‘Scrap Tunnel Once And For All’: Gozo Tourism Association Calls For Rethink Of Proposal
The Gozo Tourism Association has called for the scrapping of the Gozo tunnel project once and for all, as part of proposals for the upcoming budget.
“Scrap the under-seabed tunnel project once and for all, as a first step to safeguard the island’s character,” the GTA said in its proposals.
Apart from that, it also called for the whole of Gozo to be considered a design priority area, as well as amendments to the Planning Authority’s Rural Policy.
The Gozo Tunnel project, which was approved unanimously in parliament, plans to build a 13-kilometre tunnel with one traffic lane heading in each direction.
It has been met with significant resistance among environmental NGOs given concerns over the damage to arable land and the disposal of waste generated from the project.
Meanwhile, it is also divisive among the population with the latest survey showing that 41.6% of the population are in favour of the tunnel, while 37.7% are against it.
“The Gozo Tourism Association believes that whilst encouraging investment in sustainable infrastructural projects and developments that add more value to product Gozo, careful attention should be given in order not to commit some of the mistakes experienced in the past on the mainland, and to a lesser extent on Gozo itself,” it explained.
“However, a balance must be struck between the environment and any future touristic development that the tourism industry will for sure need, to keep on upgrading its product and widening its touristic offer.”
“Furthermore, the Gozo Tourism Association believes that the environmental planning subject is not necessarily connected to land use only, but should encompass also the coast and surrounding seas,” it stressed.
It also addressed the fact that overdevelopment for residential purposes is harming the character of the Gozitan island.
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