Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1078260
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 FEBRUARY 2019 MASSIMO COSTA THE construction of a permanent link between Gozo and Malta will lead to an increase in the number of car journeys across the two is- lands, directly nullifying the gov- ernment's plans to curb traffic, Alternattiva Demokratika said. Addressing a press conference in the l-Gherien area in the lim- its of Mellieha – where reports say one of the tunnel's entrances will be located – AD chairperson Carmel Cacopardo highlighted the detrimental environmental impact the project would have. "We know the tunnel's entrance point will be in the l-Gherien area – and not at l-Imbordin, as had been previous thought – not only through newspaper reports, but also because technical people have visited the site to carry out measurements and collect sam- ples," he said. Cacopardo said that a study by Transport Malta and the Gozo Business Chamber carried out in 2015 had found that, on aver- age, there will be 9,000 vehicle movements each day across the tunnel, within 15 years of its con- struction. "Roads will therefore have to be widened, negatively affecting the farming land and fields in the ar- ea," he said. Wied tal-Pwales and Simar Nature Reserve, which are located close to the proposed tunnel entrance, are amongst the ecological areas which will take the brunt of the environmental damage and disruption brought by the project." He noted that the Mizieb perched aquifer would also likely suffer some kind of effect. "The Mizieb aquifer is elevated, and consequently contains some of the least contaminated water in Malta, studies show." Cacopardo went on to under- score that caves which served as prehistoric dwellings can also be found by the proposed entrance, and it was not clear what would happen to these if the tunnel is built. While AD is against the tunnel project, it is not against address- ing the problem of mobility be- tween Malta and Gozo, he said. "But to deal with this, we need to focus on people's mobility, not the mobility of vehicles," Ca- copardo insisted. "The best way to do this is through a fast ferry from Gozo to different stops in Malta, such as Xemxija, Valletta and Sliema." mcosta@mediatoday.com.mt Together we thrive Terms and conditions apply. Approved and issued by HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., 116, Archbishop Street, Valletta VLT1444 which is a Tied Insurance Intermediary for HSBC Life Assurance (Malta) Ltd under the Insurance Distribution Act 2006 and is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. (Ref No. 104868 – 12/2018) When your new arrival demands more space, go with it HSBC Home Loans, ready for your every unexpected. Competitive interest rates Specialised lending managers to guide you through the application process Quick decision Gozo tunnel will thwart government's traffic reduction plan – AD Carmel Cacopardo (second from left) said that although against the tunnel project, AD is not against addressing the problem of mobility between Malta and Gozo