The Malta Environment and Planning Authority on Thursday threw out five appeals to sanction illegal development at the protected Dwejra site in Gozo.

There was only one application which was accepted, that to change a pre-1957 structure (the development timeline benchmark) into a dive shop. There is no doubt at all that Dwejra is a site of natural beauty which is incomparable to anything else to be found in either Malta or Gozo.

In the height of summer, however, one must still note that the site is still not maintained as it should be.

When one takes the long and winding road down, one is immediately met by confusion and chaos in the makeshift car park. One has to dodge ice-cream vans and try to wedge in between dilapidated snack bars and the tens of dive trucks that descend on the site.

One must remember that Dwejra is a prime dive platform. One can dive the fabulous blue hole, the Dwejra pool itself, the chasm as well as being able to charter a hard RHIB to be taken to offshore sites such as il-Ġebla tal- Ġeneral and San Dimitri Point.

In fact, Mepa said that aside from the building having been built prior to 1957, the suggested use – that of being a dive shop – fits into the plan for Dwejra; and with this we agree. It was a most astute application and if run correctly and up to safety standards, should be a hive of activity and a good earner for the owner and contributor to the economy. Perhaps more importantly, it will boost Gozo’s image as a prime quality site.

But while Mepa has thrown out the sanctioning applications, one would very much like to see enforcement to remove the illegal structures now that the appeals have been turned down. But it goes further than that.

One can understand that the authorities want to omit as much development as possible from the Dwejra site. But if certain footprints have been allowed, then Mepa should now ensure that the development which is currently present, must be serviced properly and, for lack of a better term, tidied up.

There are little things which can make a great difference, and this includes fresh paving instead of uneven and ancient potholed tarmac. Establishments such as snack bars and kiosks should be made to invest in temporary structures such as effective awnings and acceptable street furniture to accompany the prime business spot which they are occupying.

It is becoming clear that there are not that many places of unspoiled beauty in Malta, and this is one of them. What the authorities must now do is to strike a balance between preserving what is left, and making sure that the product on offer, for tourists, Maltese and Gozitans alike, is an acceptable one.

One hopes that Mepa will apply this same line with other development projects in the future. Perhaps above all, the rule that works may continue while an appeal is under way is one that needs to be changed and as soon as possible. It is useless saying that we want to conserve the environment, only to have an application turned down, while work continues during the appeals stage. If that appeal is turned down, and irreversible damage is inflicted, where does that leave us?