The position being taken by the government on the development of land at Zonqor by the American University of Malta is sensible both in terms of the environment and education, Environment Minister Jose Herrera said.

The project at Zonqor will start only when the other part of the university campus, that in Cospciua, will reach its maximum capacity, he said in a statement.

Herrera said that the Zonqor land will not be developed for speculation purposes and will only be used for education.

The area surrounding the land in question, known as Inwadar, will be turned into a natural park. The idea is to keep this land in pristine condition, and some 420 tonnes of waste have been removed to make way for the project, he said.

Herrera said that a historical building at Inwadar will be converted into a visitors’ centre, endemic plants will replace other flora, while paths that have been in place since the time of the Knights of Malta will be rehabilitated.