Moviment Graffitti has uploaded images of an excavator in the large sand area of Armier, allegedly paving the way for concrete.

“In the process of the works that have been done so far — which are completely illegal and being done without permission — extensive damage has been done to the dunes,” the activist organisation wrote on social media. 

“This is a rare and protected habitat, and in the dunes of Armier, there are species of plants that are not found anywhere else in Malta.”

“Some sources told us that these works are being done to please the owners of the lidos in this bay, whose identity seems to be obscured by the Ministry of Lands. We do not know who these owners are, because the Land Authority does not want to show who they are,” the group continued, citing a report written by The Shift that revealed that the authority refuses to explain how three beach lidos – Baia Beach, Armier Lido and a third unnamed one – appear to have “changed hands”.