Opposition to the floating beach club Noma Island is growing, as mayors and at least one NGO expressed their opposition to the idea due to concerns of the impact on residents and also on the environment.

The opposition to the Noma Island floating beach club has gathered steam, and rightly so.

The idea of a floating beach club off of Malta's seaside coastal areas is not one that residents in any area would want. The concerns about noise are very valid, due to worries of it ending up blasting loud music.

The party boats during the summer months do enough of that.

Sliema Mayor John Pillow came out strongly against the floating party platform, insisting that Sliema is "a residential community, not an offshore party." Mellieha Mayor Gabriel Micallef said that introducing a large entertainment structure in an environment that is already so busy raises serious concerns regarding safety, noise, environmental impact and enforcement. Marsaskala mayor Mario Calleja said the Noma island is "not welcome in Marsaskala waters". 

St Paul's Bay Mayor Censu Galea said: "I must point out that activities out at sea are not under the Councils' control, yet we will still make a decision regarding the subject, and make it public. I believe that in principle, no one will be in favour of such an operation close to St. Paul's Bay or to the shores. We already have more than enough of such activities on land." The St Julian's Mayor, Guido Dalli, was also asked for his thoughts, and he said that as long as the floating platform operates outside the shoreline and does not create a nuisance for residents, he has no objections to its presence.  However, he said that if it were to cause disturbance to residents, he would take action.

A local NGO, the Ramblers Association, also spoke up, and said that there is no indication where it will start berthing, which means it could bring noise and light pollution to sensitive sites and damage the seabed to the detriment of protected habitats.

Separately, a petition was launched against the proposal by Valletta residents group representative and activist Billy J. McBee.

The concerns of local councils, NGOs and citizens cannot be ignored. It must firstly be stated exactly where this floating beach club intends to be located. Momentum on Friday said that it would be kept off Comino. That would in no way be an acceptable location.

Is this true that this is the location earmarked? The authorities need to state exactly where this floating beach club is intended to be located. They also need to state what studies will be carried out in the area it is located to ensure that it does not create light and noise pollution and that it does not disturb marine habitats.

Malta already has plenty of beach clubs, the idea of now filling the sea with them seems ridiculous. This could end up leading to more such structures in the future.

This is not the kind of commercial endeavour which should be supported or encouraged. One understands that this is a private venture, but it is clear that Mayors, at least those who have spoken so far, do not want this close to shore due to disturbances it might have. It is also completely unacceptable to have this site located near any Natura 2000 site, which includes Comino.

Malta already has overtourism in summer. Expanding beach clubs into the sea is not part of the solution to this problem.