Updated | Front Harsien ODZ objects to any part of university campus at Zonqor

No part of the proposed American University of Malta campus should be built at Zonqor Point, Front Harsien ODZ spokesperson Michael Briguglio has insisted. 

“It would help if the Prime Minister says, black on white, whether he’s considering Zonqor as a development location or not,” Briguglio told MaltaToday.

Joseph Muscat confirmed on Thursday during a public consultation session that the private university campus will be split up, with part of it built in Marsaskala and another part somewhere else in the south. However, he didn’t expand on whether the part that will be built in Marsaskala will be built on virgin land outside development zones at Zonqor Point.

Around 3,000 protested last month against the proposed Zonqor development, in what was widely viewed as Malta’s largest ever citizens’ protest.

Briguglio called on Muscat to come clean on his Zonqor intentions in Parliament before it breaks up for summer recess and hence avoid politicizing the issue throughout the summer months.

He pointed out that the land originally earmarked for the campus was included in a legally-binding natural park approved in the 2006 local plan for the south of Malta.

“The development of Zonqor would be absolutist,” Briguglio said. “No compromise should involve the development of Zonqor, or any other ODZ land for that matter.” 

'Żonqor Point must remain a Nature Park' - AD

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Arnold Cassola has urged the Prime Minister to be clear about his decision related to the development of the American University of Malta at Zonqor Point.

"Speaking during the last meeting in the series Gvern li Jisma,  Muscat said that part of the project will be in Marsaskala and part of it elsewhere in the south," Cassola said adding that the green party believes Muscat should stop "playing about with words."

"We need a clear answer to the question," he said. "Has the idea of touching upon the Nature Park in Żonqor been scrapped? A simple clear answer: Yes or No?"

In their press statement AD said that in their opinion Żonqor point is to remain untouched and remain a park as approved by the Minister responsible for planning in the 2006 Local Plan.

"AD is proud of its consistency. It will continue working to save the last remianing open spaces for the people living in the south of the island, as it had done in 1995, when it had worked with others to save the Munxar peninsula in Saint Thomas Bay from aggressive development, twenty years ago."