Seven environmental organisations have voiced the people’s strong objections to Hili Group’s proposal to develop a villa complex on the island of Comino.

Should the Planning Authority approve the plans currently before it, the former Comino Hotel site will be redeveloped and extended, creating a complex of 19 villas, complete with several amenities, in what could become a “Comino village” of permanent residences through legal loopholes. ERA’s disgraceful approval of the project is currently being appealed before the Planning Tribunal (EPRT) by several organisations.

During a press conference held earlier today,  Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, BirdLife Malta, NatureTrust-FEE, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, and the Ramblers’ Association highlighted Comino’s designations as a Rural Conservation Area, a Nature Reserve, a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area within the Natura2000 network, an Important Bird Area (IBA) of International and EU Importance, a Bird Sanctuary, and a Dark Sky Heritage site.

The proposed development, therefore, certainly cannot be compatible with the legal protections afforded to the island, as well as the State’s legal obligations to conserve it.

The influx of heavy machinery and construction materials throughout the redevelopment, together with the obscene increase in human activity once the complex is opened will cause massive environmental impact, as well as the irreversible destruction of natural habitats within the complex itself, and a greater area of disturbance around it.

“The destruction this project will signify is an inescapable reality,” held the organisations. “No amount of mitigation measures could neutralise this harm. The most  sustainable option remains to stop any sort of development.”

The NGOs also rejected Hili Group’s false claims as desperate greenwashing attempts to conceal the fact that even more public natural land is being destroyed for private profit. They also reminded concession holders that they have no right to develop the area, reiterating that Comino has already suffered extensively over the years due to commercialisation.

During the conference, organisations also pointed out that this project will destroy yet another space where one can find peace and tranquillity. This was also highlighted by over 13,500 objectors who called upon the Planning Authority to refuse the application pending before it.

The NGOs concluded with a direct message to Hili Group: Drop your plans for Comino immediately. Comino forms part of our national heritage in its entirety, and the public does not support your plans. Ignore this call, and face the people’s ire.

The press conference was held in front of the Hili Ventures offices and was called by Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, BirdLife Malta, NatureTrust-FEE, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, and Ramblers’ Association.

Seba’ għaqdiet ambjentali llum tennew l-oġġezzjonijiet qawwija tal-pubbliku għal kumpless ta’ vilel li qed jiġi propost fil-gżira ta’ Kemmuna minn Hili Group.

Jekk approvati, il-pjanijiet, li bħalissa qed jiġu kkunsidrati mill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar, ifissru li s-sit sħiħ tal-eks Comino Hotel jiġi żviluppat mill-ġdid u estiż, b’kumpless ferm akbar ta’ 19-il villa, kompluti b’diversi amenitajiet, f’dak li jista’ jsir “villaġġ ta’ Kemmuna” ta’ residenzi permanenti permezz tal-użu ta’ lakuni legali. L-approvazzjoni tal-mistħija tal-ERA tal-proġett bħalissa qed tiġi appellata quddiem it-Tribunal tal-Ippjanar (EPRT) minn bosta organizzazzjonijiet.

F’konferenza stampa iktar kmieni dalgħodu, Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, BirdLife Malta, NatureTrust-FEE, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, u r-Ramblers’ Association ilkoll fakkru li Kemmuna hija indikata bħala Żona ta’ Konservazzjoni Rurali, Riżerva Naturali, Żona Speċjali ta’ Konservazzjoni, Żona ta’ Protezzjoni Speċjali fi ħdan Natura2000, Żona Importanti għall-Għasafar (IBA) ta’ Importanza Internazzjonali u tal-UE, Santwarju tal-Għasafar, u sit ta’ Wirt tas-Sema Skur.

L-iżvilupp propost, għaldaqstant, żgur mhuwiex kompatibbli mal-protezzjoni legali li tgawdi minnha l-gżira, u l-obbligi legali tal-iStat li jikkonservaha.

L-influss ta’ inġenji u materjal tal-kostruzzjoni tul il-proċess ta’ żvilupp, u ż-żieda sproporzjonata ta’ attività umana ladarba l-kumpless ikun miftuħ se jikkawżaw impatt ambjentali enormi, kif ukoll qerda irriversibbli ta’ żoni naturali fil-kumpless innifsu u żona ikbar ta’ disturbanza madwaru.

“Il-qerda li se jġib miegħu dal-proġett hija realtà inevitabbli,” stqarru l-organizzazzjonijiet. “L-ebda ammont ta’ mitigazzjoni mhi ser tinnewtralizza din il-ħsara. L-aktar għażla sostenibbli hija li ma jsir l-ebda żvilupp.”

L-organizzazzjonijiet xejnu l-istqarrijiet foloz ta’ Hili Grupp, li huma biss greenwashing iddisprat li jaħbi l-fatt li art pubblika u naturali ser tinqered f’ġieħ il-profitt privat.  Huma fakkru li detentur ta’ konċessjoni m’għandu l-ebda dritt li jiżviluppa ż-żona, u tennew li Kemmuna diġà sofriet b’mod estensiv matul is-snin biex ġiet kummerċjalizzata.

Tul il-konferenza, huma fakkru wkoll li dan il-proġett se jfisser il-qerda ta’ spazju ieħor fejn wieħed jista’ jfittex is-serħan tal-moħħ u daqsxejn kwiet. Xhieda ta’ dan huma l-iktar minn 13,500 oġġezzjoni  mibgħuta lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar mill-poplu, sejħa ċara biex l-Awtorità tirrifjuta l-applikazzjoni li għandha quddiemha.

L-NGOs għalqu b’messaġġ dirett lil Hili Group: Irtiraw il-pjanijiet tagħkom għal Kemmuna minnufih. Kemmuna hija kollha kemm hi parti mill-wirt naturali nazzjonali, u l-pubbliku jinsab kontrikom. Jekk tinjoraw din is-sejħa, se jkollkom toħduha kontra l-pubbliku numeruż.

Il-konferenza stampa issejħet quddiem Hili Ventures mill-Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, BirdLife Malta, NatureTrust-FEE, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, u Ramblers’ Association.