Geological studies on Gozo tunnel final route still ongoing

All geological studies related to the development of the Gozo tunnel will be passed on to the “relevant authorities” in the development permitting process and be made available for public consultation, a spokesperson for Minister Ian Borg has told MaltaToday.

The statement implies that ongoing geological studies will be included in the reports for the environment impact assessment (EIA) for the Gozo tunnel, which is currently being drafted.

The ministry spokesperson explained that so far, core samples containing geological data have been obtained both on land and at sea, with the aim of conducting the required geological studies. “Through the technical details acquired from these cores and other information from different processes, such as seismic data, a geological model of the area under investigation was compiled”.

Additional geological investigations will be carried out once the final tunnel alignment is confirmed.

These studies will focus on the final tunnel route, as opposed to the studies already conducted, which cover the wider area that is being analysed for project planning and for the scope of the EIA.

The experts engaged in what the ministry has described as a “delicate phase” of the project, will be provided with the “freedom, resources and support necessary to conduct all the independent studies required by the authorities to identify the most sustainable solutions to Gozo’s long-standing social and economic challenges,” the spokesperson said.

The ministry reiterated the government’s commitment “to the successful and sustainable” implementation of the Malta-Gozo tunnel project.

The terms of reference for the EIA state call for a comprehensive investigation of the geology and geomorphology of the site and its surroundings as well as geo-technical considerations including: land and seabed stability; mechanical, erosional and structural properties of the terrain and any relevant “fissures, faults, hollows, or weak points” as well as “the vulnerability of the site to natural forces such as erosive elements, landslides and mass movements.”

Despite the government’s political commitment to develop the tunnel, the terms of reference issued by the Environment and Resources Authority for the EIA specify that alternatives including alternative uses of the proposed tunnel, alternative solutions for inter-island transport, as well as the “zero option” have to be considered.

“These alternatives, including the zero option, should be considered in sufficient detail as a plausible scenario in the EIA, wherever relevant, and not be discarded upfront without proper discussion of its implications,” ERA’s guidelines for pending studies states.

According to the standard procedure, the ERA is responsible for ensuring that the EIA respects the terms of reference. It will also have to issue a recommendation to the Planning Authority on whether the tunnel project should be approved or not, with the final decision being taken by the Planning Board.

The full publication of studies for the Gozo tunnel was demanded by independent MEP candidate Arnold Cassola, who insisted that all geological studies should be finalised before a tender for the project is issued by the government. Cassola argued that it would be irresponsible to issue tenders before such detailed studies are “produced, studied and discussed publicly”.