6,000-strong petition weighs upon Manoel Island decision

Over 6,000 people have signed a petition to the House of Representatives calling on the government to turn Manoel Island into a woodland park with heritage buildings and to save the iconic views from the Gzira promenade.

The petition, which indicates the scale of public opposition to the construction of the 610-apartments project of four-storey blocks, of which one will rise to nearly 30 metres above sea level next to the island’s entry-point.

The project includes a five-star hotel inside the former Lazzaretto hospital, an 8,449 sq.m. retail complex, a marina for 183 berths and 3,695 sq.m. allocated for sports facilities. The underground car park will cater for 2,600 cars – but the project itself will create 7,000 new car trips to and from Manoel Island.

The proposal involves an increase in the number of residential areas from 79,000 sq.m. to 83,000 sq.m. but a decrease of 8,000 sq.m. in the total gross floor area of the project itself when compared to the 1999 masterplan. The developers, MIDI plc, have a concession to develop both Manoel Island and Tigné Point.

But although the outline permit for the project issued in 1999 expired more than 14 years ago, the Planning Authority’s board is set to approve amendments to this permit – namely, reducing floor-space development by 8,000 sq.m yet increase heights allow even more residential apartments. According to the PA’s planning directorate, the outline permit remained valid as it was enshrined in local plans approved in 2006.

The PA board put off a decision on the MIDI development back on 20 December, citing lack of information on building heights and other aspects of the project. In tomorrow’s meeting, MIDI are expected to present photomontages showing a comparison between what was approved 20 years ago and what is being proposed now.

In a previous meeting, a PA official confirmed that 8,000 sq.m. of development space reduced from Manoel Island will also be transferred to Tigné Point. But MIDI has so far not confirmed whether they intend to use this additional floor-space in Tigné. “At the moment a yes or no answer is not possible as Midi is currently reconciling the developed areas with the PA which is likely to take a little time,” the spokesperson said.

During the last PA meeting, Gzira resident Micheal Sciortino made constructive use of the public hearing system to present objections and proposals to the Manoel Island project in a detailed 25-minute-long presentation. In his presentation, Sciortino presented a number of amendments to the project to minimise the visual impact and the loss of space on the promenade. “This is my hometown and I wish that Gzira becomes a better place,” he said.

Sciortino lamented the loss of a significant part of the Gzira waterfront – the area opposite between Triq Stuart and Triq Ponsonby – to accommodate the new bridges.

He also objected to the adverse visual impact of the development on the site of the duck village on views from the promenade. This development will rise nearly 30 metres over sea level and 22 metres from street level.  “We have already lost pedestrian space thanks to catering establishments on one side. Now we will lose the promenade on the other side,” Sciortino lamented.

To address this problem, he proposed keeping the bridge in its current location and relocating the imposing buildings in the duck village area.

“Please relocate that block which will obstruct the view of Gzira residents who relax on the benches in the area,” another elderly resident begged.

The meeting led to a wave of civic activism by the group Inhobbu l-Gzira, fronted by Sciortino and Jamie Mercieca, which culminated in the 6,000-strong petition calling for Manoel Island to be declared a national park.

According to the petition, MIDI’s Manoel Island mega-development threatens to lower the quality of life of thousands for the benefit of the few. “This is a historic opportunity for our government to reverse the wrongs of the past and go down in history as champion of the people,” the petition by Jamie Mercieca says. “Manoel Island is the last unbuilt area in the dense North Harbours conurbation – such a gem of architectural and natural heritage should rightly belong to all the people of Malta and Gozo.”