[ANALYSIS] Chinese landscapes: From bridge to breakwater?

While the Gozo bridge seems destined for a slow vanishing act, the building of a breakwater between Sliema and Valletta has become a likelier prospect.

Plans for a breakwater in Marsamxett coincide with plans for land reclamation and super yacht facilities at the Sliema ferries.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between China and Malta refers to cooperation in infrastructural and transport projects, including that of a breakwater in Marsamxett and the Gozo bridge.

The government claims that preliminary studies conducted by China Communications and Construction Limited have shown the Gozo bridge to be “technically feasible” but in an indication that the government might be having doubts on the project the Prime Minister has called for studies on the bridge’s environmental impact, a decision which is reminiscent of Lawrence Gonzi’s decision to abort the Xaghra l-Hamra golf course in an attempt to quell mounting criticism over the 2006 extension of building boundaries.

The apparent change of tone on the Gozo bridge was noticed by heritage society Din l-Art Helwa.

“We are sincerely pleased to hear the Prime Minister mention his concerns for the environment, perhaps for the first time ever during his term of office,” society president Simone Mizzi told MaltaToday.

She augured that studies on the environmental impact of a bridge to Gozo will be made available to the public as is required and that they “do not spell the killing of the proverbial golden egg for the sister island”.

But as plans for a bridge across the Gozo channel have been sent back to the Chinese drawing boards, attention has now shifted to another elusive project, which dates back to the 1960s.

On PBS the Prime Minister himself linked the development of a breakwater joining Valletta and Sliema as a way to facilitate the development of yacht marinas and other facilities meant to “upgrade” the environment in Sliema.

The PM’s insistence on the need of a breakwater coincides with land reclamation plans for the ferries, revealed by MaltaToday in April.

MaltaToday is reliably informed that the Sliema ferries is one of the areas being considered for land reclamation.

The project earmarks the outer part of Sliema’s creek for a land reclamation project and the development of a superyacht hub which could see up to 100-metre yachts enjoying the breathtaking harbour views.

The project, modelled on similar projects as in San Tropez and Dubai, will create more space for commercial outlets, parking facilities and embellishment features but will drastically change the social fabric of the Sliema Strand, frequented by pedestrians who presently can walk and jog along the seashore, enjoying the unobstructed view of Manoel Island and Valletta in an unbroken walk from St Julian’s Bay right into Gzira.

In an indication of a push for development in this area, Gzira and the Tigne peninsula have also been identified as sites for high rise development in the new policy on building heights.

Selling the last views to Valletta?

Din l-Art Helwa is not opposed to the development of yacht marinas in already established harbours but is sceptical of engineering works aimed at changing the coastline.

While new yacht marinas should be located within existing harbours this should not involve “altering our coastlines” artificially as was being proposed recently through the reclamation of land at Sliema, DLH president Simone Mizzi told MaltaToday.

“This will narrow the picturesque contours of the entrance to Sliema creek, in order to sell off the few remaining views of Valletta from the Sliema side to super yachts. We have done enough of that already.”

According to Mizzi the impact of such a project also has to be seriously studied, as it will alter the water quality of the harbour permanently.

Equally cautious on the impact of a breakwater on the harbour’s water circulation, is Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar coordinator Astrid Vella.

“Before the proposed Sliema breakwater project can be considered, serious studies need to be carried out, including wave motion analysis in order to assess how changes in currents and waves would affect water stagnation and erosion of the seabed and shoreline in the different areas of Marsamxett harbour.”

Astrid Vella also referred to reports that this breakwater is being planned in order to set up a major yacht marina in Sliema creek.

“Serious studies need to be made on how the jetties that will form the marina will be constructed in order to be unobtrusive and have minimum effect on the environment in the area.”

She also called for social impact studies to assess the impact on local communities.

The heavier traffic to service the marina which will be generated in this heavily congested and polluted area is also a  major concern for FAA.

Vella warns that unless such developments are properly planned, “the end result will be a breakwater and an unsightly boat park rather than a thriving yacht marina which respects the surrounding area”.

The MIDI commitment

According to the emphytheutical deed signed between MIDI and the government in 1999, the company is committed to construct a breakwater in Manoel Island. 

Contacted by MaltaToday the company welcomed cooperation with China in building a breakwater linking Valletta and Sliema while insisting that it is still bound by previous commitments to build its own breakwater.

MIDI had presented a planning application in 2003 to develop a breakwater in Marsamxett (between Manoel island and Valletta) but the application is still pending 11 years later.

Asked whether MIDI is still committed to honour its application, MIDI CEO Luke Coppini replied that at this stage nothing has changed with regard to MIDI’s application and agreement in the emphyteutical deed with the government for a breakwater on Manoel Island. “Like all stakeholders in the area we will monitor how the cooperation envisaged in the MOU will evolve. We haven’t yet seen any details or plans of the new breakwater so we cannot really comment further at this stage”.

