Activist Groups Call Out ERA’s ‘Shameful Comino Decision’ Approving Uprooting Of 380 Protected Trees
Five activist organisations have slammed the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) for their “shameful decision” approving Hili Venture’s plans to extensively urbanise Comino and uproot 380 protected trees in the process.
“We cannot understand how ERA went ahead and recommended this project when it breaches every environmental and planning policy in the book, ranging from the EU’s Habitats Directive to the Local Plan,” the groups explained.
“Instead of safeguarding biodiversity and the delicate ecological balance of this Natura 2000 site, ERA has approved the extensive urbanisation of the island, the uprooting of 380 protected trees and the denaturation of the site.”
BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti, and Nature Trust – Malta are all fiercely opposing these new urbanisation proposals which targets a prized nature reserve in favour of the “commercial interests of a few catering for the wealthy”.
The organisations have lodged an appeal and the first hearing will be on Thursday 15 September.
The development proposal was submitted by a subsidiary of the Hili Group and it calls for the replacement of the nine derelict bungalows currently at Santa Marija Bay with a village of 19 individually owned villas to be sold, together with a restaurant and a convenience store.
A hotel is also being developed to replace the current one on the island.
However, the bungalows have courted more controversy. NGOs say that this would increase the population number to 130 people and destroy a significant area of garigue, thus disrupting the environmental integrity of the bay.
According to a 2021 Environment Impact Assessment report, the plans to redevelop the bungalows on Comino will have a negative impact on the island’s geological resources.
However, modifications to the plans requested by the ERA were made back in July. The developers made amendments to their plans, including reducing the proposed project’s footprint by 5,000m2 – almost the size of a football pitch.
Yet, the most significant change from the previous scenario, especially at the hotel site at San Niklaw, is the restoration of land closer to the coast by shifting the building envelope inland, thus reducing the footprint at San Niklaw.
The bungalows are planned to be built around a central garden courtyard, and each bungalow will also have a private garden. The hotel and village are expected to be open in 2025 and it requires Hili Ventures to fork out a €110 million to €120 million investment.
Nonetheless, concerns over the detrimental environmental impact of these new plans remain strong and clear. It’s very evident that local activist organisations will continue to add pressure to the developments to ensure that the site is handled appropriately and sustainably.
Moviment Graffitti has already shown intense concern about plans regarding Comino.
The activist group has staged a protest this summer in which more than 200 people were present to stand against the take-up of land at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.
What do you think about the developmental proposal?
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