A long-term plan that will put forward some 800 proposals for a better Gozo is expected to be published in the coming weeks, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

In an interview at her office in the heart of Victoria, Mrs Debono expressed her satisfaction at the way the people of Gozo – but not only them – had responded to a call for suggestions to be made for plans to be drawn up to improve the environment, social life, economy and culture of the sister island.

“We did not expect such a great response from the people. Now we are in the process of publishing a report that will include all the 800 proposals,” she said, showing me a draft copy of it.

The report will be divided into six chapters, starting with a section on quality investment for more sustainable jobs, which includes the tourism and transport sectors. The second item is on the quality of life, and is made up of suggestions on education and health.

The rest of the chapters are on the environment, a caring society for all, culture, and sustaining the island’s identity.

Mrs Debono said that the proposals are for the short, medium and long term, and although the long-term plan is still to be published, that for the short-term has already been made public with some of the suggestions covering the period 2010-2012, being already implemented, where possible. The medium-term proposals cater for the years 2012-2015, while the long-term proposals cover the period 2016-2020.

A sum of €25 million has been allotted for the first three years and, although it might appear to be a huge sum of money, once the proposals start to be carried out they would be consumed all too quickly.

Energy and the environment

For example, with regard to education, the minister said that an eco-Gozo teacher has been employed for all the primary schools on the island, while all teachers will soon be presented with a resource pack on the role they should play in the implementation of the eco-Gozo vision.

A great emphasis is being laid on energy-saving methods, Mrs Debono said. An energy audit in schools, government departments and public buildings is being carried out to find out what needs to be done to reduce the use of electricity through energy-saving measures. A wind monitoring mast will be installed to collect data on wind energy too and a number of potential sites where the mast will be installed are currently being considered.

With the collaboration of local councils, all squares in Gozo will be lit up with alternative energy resources. It is hoped that an agreement might be reached in order to have a set of designs in one project for all the squares. This in itself would save money, she added. An application for EU funds to have solar water heating at the Gozo General Hospital has been filed.

Nineteen wind-pumps have been restored to function as energy resources in the island’s agricultural sector, with 75 per cent of the cost being funded by the Ministry for Gozo under a scheme issued as part of the eco-Gozo project. There will soon be another call for applications. This time it will not be restricted to farmers but will also be open to all applicants who own fields where damaged wind-pumps are installed, the minister said.

Water

Gozo was the first to benefit from EU pre-accession funds, she proudly added, when the water treatment plant in the limits of Ghajnsielem was built. This resulted in all drainage generated in Gozo being directed to one point where it is treated before it is disposed of in the sea.

“Gone are the days when drainage used to be dumped at sea without being treated, causing so much environmental harm. The wastewater treatment plant makes it possible for raw drainage to be treated and is no longer being dumped into the sea. San Blas bay has been freed of such pollution while work is currently underway to close the last outfall at Wied il-Mielah. At present it is treated water that is being disposed of at sea at Ras il-Hobz. This water is not harmful to the environment,” Mrs Debono said.

But there will soon be another step, as a project in hand aims to use this treated water in a different way. Studies are being carried out to find the best way possible to use this treated water as second-class water for agricultural purposes. “Tests carried out so far by Water Services Corporation have proven that this water is not harmful to humans, and plans are in hand for this water to be redirected for use by farmers,” the minister said.

Once this project is in place, it is hoped that the incorrect practice of pumping water from illegal boreholes, which is causing so much harm to the water table, will stop, Mrs Debono said. She was not in a position to say when this project will be implemented.

The ministry, with the help of the WSC has also identified 30 existing water catchment facilities and reservoirs that will be cleared of silt over a three-year period.

Afforestation

Four sites have been earmarked for afforestation projects – Chambray, Qortin tax-Xaghra, Qortin tan-Nadur and by the Marsalforn car park. But the idea is to go beyond the simple planting of trees. “We would like to create family parks thus creating opportunities for quality family time where families spend some free time relaxing and entertaining themselves,” Mrs Debono said. “We are trying to attract sponsors to help us with the project. Planting is expected to start in October.”