According to Coppini a breakwater in Marsamxett could transform the creeks of Marsamxett, Ta’ Xbiex, Pieta and Sa Maison into potential marina and leisure zones which will benefit local and visiting yachts as well as businesses in the area. 

“It makes sense to create marinas in the traditional harbour areas of Malta where the necessary supplementary facilities already exist.”

Marinas in the ferries?

Entrepreneur Grace Borg describes investment in a breakwater as a good idea, which could trigger private sector investment in the Sliema ferries.

“Various projects have been proposed at the ferries in the past by the private sector but these never materialised because of the cost of constructing a breakwater to shelter these developments.”

Entrepreneur Angelo Xuereb is more sceptical on the idea of a large breakwater, favouring a number of localised breakwaters.

According to Xuereb studies should establish whether the development of one single huge breakwater is preferable to a number of less costly and smaller breakwaters.

Xuereb also insists on studies on the impact of such a development on the circulation of water in the harbour.

But Xuereb welcomes the prospect of a sheltered port protected by breakwaters, mentioning the great potential for investment in yacht marinas and facilities for super yachts.

“We can never have enough berthing facilities as there will always be a demand for more.”

He also thinks that Sliema is an ideal venue for yacht marinas.

“Sliema will become like Monte Carlo.”  He also thinks that owners of super yachts prefer berthing in city centres where they have access to restaurants, bars and other facilities.

“This will definitely put Malta in the map.”

The Marsamxett saga

Yet similarly to the idea of a Gozo bridge, deemed to be too costly in feasibility studies conducted by the Economic Planning Division in 1969 and by the Japanese government’s Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency in 1972, previous studies have cast doubts on the feasibility of a breakwater at Marsamxett.

A study commissioned by the Maltese government in 1968 and carried out by G. Maunsell & Partners of London, reported that the sea was so deep that if a breakwater were to be built, the expense would be exorbitant.

A second report commissioned by the Malta Development Corporation in 1990, carried out by Hydraulic Research of Wallingford, also concluded that the expense would not be sustainable.

According to the study, since water is more than 30 metres deep, the breakwater’s foundations could block water circulation inside the harbour.

An EIA undertaken by the Gibb Environmental in 1999 for the Tigné and Manoel Island project had concluded that in order to increase water circulation around Manoel Island, the Manoel Island bridge should be widened and the seabed dredged.

One of the permit conditions for the Tigné and Manoel Island project was that dredging works aimed at facilitating water circulation in Lazzaretto Creek should have been undertaken before the MIDI yacht marina was allowed to start its operations.

A recent study by ADI Associates to study the impact of a reorganisation of the Ta’Xbiex marinas warns on the potential negative impact on water circulation resulting from the proposed Manoel Island breakwater coupled with the impact of the government’s project to discharge storm water through an outfall, which will empty its contents in Lazzaretto Creek.

The study notes that the flow from the outfall was not even modelled.

One of the risks identified in the report is that of eutrophication - the blossoming of algae due to the depletion of oxygen levels as a result of an increase in nitrates in the water.

Gonzi’s Marsamxett plans

Despite doubts expressed in previous studies the building of a breakwater for Marsamxett harbour was among the 22 Marsamxett area projects announced earlier in December 2007, just three months before the 2008 general election.

One of the major developments linked to the breakwater was the construction of a new cruise liner quay in the Fort St Elmo area . The Marsamxett plan also proposed building a promenade linking fort St Elmo to Tigne Point in Sliema.

Then Prime Minister Gonzi was keen on emphasising the creation of new public spaces rather than the commercial aspect of this project.

“We also need to make sure that we ward off any land speculators. The location itself is exceptional”, he said.

In these plans the Sliema Ferries were to be redeveloped for pleasure cruise craft while a yacht marina was proposed at Pieta.

In fact plans presented by the previous government for the Pieta marina were approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on Thursday.

Back in February 2006 Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett announced a Lm1 million land reclamation project to create more parking spaces in the Strand. The announcement was made during a meeting with angry shop owners like Grace Borg, who protested against the loss in parking space.

MEPA is presently considering a smaller land reclamation project proposed by a number of hotels on the Gzira side of the Strand.

The project envisions the development of a swimming pool and other facilities on reclaimed land, adjacent to the present promenade, which will remain public.

But while presently people can walk along the coast, looking directly at the sea between Gzira and Manoel Island, the proposed area, immediately adjacent to the sea, will be occupied by private facilities.

According to MEPA’s Environment Protection Directorate, providing adequate pedestrian access along the seaward edge of the proposed reclaimed coast can offset this negative impact.

Originally the developers had presented more extensive plans to reclaim 20,132 square meters of land, stretching from the area opposite the Waterfront Hotel to the Manoel Island bridge.  But the project was later downscaled after MEPA called on the developers to go back to the drawing board. A final decision on the project has yet to be taken.