The Marsascala local council voted on Monday against the project proposed by Transport Malta (TM) for the construction of a yacht marina sprawling across Marsascala Bay.

A motion approved during a council meeting condemned the publication of the pre-qualification questionnaire without any prior consultation and calls for the document to be withdrawn. It also called on TM to enter into discussions with the council and residents to reorganise existing berth spaces and safeguard swimming zones.

Eight members of the local council voted against, whilst one abstained.

On Friday, Transport Malta released a call for tenders for the construction of a yacht marina sprawling across Marsascala Bay. The 52-page tender document presents a preliminary design for the marina which sprawls across the whole of the bay and caters for a total of over 700 yachts of varying lengths.

The Marsascala council convened an emergency meeting on Monday in order to discuss the issues proposed and reach an official position on the project.

During the meeting, Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja and the majority of its councillors said they disagreed with the proposal. They said the document presented by TM completely excluded what residents would benefit from the development.

The council also criticised the development for an array of reasons, shedding light on the fact that this would negatively impact the environment of Marsascala Bay.

Speaking during the meeting, Mayor Calleja said that as a council “we cannot simply decide for thousands of residents. We believe that a wide consultation on the matter needs to take place, if not a referendum.”

Prior to Monday’s decision, the Council reached out to TM to understand in detail what the 52-page tender document entails.

PN councillor John Baptist Camilleri said during Monday’s meeting that the document presented by TM fails to highlight what residents would benefit from the development.

Councillor Charlot Mifsud insisted that residents should be consulted. Naturally, this kind of project will not benefit Marsascala and should not be a political issue, he said.

Meanwhile, Councillor Patrick Camilleri expressed his disappointment that the project was announced without any consultation, saying that he is against the proposal. 

“The proposal for the project should be withdrawn immediately. An environment and social impact assessment should be carried out instead. A wide consultation is also required which would include opinions from all entities, including residents”, Camilleri said.

In addition, councillor Mary-Rose Mifsud said that her position on the subject is against the development. Although she agrees with the development of the breakwater as well as the ferry service, she remarked that “a marina would not be a positive move forward as we do not afford to lose Marsascala Bay.”

Both Councillors Ryan Portelli and Errol Cutajar said that they are against the development of the project. Portelli emphasised that Marsascala Bay should be reorganised, whilst Cutajar also highlighted that the document presented by TM does not include the residents.

“Marsascala bay should remain as is, liberal and open for residents and others who would like to visit. It is our obligation to protect the bay as best as we can,” Portelli said.

Eight councillors voted in favour of the motion whilst councillor John Schembri abstained.