Mellieħa Mayor Gabriel Micallef has expressed significant concern over the relocation of the Noma Island floating platform to Little Armier, warning that the project threatens to damage the environmental and social fabric of the area.

Micallef confirmed that he formally reached out to Transport Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority, and the Environment and Resources Authority on March 5, 2026, to address the situation. To date, however, he has received no response from these authorities.

The mayor argued that the Mellieħa Local Council must be consulted on any projects involving the coastline, as the council is directly responsible for the well-being of its residents.

He stressed that sensitive zones like Little Armier should not be used for commercial ventures that fail to respect the surrounding environment or the needs of the local community. These comments come as the venue faces increasing pressure; earlier this week, the Għajnsielem Local Council also spoke out against the platform being stationed near Comino.

Noma Island is a 1,750-square-metre floating venue marketed as the fourth island of the archipelago. The motorized trimaran can host up to 350 guests and includes a restaurant, bar, and freshwater pool.

While the vessel possesses a Transport Malta operator license for static charters at anchor, the Environment and Resources Authority noted that no environmental permit has been filed. Such a permit is required if the vessel operates in a protected area or hosts more than 50 people.