Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1450614
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2022 NEWS The airstrip saga The airstrip saga dates back to the 1990s when an application was presented by the army to develop an airstrip in Xewkija, prompting protests by Alternat- tiva Demokratika and Friends of the Earth Malta. Xewkija residents had also ex- pressed concern on the noise impact of the proposed airstrip. Stopping the application for the Gozo airstrip was one of Alfred Sant's first decisions as prime minister in 1996. But af- ter 1998 the re-elected PN gov- ernment kept entertaining the demands of business lobbies for an airstrip, as illegal dumping in the area continued unabated. As the green lobby grew in strength and AD started making inroads in Gozo itself, the PN became more ambivalent to the project. While not excluding the pro- ject completely, former tour- ism and environment minister Mario de Marco raised doubts on its sustainability. "One also needs to consider whether an airstrip in Gozo and enhanced accessibility can actually impact negatively the perception of the island that lures tourists to it," De Marco had told MaltaToday in 2010. Before the general election in February 2013, Joseph Muscat declared that the Gozo airstrip was "not a priority", and that a helicopter service and a fast-fer- ry service between Mġarr and Valletta would be considered instead. But in a consultation meeting in July 2013 the tourism min- istry announced that the gov- ernment was considering a new 400-650m airstrip in Gozo in the Ta' Lambert area. In November 2013, the govern- ment confirmed that talks were on-going with an "Italian com- pany" on an air-link between Malta, Gozo and Sicily, and funds for a study on an airstrip were included in the national budget. Plans were also forwarded to Brussels for a 900m-long rural airfield in Gozo with the aim of tapping into EU funding for the estimated €14 million project. The airstrip – capable of han- dling both internal flights and air traffic from the surrounding regions – was meant to be com- pleted by 2017. The document sent to the EU had stated that a new airstrip could more than double Gozo's tourist arrivals. In March 2014, Joseph Mus- cat announced that the gov- ernment was considering the construction of a grass airstrip in Gozo, but a completed feasi- bility study was never published or presented to parliament. Following the backlash on proposed ODZ development in Żonqor, the airstrip disap- peared from government's ra- dar. The proposal was recently re-exhumed in a consultation document by the Gozo Region- al Development Authority, a regulatory authority chaired by Gozitan entrepreneur Michael Grech. It said technical experts en- gaged to prepare the plans for a regional airport were asked not to use additional agricultural land; reduce the environmental impact of the airport; and en- sure it is able to accommodate airplanes that can carry be- tween nine and 11 passengers. Clint Camilleri did not publish the actual designs for the pro- posed airport but insisted these will be released in "the coming weeks" by the Gozo Regional Development Authority. A public consultation exercise will gather feedback on the pro- posal, after which government will decide what amendments need to be done, or if the pro- ject will be implemented at all. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The land around the Xewkija helipad is replete with enforcement notices issued by the Planning Authority over the last three decades MATTHEW AGIUS A man has been handed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 3 years after he pleaded guilty to criminal charges relating to revenge porn. The 33 year-old German na- tional, who works at a Mal- ta-based iGaming company, was arraigned in court this afternoon, accused of sharing intimate photographs of his ex-girlfriend without her con- sent, with the intent to cause distress or harm. He was also charged with improper use of electronic communications equipment, attempting to use force to in- sult or hurt his ex-partner and with failing to report the loss of his German passport to the authorities. Magistrate Elaine Mercie- ca heard police inspectors Audrey Micallef and Marcus Cachia explain how the man's Maltese ex-partner had gone to the police after becoming aware that compromising pic- tures of her were being circu- lated. The woman had been in- formed by a mutual friend that her former partner had shared the material on a group chat. The accused, a Gzira res- ident, pleaded guilty to all charges during his arraign- ment. The charges carried with them a maximum of two years' imprisonment or a fine of between €3,000 and €5,000. During submissions on pun- ishment, defence lawyer Dan- iel Attard argued that the pic- tures had been shared among a small group of friends and that the man had filed an early guilty plea. In addition to the suspended sentence, the court imposed a protection order in favour of the victim. Names are being withheld to protect the identity of the vic- tim. magius@mediatoday.com.mt Suspended sentence after guilty plea to charges of revenge porn