The Gozo Ministry has also launched what are known as countryside walks and two people have been assigned to keep the routes as clean as possible. “Unfortunately, there are people who dispose of unwanted items outdoors, but we are doing our best to keep these areas clean,” the minister said.

Sport

One major project the ministry is planning is the building of an indoor Olympic size swimming pool as part of the sports complex in Victoria. An application has been filed with Mepa. It is envisaged that work will take place to repair the roof of the existing complex.

The complex has recently been complemented with a gym, which was opened by Mrs Debono in late February. But now the ministry is looking at bigger things. The existing courts behind the complex will be excavated for the swimming pool to be constructed below road level. Once this is completed, the plan is to have two tennis courts and a bocci court on top. Some €4 million are earmarked for the project, Mrs Debono said.

Gozo is known for its diving sites, but an increase in sports tourism is expected once the complex can also boast of an indoor swimming pool, the first of its kind in the Maltese Islands.

Added to the complex, 10 areas have been identified for rock-climbing, ranging from beginner to professional level.

Employment

For Gozo, attracting investment is an even bigger problem than Malta, and this is because of its double insularity. Foreign investors, Mrs Debono admitted, are very sceptical when it comes to investing in the sister island, largely because of transport issues. The cost of, say, transporting raw material to Gozo would increase the production expenses, and this often stops foreigners from investing in Gozo.

But the government does its best to increase employment opportunities in Gozo, and a scheme where the ETC paid 50 per cent of the wages for two years for new recruits attracted some 300 new jobs with 92 employers, Mrs Debono said.

Gozitans prefer to live and work in Gozo, but at present there are about 600 who work in Malta. Added to this, there are some 900 students at university. “Most students live in Malta for the whole week and return on Friday, but many of the workers make the Gozo-Malta-Gozo trip every day, and it is not an easy matter,” she explained. This is also where the ministry steps in to alleviate extra costs and to make it more attractive for more Gozitan students to further their tertiary and other vocational studies.

Tourism

Gozo depends on tourism, Mrs Debono said. “Although we do have a lot of Maltese visitors, we do welcome foreign groups and individuals with open arms. What we are looking at is to increase the number of foreigners who stay overnight on the sister island especially during the lean and winter months. Many of them just visit for the day and leave at 5 or 6pm. We would like to build a market for tourists who, during their holiday in Malta, spend at least some nights in Gozo.”

With regard to Maltese visitors, many local councils are now organising their own activities during different weekends so as to attract people in the lean months. Gozo is a very popular destination for the Maltese in summer, so there is no need to hold activities between June and September. But it would be ideal to have more Maltese coming over for weekends during the winter and shoulder months, and local councils are helping in this regard since they are being assisted to hold their own event during less popular months.

“Even the ministry has made it a point to have its own activity – the Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana, which is held over Ascension weekend,” the minister said.

Asked why some businessmen continue to give Gozo a bad name because they charge Maltese people more than they do Gozitans, Mrs Debono said these are a few exceptions and the best way to expose them is to name and shame them.

Roads

A number of roads are to be built with EU funds. These are the road leading to Ta’ Pinu and part of the road from Mgarr Harbour to Victoria. Work on the road to Xlendi, which forms part of the project including that of Ta’ Pinu, is currently held up because of an appeal submitted by a contractor in relation to the relative bid bond. But there are other roads that are being constructed with government funds, such as the road leading to San Lawrenz and Dwejra with relative tenders just issued.

Other projects currently underway in Gozo are the restoration of the bastions at Cittadella, the visitors’ centre at Ggantija Temples and restoration work at Villa Rundle.

“We are busy, and we are keeping ourselves busy,” concluded Mrs Debono.

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