Updated | Green NGO claims government promised AUM developers a sea view

Environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has questioned whether the government had promised Jordanian developers Sadeen Group a seafront location for their ‘American University of Malta’ campus. 

“It becomes increasingly apparent from the reason for refusal of many sites suggested that the secret agreement signed with Sadeen promised seafront locations,” FAA president Astrid Vella said in a statement. “Since when is a sea view a priority for an academic institution? Are there other uses [for the campus] planned for the long term?”

Originally set to take over 90,000 square metres of land outside development zones at Zonqor, the new plans will see the campus split in two- Zonqor and Dock 1 in Cospicua. The campus in Zonqor will be spread over 31,000 square metres, 18,000 of which will be on ODZ land.

“We are very much disappointed that, despite considerable protest, the government remains adamant on using ODZ land,” Vella said. “While we are encouraged that farmland will not be affected, we still question as to why a considerable part of the land allocated is on ODZ. Could not other avenues have been seriously considered?

“When a government breaks its own laws about ODZ and fails to place the interests of its people first, entering into secret agreements, painting it as an educational investment when in fact it is a private business, who can one really trust

“Haven’t enough scarce land resources and monuments been lost over the past decades? The only thing being compromised, always, with such ‘developments’, is the environment and quality of life.”

She said that the AUM saga has highlighted the government’s lack of vision, planning and transparency.

“Undoubtedly, some will have an interest in painting us as extremists simply because we stick to our principles for striving to save the environment, heritage and quality of life of the country we love.”  

While Vella welcomed investment in Cottonera, she questioned whether the selection of Dock 1 was the best option for Cottonera residents or the best option for Sadeen and claimed that other Cottonera sites available for the university were dismissed for “puerile reasons”/

“A heritage site such Dock One heritage has been crying out for investment to be converted into top-quality tourism project for years,” she said, questioning whether any social impact and traffic studies have been carried out to establish which type of project would be best for Cottonera’s residents, economy and historic environment.

‘Safeguarding virgin land should be at top of government’s agenda’ – KSU

The University Students’ Council (KSU) also criticised the government’s insistence on the development of ODZ land at Zonqor Point.
“Safeguarding virgin, pristine land should be placed at the top of any government’s agenda, and this explains the continued plea for the government to find other possible locations for that part of the campus which is planned to be built at Zonqor,” KSU said in a statement.
While KSU welcomed the Dock 1 campus, it questioned the need to develop 18,000 square metres of ODZ land.

“Allowing any ODZ land to be developed, even if it is 18,000 square metres,would mean that the government is failing to recognise the beauty and importance of the Maltese environment,” KSU said.

“We will continue to support Front Ħarsien ODZ's cry to safeguard every square metre of what’s left of our environment and to make sure that more pressure is put on the government in order to listen to its citizens and relocate the remaining area from an ODZ to an already developed site.”

KSU’s statement was backed by fellow student organisations AIESEC, ASA, ASCS, Betapsi, DESA, ELSA Malta, ESA, ESN, ESO, GħSL, Greenhouse ,GUG, HOASA, IAESTE Malta, ICTSA, Insite, JEF Malta, KSJC, MHSA, MIRSA, MMSA, MPSA, MUSC, MUST, S-Cubed, SACES, SDM, SPS, TDM2000 Malta, The Third Eye, UESA, University BibleGroup, UoM Futsal, UoMR, We Are, and Y4TE.