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James Debono
The Xaghra l-Hamra golf course proposal is still on track and the Malta Tourism Authority intends to present an application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority after all studies have been finalised.
Speculation has been rife that the government had lost interest in the project, amidst MaltaToday’s revelation that the golf course lies on an important underground water source.
Another setback for the golf course’s proponents was the Prime Minister’s budget speech declaration that he does not favour the development of a golf course if the accompanying residential development is deemed unsustainable.
This speculation on the government backtracking on last year’s decision was fuelled by delays in the EIA process which was meant to be finalised by the beginning of summer 2006.
In July EIA coordinator Adrian Mallia had justified conducting baseline studies before the presentation of a project development statement to MEPA as a way of avoiding holding these studies in 2006.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Tourism informed MaltaToday that baseline studies for the EIA have been concluded, except for the economics study currently being carried out, and the landscape assessment which is awaiting the final design of the golf course and details of the ancillary development.
The assessment on the various topic areas will proceed once the detailed designs have been prepared.
According to the ministry the delays on the EIA have resulted from the need to amend the course layout to mitigate some of the environmental impacts resulting from the preliminary findings of the EIA.
A year after the government and MEPA proposed Xaghra l-Hamra as the site for the golf course, the Malta Tourism Authority has not yet presented an application for the Xaghra l-Hamra golf course.
“Once all the details are available and the designs prepared, the MTA will only be in a position to submit the necessary applications, as required by the Development Planning and the Environment Protection Acts,” the spokesperson said.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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