NGOs, Local Council, Residents Angered at Balluta Ferry Project
Astrid Vella, speaking for Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, condemned the developers’ attempt to take over the bay:
“It’s not enough that they’ve choked St Julian’s and Sliema with buildings, now they want to take over the sea as well, which belongs to the public”.
Ms Vella explained that, being sheltered, Balluta is a popular swimming zone for young and old alike, as even elderly people feel safe swimming there. This is confirmed by the fact that Balluta is included in Transport Malta’s list of swimming zones.
“We have come to the point that while tuna pens have proliferated everywhere, residents and tourists are being penned into swimming enclosures and will no longer be able to swim from Balluta to Exiles, Cavallieri and Spinola, as they have done until now. In a country with a major obesity problem, this area which is so popular with young sailors, kayakers and canoeists will be out of bounds once a ferry comes steaming in every 15-30 minutes.”
Vella pointed out that the 200-300 tourists per trip claimed by the developers would aggravate traffic congestion as coaches and taxis pull up to pick them up. Vella ended by asking if St Julian’s seafront is to end up like Sliema Ferries, where the sea is so busy and polluted that no-one can swim or practice water sports there any more, while the pavement is taken up by ticketing kiosks.
Andre Callus of Moviment Graffitti questioned the fact that the application was initially recommended for approval by the PA Case Officer, and only later recommended for refusal by the PA, a decision which has suspiciously been delayed. He debunked the developers’ claims that this ferry would provide an alternative mode of transport and relieve traffic problems.
“This is a private ferry, which is not open to the public. And even if it were, why would commuters take an expensive private ferry when there’s a public bus? Have we ever seen commuters get on a hop-on bus for their daily commute?”
Callus added that the developers claims that they will be using ecological boats for the trips was worthless as there is nothing to stop them using one of their old boats that currently pollute Sliema Ferries. Additionally there will be nothing to stop other boats using the pontoon, further increasing traffic and pollution in the bay.
St Julian’s Mayor Albert Buttigieg expressed serious concern about the proposal which contravenes planning policy
“When object to applications at the Planning Authority we are told that we have to respect that they comply with policy, so why is this application, which clearly violates planning policy, not refused immediately, and why this delay in confirming the refusal, giving rise to suspicions of behind-the-scenes negotiations by the wealthy and powerful developers. If we have to stick to policy, so do developers!”
insisted Mayor Buttigieg, emphasising how St Julian’s is literally under siege from developers. Every square inch of land is built upon, leaving no recreation areas
“Now they even want to take the sea away from us!”.
Albert Buttigieg explained how the St Julian’s Local Council is having to fight tooth and nail for residents’ rights, as developers are now even taking over parking spaces and pavements and have already started applying for permits for ticketing booths blocking the promenade, to service the ferry.
The press conference, attended by a crowd of St Julian’s residents, ended with a resident venting his anger, saying
“It’s obscene that we residents should be having to fight for our rights and have policy respectede, instead of the Planning Authority immediately refusing this application outright”.
