Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/725667
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2016 News 3 TIM DIACONO GZIRA mayor Conrad Borg Man- che yesterday morning joined a group of environmental activists as they broke through the gates and fences of Manoel Island, in a protest demanding public access to the area. The activists from Kamp Emer- genza Ambjent cut through the metal fencing using pliers. The barricades were installed by the MIDI consortium, which was granted a concession to develop the island and Tigné back in 2000. The activists then walked along a path by the coast bordering Mar- samxett Harbour, before setting up camp outside Fort Manoel, where they planned to stay overnight. Urging the public to join them in their protest, it was not long before people started to answer their call. "At last, we can visit Manoel Is- land again, thank you so much," a Gzira resident told Borg Manche as he entered the gates with his young daughter and dog. The police also made an appear- ance, but left after only a quick word with Borg Manche. "I told them that we weren't breaking the law, and that MIDI has been breaking the law by clos- ing off public access to the fore- shore for the last 16 years," the PL mayor told MaltaToday. "They nodded and drove off." Activist Ruth Chircop said that the Manoel Island situation is em- blematic of "the ugly situation in Malta whereby the rich and pow- erful take over public spaces, and close off access to the coast and other places that should be the public's by right. "Prior to the government con- cession that was granted to MIDI, people were able to use Manoel Island unhindered, and many have memories associated with this place, as one of the few open spaces in a congested and heavily built-up area," she said. "It is an utter disgrace that MIDI has been allowed to close access to the foreshore, while using Manoel Island, including its historical for- tress, for exclusive private activi- ties against payment." The Gzira local council has filed a judicial protest against MIDI to demand that the development consortium open up Manoel Is- land's foreshore to the public. "Gzira is located by the sea and yet residents have nowhere else to swim in their own locality, besides Manoel Island," the Gzira mayor told MaltaToday. "The foreshore belongs to the public, and MIDI should enclose a space by the Sliema front where residents can swim." The judicial protest, signed by lawyers Edward Woods and Keith Borg, accuses MIDI of blocking off access to the foreshore to the det- riment of Gzira residents. It notes that a 99-year emphyteu- sis granted to MIDI back in June 2000 for the regeneration of Ma- noel Island and Tigné specifically excluded the island's foreshore. The emphyteusis (defined as 'a long-term lease of land or build- ings') was granted to MIDI on con- dition that they regenerate the two former military bases of Tigné and Manoel Island. However, while it restored Fort Manoel, the consortium focused most of its energy into developing Tigné into a high-end residential and commercial centre. Their original plans for Manoel Island were to develop it into a marina village, complete with a boutique hotel, leisure and sports facilities, and a casino. MIDI chief executive Luke Cop- pini admitted last year that the project could cost up to €500 mil- lion, which could force MIDI to rope in a majority shareholder. He told MaltaToday last week that a "very high" level of interest exists among potential investors for the project. The concession binds MIDI into developing both Manoel Island and Tigné by March 2023. If it fails to comply, it will be fined €350 per day for the first six months of de- lay, rising to €1165 per day after six months. If the delay persists for three years, the government will be obliged to tear up the entire con- tract. Last week, around 200 Gzira residents and activists gathered in protest outside the Manoel Island gates to demand public access to the foreshore. THE Environment and Re- sources Authority board will convene tomorrow to decide whether to lodge an appeal against the Planning Author- ity's approval of high-rise towers in Sliema and Mriehel. Informed sources within ERA told MaltaToday that the board members are split on whether or not to appeal and that Monday's vote could go either way. The main argument being put forward against an appeal is the fact that ERA had hardly protested against the environmen- tal impact assessments that had been carried out on the two pro- jects. "It's a legalistic argument… ERA hadn't opened its mouth at the environmental impact assess- ment stage, so why would it appeal now?" the source said. The Environment and Resources Authority was not present at the Planning Authority's meeting last month in which the towers were approved, as its chairperson Victor Axiak was indisposed due to medi- cal reasons. Axiak sent his views in a memo to PA board member Timmy Gam- bin, and his views on the Mriehel project – questioning the veracity of photomontages presented by the Tumas and Gasan developers – were read out. However, Gambin did not read out Axiak's views on the Towns- quare project, and it was later reported that he had rub- bished the Environmental Im- pact Assessment (EIA) for the skyscraper as a "sham". The EIA for the Townsquare project, which was commis- sioned by developer Gasan, estimated that it will increase daily traffic peak flows in Qui Si Sana from the present 24,444 to 27,947, but that a new underground car park will alleviate congestion. It also warned that the pro- ject would have a major visual im- pact when seen from Tower Road and from the Preluna Hotel. As for the immediate impact of construc- tion on Sliema residents, the EIA bluntly stated that residents could shut their windows to minimize the noise. In comments on the project's Environment Planning Statement, the Environment and Resources Authority warned that its con- struction would have a significant effect on residents and that the EIA's suggestion to keep their win- dows shut was "unreasonable". Moreover, it expressed concern that the tower could also have a major visual impact when seen from Manoel Island and the Val- letta ferry landing, and had flagged a geological study submitted in Gasan's EIA, which further warned that a "layer of very weak rock" could pose problems in supporting the skyscraper. The 38-storey tower was ap- proved by 7 votes to 6, meaning that Axiak could have split the vote had he been present and vot- ed against. Which then would have left the decision in the hands of PA chairman Vince Cassar – who op- posed the project. However, Axiak has refused to publish the memo he sent to Gam- bin or even state how he would have voted, because he says he doesn't want to prejudice ERA's decision on whether or not to ap- peal. When asked by MaltaToday why he did not read part of Axiak's memo dealing with the Sliema tower, Gambin refused to com- ment. Two weeks ago, a group of 20 activists blocked the entrance to ERA's offices in Marsa to urge them to appeal the high-rise pro- jects. "There isn't a single institution in this country that safeguards the environment," Moviment Graf- fiti activist Andre Callus told the protest. "The MEPA demerger was sold to us as an attempt to give the environment a stronger voice. Yet, in this case, ERA even failed to use what little weight it has." Four environmental NGOs are currently raising funds to mount an appeal against the PA's high- rise decisions. The Sliema local council will launch a separate ap- peal focused on the Townsquare project. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt "Gzira is located by the sea and yet residents have nowhere else to swim in their own locality," Gzira mayor told MaltaToday Activists now camped outside Fort Manoel Activists break through Manoel Island fence to demand public access ERA members split over appeal against high-rise decision Activists use pliers to cut through a fence on Manoel Island Activists enjoying a swim on the Manoel Island coast