Sadeen Education Investments Ltd had officially presented its planning application to demolish the Marsascala swimming pool and construct a university on Zonqor point last February.

Back in 2016, the controversial university which was the subject of an widespread local environmental outcry and even protests, was given full university status. The proposed campus still lies partly (around 18,000 sqm) on ODZ land. The application was filed back in February 2017, just before the election, however no public announcement was made.

The total area of the site stands at 41,000 sqm.

The project will see a car park, student halls, buildings dedicated to the various faculties,  an administration building, and more.

Following the protests over the take-up of ODZ land, part of the project was moved to Dock 1 in Cospicua.

Front Ħarsien ODZ to object to Zonqor development

Front Ħarsien ODZ will be formally objecting to the application to develop a university campus, part of which is located outside development zones and on land earmarked in the local plan for a national park.

Front Ħarsien ODZ insists that the project is still in breach of existing planning policies including the "local plan which identifies the area for inclusion in a national park and the SPED which obliges developers to consider land within development zones before considering ODZ sites."

“We are calling on the government to include the land presently earmarked for a massive car park, student halls and sports facilities in the Inwadar park. It simply does not make sense to turn an area immediately next to the Inwadar Park in to a construction and excavation site. Moreover it does not make any sense for government to designate the Inwadar Park as a public domain site as proposed by government while allocating public land immediately next for construction.”

"The local plan itself designates the area as a national park 'primarily for informal recreation (e.g. walking, cycling) and the appreciation of the ecological, geological, archaeological as well as cultural-historical features of these areas'. Within this area 'priority will be given to the conservation, protection and improvement of the natural and cultural-historical heritage'”.

Moreover the project may disturb the ecology of the adjacent Special Protection Area, which is immediately next to it through noise and light pollution, Front Harsien ODZ said. The group will continue to oppose the project by all legal means necessary with the aim of including the whole of Zonqor Point in the Imwadar park.  To achieve this aim the Front will continue participating in the planning process and will continue to mobilise the public as it did two years ago in the largest ever environmental protest in recent Maltese history.