St George’s Bay developments worry conservationists

The eNGOs Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association (Malta) have expressed their deep concern over a massive proposed development of the gardens known as the Villa Rosa complex at St George's Bay, St Julian's, along with the nearby coastal development on the site of the old Cresta Quay Lido.

"The Villa Rosa site is one of the last green enclaves in an already intensely over-developed area, combining a scheduled building and ecological oasis, which not only provides an essential green lung for the area but also constitutes a potential tourist attraction as it is," the groups said.

The site includes an old palazzo which is a Grade 1 scheduled building, and many of the trees in this wooded site are protected by virtue of their age and species. The site also hosts an enormous protected cave, Ħark il-Ħamiem, containing fresh water which is unique in the Maltese islands and has yet to be studied in terms of its faunistic content, geological makeup and hydrological implications

This cave links up with Wied Ħark Ħamiem, a valley which is legally designated as a Special Area of Conservation and which, although small in size, is rich in fauna and flora which are protected at law. The high level of protection, level 1, given to both valley and cave is apparent from the MEPA website itself, which says a buffer zone (Level 4) is also being established to safeguard the importance and integrity of the entire valley.

The eNGOS said they were extremely concerned, calling on the authorities to ensure that no development permit is granted on this unique enclave. 

"Not only would the development have an enormous impact on all of this already overdeveloped bay, it would have a major impact on the ecology of this protected area, while the traffic and pollution generated, both during construction and after, would be detrimental to the residents, flora and fauna."

The Cresta Quay site spreads over part of the foreshore of St. George's Bay, a favourite with tourists and one which boasts the prestigious Blue Flag certification.

"In order to safeguard the aesthetic characteristics of the beach and to protect the public's right to fully enjoy it, the eNGOs recommend that absolutely no development should be permitted on the rocky coastline which forms part of the same site; according to Maltese law, the seashore is public property, therefore public access to the foreshore should be ensured throughout the site."

The eNGOs also called for the respect of the location's scenic integrity, that no change in use to residential use is to be allowed; and that mature tress should be as far as possible left in place.

"The eNGOs urge the relevant authorities to take their comments and recommendations into account in view of the site's legally-protected status, that it is a precious green lung in this over-developed, polluted area, and also in view of the fact that the public regards over-development as its greatest environmental problem."