The developers of the proposed project for the Ta’ Cenc area in Sannat, Gozo, have presented an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, but Alternattiva Demokratika is insisting that the area should be given national park status at once and conditions for access should be made clear to the owners.

Victor Galea, AD’s secretary general and spokesman for the party’s Gozo regional committee, told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the government’s inertia on the issue clearly shows a measure of hypocrisy, considering its claim that the environment is its third policy pillar.

The citizens are slowly being deprived of their right to access natural areas that are also rich in cultural heritage and the government is doing nothing about it. It is absurd to talk of rural development and the need to enhance Gozo’s niche tourism sector under such conditions,” Mr Galea insisted.

During a public consultation meeting held at the Sannat local council office on Tuesday, members of the public were only invited as observers, but MEPA’s public consultation period with regard to the development’s EIS is open until 14 August.

Another public consultation meeting at the local council office is scheduled for 21 August and MEPA will allow another week for further submissions to be made.

During the public consultation meeting, AD councillor John Mizzi spoke about a number of problems, especially the accessibility issue, the project will cause.

Mr Mizzi insisted that right of access to the cliff area, the seashore, the cart ruts and the dolmens will be limited if the development is given the go-ahead.

Moreover, light pollution caused by the development will particularly endanger bird colonies like Cory’s Shearwater (Ciefra) and the Yellow-tailed Gull (Gawwija Prima) that nest in the cliffs.

Other bird species also found in the area include the Mediterranean Shearwater (Garnija), the Short-toed Lark (Bilbla), the Blue Rock Thrush (Merill), the Spectacled Warbler (Bufula Hamra) and the Corn Bunting (Durrajsa).

The proposed project’s developer, Victor J. Borg, on behalf of Real Finanz A.G. had first submitted an application in October 1996 to develop the Ta’ Cenc area into “Malta’s first heritage park and multi-ownership tourist hotel development” – a proposal that AD, environment NGOs and nature lovers heavily criticised.

AD’s proposal to the government included offering a “gift” to citizens, visitors to Gozo and future generations, thus fulfilling its obligations to EU habitat directives and the Local Structural Plan, and called for Ta’ Cenc to be declared a Special Area of Conservation.

AD’s proposal to declare Ta’ Cenc as a national park for Gozo, rather than a heritage park “in the hands of a private speculator” – as the AD spokesman put it – was supported by Italian Green Environment Minister and President of the Italian Green Party, Pecoraro Scanio, during a recent visit to Malta.

Mr Scanio had said: “Turning Gozo into an ecological island would promote eco- and agro-tourism – the future of the tourist industry. Italy’s long-standing collaboration with Malta could grow to incorporate sustainable development on the island. Gozo provides the ideal environment for such a project, since it is not too densely populated”.

While AD accepts that reasonable extensions to the hotel be made as long as the cart ruts, in particular, are safeguarded.

The party’s Gozo regional committee spokesperson said AD would also welcome a much-needed upgrade of the hotel, considering its shabbiness.

“We support sustainable development as long as it does not compromise the environment; in fact we have a number of alternative ideas regarding sustainable development for the island.

“Ideas include developing the concept of GMO-free (organic production) tourism and the so far untapped sector related to bird watching,” he said.

The Ta’ Cenc proposed development’s EIS is available on-line at www.mepa.org.mt. Alternatively, a hard copy of the EIS can be obtained from the offices of the Director of Environment Protection, MEPA, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana.