The angle of the artist’s impression presented by the applicants for a development permit for property in Qala, Gozo did not reveal the full extent of the damage that would be sustained if the development went ahead, Paul Buttigieg, a Qala councillor, said.

The image gave the impression from a distance, which was too far away to be realistic, Mr Buttigieg said, and he did not understand how MEPA could rely on it. This discrepancy also came out in MEPA auditor, Professor Joe Falzon’s report.

The image presented here gave a more realistic representation of the negative effect that this development would have on the surrounding environment. The local council was, and would remain, against this resort, he said, as it destroyed one of the most beautiful views in Gozo, which every tourist took in as they made their way down to Malta.

The Qala local council was ever more certain of the views it had expressed in various letters to MEPA, against the development of property in Qala, Gozo, after having analysed the auditor’s report, it said in a letter, dated 20 November, which was sent to MEPA chairman Austin Walker.

The report, by Prof. Falzon, criticises MEPA’s decision to let the development go ahead. Prof. Falzon points out that the two montages presented by the applicant and the objectors were very different. One made the visual impact look perfectly acceptable, whereas the other did the exact opposite.

As a council member in charge of environmental measures, Mr Buttigieg said that Prof. Falzon had his full support when it came to this matter.

As a local council, they had not been consulted on the local plan of 2006, Mr Buttigieg said, and it had been done completely without their knowledge. There were two points on which they had been kept in the dark, he said, that of the development in Qala and the plan to turn Hondoq, a popular recreational area, into a tourist resort.

In the letter to Mr Walker the local council said it would appreciate if it were informed of any action that was to be taken, following the publication of this report. They also called for another discussion with MEPA, to discuss the local plan.

The letter appealed to MEPA not to use the excuse of the ongoing appeal, as this was a serious decision, with which came great responsibility. A number of NGOs have also issued negative statements on the matter, a fact which strengthens the argument made in the auditor’s report that the decision could have been taken more responsibly.

The Qala mayor was unable to comment, as he was out of the country.