Transport Malta insists Marsascala marina plans are not final and rejects blame

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Update at 2:20 p.m. with the reaction of PN leader Bernard Grech below.

Transport Malta appeared to be restraining and dismissing responsibility on Sunday after publishing controversial plans for a marina occupying the entire bay of Marsascala.

In a statement, he said that the impression given by “some” that the plans had been finalized was totally wrong.

The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) he published was nothing more than a call for expressions of interest for anyone wishing to develop a marina. But as the PPQ itself said, this process was still in its early stages, he said.

Once a shortlist of interested developers has been established, further processes and studies would follow, including an extensive consultation process with the local community so that the project can mature and plans drawn up.

“In addition, the decision that there would be a marina in Marsascala was taken and established in the 2006 local plan through the SMMS 04 policy,” the authority said.

Wave of opposition

His statement came after a wave of protests on social media as well as comments from the Nationalist Party and at least one Labor MP.

Moviment Graffitti said on Friday that Transport Malta’s plans for a marina in Marsascala would choke the bay.

Local council minority leader John Baptist Camilleri said the marina meant “suicide” for the village. On Sunday, Camilleri announced he would bring forward a council motion urging Transport Malta to withdraw the call for expressions of interest.

The PN said launching a tender for a huge marina in Marsascala before carrying out impact assessments was putting the cart before the horse.

Labor MP Jean-Claude Micallef said he had been briefed on the plans by the media and was not ready to see Marsascala lost. He also protested that this was not the way to treat residents.

Popular swimming areas at risk

The Sunday Times reported that some of Marsascala’s most popular swimming spots were at risk of being washed away by the pontoons at the planned marina which would fill the bay with at least 700 berths.

According to the tender document published by Transport Malta, the number of berths available for ships will increase by at least 133 and will be rearranged along the new pontoons. Currently, boats can be moored anywhere in the bay within the 567 authorized berths.

The aim is to develop Marsascala into a “yachting center”, as Transport Malta describes it, making the village and the southern region “more attractive to the tourist industry”.

“The project includes the design, supply and installation of pontoons, mooring bays and other infrastructure, including a breakwater, as well as the necessary and auxiliary safety equipment and installations for the provision of services. moorings established in the vessel mooring area, ”the tender document read.

“The aim is to provide the right infrastructure for the yachting industry to develop and prosper, taking into account environmentally friendly measures.”

18 pontoons and 3,000 square meters of reclamation

The preliminary design included in the call for tenders suggests that the construction of 18 pontoons may be necessary in order to achieve these objectives.

In the innermost part of the bay, the designs also propose some 3,000 square meters of land reclamation for the construction of parking lots.

On the left side of the bay along the Triq ix-Xatt, just in front of the parish church, drawings suggest four pontoons stopping next to the fisheries, where the road crosses Triq onqor.

Four other pontoons are suggested on the onqor side of the bay until just before the bathing spot known as “Il-Bajda u s-Sewda”.

Beyond this point, an additional 9,000 square meters of land reclamation is proposed for an additional pontoon facing the bay directly inland.

In Triq is-Salini, on the right bank of the bay, four pontoons are available just before a space fitted out for a new water polo field for the Marsascala sports club. Three more pontoons and 4,000 square meters of land reclamation are on offer further along the waterfront.

Preliminary drawings show a total of 16,000 square meters of land reclamation at three points in the bay.

These plans also indicate the need to dredge different parts of the seabed to create sufficient depth for ships to enter and exit the bay safely.

Boats in Marsascala Bay can currently dock anywhere. Photo credit: Chris Sant Fournier

The conditions state that 20 percent of the marina should be allocated to vessels of 1 to 12 meters, 50 percent to vessels of 13 to 23 meters and 25 percent to vessels of 24 to 36 meters, the remaining five percent ceded. to vessels over 36 meters.

Desks and amenities, such as showers and toilets, must also be provided by the applicant close to the marina.

The Marsascala council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday and hope to have an official position on the matter by Tuesday.

Opposition leader welcomes Transport Malta statement

PN leader Bernard Grech welcomed Transport Malta’s Sunday statement

“Thank you to the inhabitants, the local council and the NGOs. Public pressure has already borne fruit. The Nationalist Party will continue to press for any improvement and investment in Marsaskala to be made in consultation with the locals and with full respect for the natural environment. He said on Facebook.

“We have to protect and safeguard the little space we have left. A marina in Marsaskala is not a possibility. We cannot continue to blame the local 2006 plans for every monstrosity. We cannot continue this arrogance and this lack of consultation. Let’s work together to update these local plans in a way that preserves the future of our children, “he added.

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