Minister of Public Works and Planning Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that recommendations for Ħondoq ir-Rummien are outside the Planning Ministry's remit.

The Malta Independent asked Zrinzo Azzopardi whether government will take the Qala Mayor’s advice on expropriating the land in Ħondoq ir-Rummien and turn it into a national park.

This followed yesterday’s Environment and Planning Review Tribunal’s decision to reject the appeal filed by developers to turn the area into a port and yacht marina along with a 195-bedroom hotel and 300 apartments. The ERPT put an end to a five-year appeal period and a planning process which has lasted for 20 years.

In his reaction, Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg said that the next step is for government to expropriate the land and turn it into a national park.

“Despite the work of the Planning Authority falling under the responsibility of this Ministry, I don’t think it is just to comment on things which overshadow the work of the Ministry and beyond my remit. One can note that yesterday’s decision was received positively by many,” Zrinzo Azzopardi said.