The only advantage is that it is quite distant from built-up areas.
On the other hand the White Rocks complex area, next to St George’s Bay, is close to built up areas and is only moderately degraded. “But it still contains quality farmland and land with a high ecological value.”
But according to Deidun the most striking contrast is that between the two sites earmarked for a golf course in Gozo. Whilst Ta’ Cenc is listed as having a high landscape and ecological value, and is distant from built up areas, Ghajn Mellel is endowed with many pros, such as its low ecological and landscape values, its low protection levels and its proximity to built up areas. “Unfortunately, the powers to be have already set their beady eyes on Ta’ Cenc.”
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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