Marlene Farrugia: Turn White Rocks area into natural park

Democratic Party leader says White Rocks area in Pembroke should not be sold off to private sector

The Democratic Party has come out against the sale of the former White Rocks holiday complex in Pembroke, as news broke of private investors close to securing the acquisition of the land for the creation of a new luxury housing village.  

Marlene Farrugia, the independent MP, said the White Rocks area should be conserved for the people as a natural park instead of being sold off.

“Instead of putting a price tag on White Rocks, the government should turn the area into a natural park to be enjoyed by the people. Given that adjacent areas will continue to be grossly overdeveloped, White Rocks should be turned into a natural park. Since the area lacks open spaces which maybe enjoyed freely by families. This in turn will mitigate the effects of the overdevelopment of the area,” Farrugia said.

“Existing buildings which are of architectural value should be restored and utilised whilst other building which is not of architectural value should be removed.  White Rocks should not become another Manoel Island,” she said.

A consortium of Malta’s top business groups who are likely to be the preferred bidders for the redevelopment of the White Rocks area, are planning to develop 70 middle- to high-end villas with prices ranging from €1 million to €5 million.

The White Rocks area covers 45 hectares (449,885 square metres) of land but only 38%, or 135,600 square metres of the project area can be developed.

The whole project will be financed, designed, constructed, and operated by the private sector which is expected to pay the government €22 million for the sale of the land.

The White Rocks Development Company is spearheaded by Michael Bianchi, one of Malta’s most established businessmen who however keeps a low profile in his role as a middleman, bringing together foreign clients and local entrepreneurs.

A case in point is including the self-made billionaires, the Livingstone brothers, together with prominent Maltese companies that include Tony Zahra and Charles Ellul. He is also associated with interests at the Malta International Airport, the Dragonara Casino, Vodafone, and Maltco Lotteries.

The WRDC consortium has said that it will be investing €200 million in the project, with most of its revenue coming from the sales of the villas which are expected to fetch at least €300 million.

The project will also include a small quality hotel and some retail outlets, apart from the villas.

The consortium includes Michael Bianchi, the Livingstone Brothers, the Alpine Group, headed by MHRA president Tony Zahra, Bonnici Brothers, the construction company owned by Emanuel Bonnici, John Bonnici and Mario Bonnici; Mizzi Holdings Ltd, with Maurice Mizzi, Brian Mizzi and Kenneth Mizzi as directors; Sea Estate Ltd with Joseph Eucharist Vella of Karkanja Ltd; Elma Ltd with Dennis Baldacchino of Tal-Maghtab Construction Ltd, and Charles Ellul of Elbros Construction Ltd.

The Ministry for the Economy said that at this stage of the request for proposal for the White Rocks project, the Privatisation Unit engaged an independent and reputable audit firm to conduct a land valuation exercise, and claimed that the figures quoted are “purely speculative.”