Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/844299
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 JULY 2017 4 News YANNICK PACE PLANS to upgrade Qui-Si-Sana beach will not involve a land concession to a private op- erator, according to tourism minister Konrad Mizzi. During a ministerial statement in parlia- ment last Wednesday, Mizzi said that dur- ing this legislature, the government would be making an effort to upgrade a number of Mal- ta's beaches to "world-class" status through partnerships with the private sector. He said the immediate targets were Ghadira Bay in Mellieha and Qui-Si-Sana in Sliema, specifically, the part of the coast that stretch- es from the disused Chalet site to Tigné. Referring to the Sliema beach, Mizzi point- ed out that the area was "dilapidated" but still frequented by many tourists. "We intend to issue calls for a public-private partnership for the development of the actual Chalet site into a leisure facility and for a fully-equipped pub- lic beach." Replying to questions by MaltaToday, Mizzi refuted any speculation that the statement might have been a precursor to a land conces- sion for a lido on the beach. He also denied that the beach risked being overrun by operators given a concession to sell umbrellas and sunbeds, insisting there was "no chance" of this happening. Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop has already warned that handing over the Sliema seafront to private lidos was not on. Mizzi's comments sparked a debate among Sliema residents on Facebook, many ques- tioning what the minister meant by "beach leisure facilities". "Did the minister mean the coast would get an artificial beach like St George's Bay? Or will we see a proliferation of private beach clubs that take up all the coast?" resident Marie Gauci wrote on a Sliema resi- dents' Facebook group. Mayor Anthony Chircop said the council would contest the privatisation of the sea- front. "The Sliema front is dying for increased investment… The council is all in favour of introducing better facilities such as changing rooms, walkways and seaside ladders and will be glad to discuss this with the government," he told the Times. But he said a man-made sandy beach was a non-starter as the seabed between Sliema front and St Julian's could not accommodate one. "There are rocks and then deep water, I can't see where you could have a sandy beach," he said. On his part, Mizzi said that a team at the ministry had already started working on the necessary requirements for the beach and that contact had been made with the Environ- ment and Resources Authority to determine what facilities would be permissible without damaging the surrounding environment. "The general view is that the areas around Qui-Si-Sana are currently substandard and lack accessibility," he said, adding that the beach "requires considerable investment" to significantly upgrade existing facilities and improve its safety among other issues. The minister – who is two weeks into his new role – said the facilities would include showers, railings and possibly some form of temporary platform or decking, although this was still being worked out. He said the "model for the management and upkeep" of the beach was still being formu- lated, but stressed that it would remain open to the public. "The government is committed to keeping the beach accessible, for free, to the general public. It will not be operated as a private lido," he said. "A free beach with improved facilities will be an added attraction for resident families and tourists alike." Asked about how the development's private partner would make money from a public beach, Mizzi referred to the conversion of the Chalet at Ghar id-Dud as a source of revenue. "It is envisaged that revenues from these facilities will support the private partner's role in upgrading the free public beach," said Mizzi. He explained that with a significant invest- ment, the Chalet could be returned to its for- mer charm and could make for a profitable commercial leisure facility. The Chalet was a popular meeting point before it was closed in 1959 after sustaining heavy damage. The last remaining columns were demolished in 2006. The minister said more concrete plans would be announced once all the necessary stakeholders have been consulted. Similarly, on Ghadira, Mizzi said a team would be reviewing the existing situation and discussing with all stakeholders, including the council and operators at the beach, in order to determine what facilities are required. He said the project would initially go through a six-month planning phase before being launched for consultation. No private lido concession planned for Qui-Si-Sana beach Attard residents demand restraint in development PAUL COCKS NOTHING had changed since 2006, when the Gonzi administra- tion added two million square me- tres to the development zone: the few open spaces on the periphery of Maltese towns and villages were still being taken over by over-de- velopment, the secretary general of Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday. Ralph Cassar, who was address- ing a press conference in Attard on the site of a contested development on the outskirts of the town, said that it made no sense to continue expanding development zones when there were so many empty buildings. The site where the AD and At- tard residents were contesting the development PR01/07/2017, had fallen within the development zone after the changes introduced in 2006, with the full approval of Na- tionalist members of Parliament. "It is ironic that present MPs from this district, including PN whip David Agius, had voted in fa- vour of the 2006 expansion while they today portray themselves as paladins of the environment," Cas- sar said. He said that since 2006, matters had only gotten worse, even rais- ing the building height limits to four floors plus penthouse, from the previous three floors plus pent- house. "As long as decision-makers con- tinue to favour speculation and downsize the open areas currently in existence, this nation-wide pil- lage will continue," Cassar said. "They are now even turning their attention to the coastline between Gzira and Pembroke, while Attard and Mosta residents are currently threatened by the development of a motor car racing track." He said that, like the site in At- tard, there were similar sites that had been included in the develop- ment zones from Mosta to Mar- saxlokk and that were now starting to be developed. "In 2006, the Labour Party had voted against the so-called ration- alisation scheme but, if the recent past is anything to go by, it has since changed its mind and thrown itself into the ongoing orgy of wild development," Cassar said. Anna Schembri, a resident in the area, said that the majority of Attard residents were against the proposed development, which would see a block of flats replace one of the last few remaining open spaces in the locality. She called on the Planning Au- thority to refuse the application and to safeguard the area's identity. "If the application is approved, we will see an increase in traffic, making the parking problem even worse," Schembri said. "Moreo- ver, many residents used this open space to walk their dogs and for exercise, as well as for recreation purposes, and taking it away would affect the physical and mental well- being of many residents in the vi- cinity." Konrad Mizzi (inset) refuted any speculation that the statement might have been a precursor to a land concession for a lido on the beach Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop The Chalet's last remaining columns and top platform were demolished in 2006