Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1002137
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 JULY 2018 NEWS MASSIMO COSTA A new southern European network has been formed to challenge mass-tourism across a number of countries, and combat the negative ef- fects of large influxes of visi- tors. The network, SET – the Southern European front against Touristification – was founded in April this year, and includes representatives from Malta and various Ital- ian, Spanish and Portuguese cities. All the network's founding "cities" – Venice, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Palma, Pam- plona, Lisbon, Malta, Malaga, Madrid, Girona, Donostia, the Canary Islands and the Camp de Terragona – have in the past decade had their popularity further boosted through cheap flights offered by low cost airlines. A representative of SET in Malta, architect Tara Cas- sar, told this newspaper that the network did not intend to make tourism seem like a negative thing, but wanted to put in place a structured way of restraining the problems mass-tourism is bringing, and, locally, to protected the island's resources. "Cities across Europe, such as Barcelona and Venice are sadly a testament to the downfall of mass-tourism, exemplifying its crass effect on public life. This can also be seen happening locally through increased rent in part due to more homes being let- out for short stays, overbur- dened public transport, over- consumption of depleting resources, particularly water, and deluge of waste, just to mention a few," Cassar said. "We are not suggesting that one labels tourism as the problem. Rather, we are working for structured re- straints to curb the impacts of mass-tourism and protect our islands' limited resources, whilst we're still in time," she said. Cassar added that while Malta's involvement in the network had just started, it intended to take the issue for- ward in more depth soon. SET's founding manifesto mentions housing and rent problems experienced by lo- cals, caused by real estate agencies who buy property to allocate them to the tourist market, as the most impor- tant common problem its cit- ies are facing. Rising prices, and poor working conditions and black market employment in tour- istic sectors, such as hotels and restaurants, are other Network of activists from Malta and southern European cities in effort to curb over-tourism and protect natural resources "We're not suggesting that one labels tourism as the problem but we are working for structured restraints to curb the impacts of mass-tourism whilst we're still in time" Fight against mass tourism gathers steam JAMES DEBONO A proposed holiday village in Zurrieq being planned over the site of the Garden of Eden wed- ding hall has raised the alarm of the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage. The development consists of 14 holiday bungalows and is being proposed instead of the wedding halls but will extend over a larger area, mostly into a makeshift car park on what was previously agricultural land, which was served with an enforcement order 20 years ago. In its memo sent to the Plan- ning Authority, the Superin- tendence noted that a large part of the area earmarked for development is relatively pris- tine agricultural land. In view of this the Superintendence expressed "its concern at this proposed development". The Superintendence insists that any development in the area should be "guided by the principles enshrined in the European Landscape Conven- tion" – which obliges signa- tories not just to protect pro- tected heritage buildings but to respect cultural landscapes and collective memories. Moreover the Superintend- ence is calling for a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment covering a 500-metre radius around the proposed develop- ment. "Potential impacts may oc- cur within the footprint of the project, in the immediate environs, and along access routes in the course of works," the Superintendence warned. This is because the proposed development may potentially impact not just cultural herit- age assets, but also archaeo- logical remains and the integ- rity of the cultural landscape. The plans submitted by owner Maurizio Baldacchino propose the demolition of the existing buildings and the de- velopment of 14 new units, a reception area, a tennis court and a parking area. Presently 1,661sq.m of the 23,342sq.m site is built up. But development is concentrated on the area around the 'Eden Lodge' and 'Cottage Garden' wedding halls. According to the latest plans 1,524sq.m of land will be built up but the development will be scattered over a wider area including undeveloped land in the north-western part of the site and an extensive 5,073sq.m car park of dubious legality. The residential units will consist of two-bedroom caba- nas, all equipped with a pool and screened by trees and a green roof. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has already objected to the development, noting that the application is proposing the additional com- mitment of undeveloped land at the north-western parts of the site to accommodate a more scattered development. The ERA has expressed con- cern that the development is also being proposed on an extensive area currently used as a makeshift car park. "The disturbed state of the site is not considered as a valid com- mitment justifying further de- velopment." The site is already subject to an enforcement order dating back to 1998 against the lev- elling of the site to construct the car park. The ERA said the 'disturbed' area should be re- stored to its pristine state in line with a method statement approved by the same author- ity. A group of 12 farmers who till fields in the area have also presented a petition in which they call for the reinstatement of the area occupied by the car park, to its natural state. They also denounced the illegal dumping of rubble and waste oil which has taken place over the past years. The farmers say that these illegalities have giv- en "a semblance of ugliness" which has robbed the area of its natural beauty. Superintendence alarmed by plans for holiday village near Wied iz-Zurrieq