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NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 MAY 2019 2 JAMES DEBONO SLIEMA'S Fortina hotel has presented plans to extend lido facilities over 479 sq.m through land reclamation. The existing quay surrounding the platform will also be extended by 180 sqm. around the lido' s perimeter, to maintain public access along the coastline. Once the land is reclaimed, the new pool will be located within this area. This would al- low the design of a pool that is significantly larger (350 sq.m) than the total area occupied by the two existing pools (250 sq.m). The lower level will also ac- commodate a new bar area, which will operate only during the summer months. The rest of the platform at the lower level will function as a sundeck area, accommodating a large number of sunbeds and umbrellas. The current restaurant lo- cated at the promenade will also be dismantled. This area will be transformed into a small public plaza. Instead, the restaurant will be relocated to the upper level of the proposed development just below the promenade level. Apart from the indoor area, the restaurant will also include an outdoor terrace overlooking Manoel Island and Valletta. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has con- cluded that the project is expected to have minimal im- pact of the site's ecology and hydrology. This proposal follows the ap- proval of an application by the same developers, for the demo- lition of the existing hotel and the development of four blocks of apartments of varying height between nine and 14 floors. Fortina to enlarge lido through land reclamation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "Unfortunately, the study document got leaked but when it is officially released we will discuss it with all stakeholders. Nothing is cast in stone… the study will give the government the information to make the correct decision if the country decides to go for land reclamation, rather than doing it haphazardly," Herrera said. He was speaking 24 hours after venting his frustration - during a meeting of Par- liament's environment committee - with a resident of Xgħajra, who asked about the impact of any land reclamation in the area on the coastline enjoyed by resi- dents. Herrera responded to the concern with the words: "Don't tell me you are against land reclamation because you have a sea view that will be lost." Asked about his outburst, Herrera in- sisted it was "a non-starter" to argue against a development because it could impact somebody's view. "This is like when I had a flat in St Paul's Bay and somebody decided to build a block of apartments in front of my win- dow. Should I have protested because I could no longer see the [St Paul's] is- lands? This is a non-starter," he said. But the minister did acknowledge that scepticism on land reclamation was jus- tified when asked whether it was simply an excuse to appease the construction industry. "I understand the scepticism because over the past 50 years we allowed devel- opers to call the shots… we gobbled up ODZ land," Herrera said. He promised land reclamation will not be an excuse to build skyscrapers and ho- tels but a way to have more open space. "Until I am here it won't happen," he said when pressed about the possibil- ity of building luxury apartments on re- claimed land. "This does not mean that no develop- ment will take place but it will be congru- ent with the environment," Herrera said. Herrera is a supporter of land reclama- tion, having mentioned in Parliament the examples of small countries like Monaco and Seychelles. When it was pointed out that Monaco spent €2 billion to reclaim 60,000 sq.m. of land from the sea to build 120 apart- ments, Herrera said the circumstances were incomparable to Malta. Describing Monaco as a "teeny weeny" city with a short coastline, Herrera said he only used Monaco to illustrate how land reclamation could take place in an environmentally friendly way. "In Mo- naco, they transplanted sea coral and Posidonia meadows, but the model more akin to Malta is the Seychelles, where reclamation has been used to extend open spaces," Herrera said. 'Non-starter' Minister dismisses attempts to block capital project because of possible loss of sea views DAVID HUDSON ALTERNATTIVA Demokratika has called for the resignation of Environ- ment Minister José Herrera for his comments on Monday on land recla- mation, admonishing a Xghajra resi- dent for raising concerns. "Malta needs a good environment minister and not someone who resorts to such ridiculous justifications," AD chairman Carmel Cacopardo said. "He should leave as soon as possible. The environment minister should be the foremost person with the environ- ment at heart and this couldn't be fur- ther from the truth." During a meeting of Parliament's environment committee on Monday, Herrera insisted that land reclamation should be done to enhance the coun- try's open spaces and even went so far as to admonish those concerned. "Don't tell me you are against land reclamation because you have a sea view that will be lost," he told a Xghajra resident. "It will be done for environ- mental purposes… we need to take a long-term view that benefits society." Cacopardo's call for Herrera's resig- nation came at an AD press confer- ence on the proposed fuel stations policy unveiled recently. Speaking in front of the PA build- ing in Floriana, Cacopardo said it was good that the revised document pro- posed that no agricultural land be tak- en up by development but it also left considerable loopholes. "It leaves huge loopholes in that it would allow the Planning Authority to consider for development existing ODZ structures not linked to agriculture. This is unacceptable," Cacopardo said. He also criticised the revised policy draft for omitting to mention the min- imum acceptable distance between petrol stations, something that was delineated in the unrevised policy. AD demands Herrera's resignation over land reclamation put-down Carmel Cacopardo (second from right) said Herrera should leave 'as soon as possible'

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