As the Planning Authority is set to decide on Hili’s proposal for a hotel and villas on the Comino nature reserve on Thursday, 24th April, Moviment Graffitti is today revealing the harm the Six Senses luxury franchise has caused in other ecologically sensitive locations.

Watch the video here. 

In 2023, it was announced that the proposed Hili development on Comino would form part of the Six Senses franchise, in a statement filled with buzzwords about sustainability and respect for nature.

We spoke to environmental activists in Ibiza who shared how the same buzzwords and grand promises were used by Six Senses to promote the development of a hotel on their island. Once constructed, the reality was far less appealing: Six Senses began taking over public spaces and polluting the surroundings, to the detriment of locals and the natural environment.

In Malta, the Planning Authority has ignored an unprecedented number of objections to this development, as well as the advice of environmental experts, by recommending approval of this complex that will be operated by the same Six Senses brand.

In Santa Marija Bay alone, the construction of 16 villas with pools, along with a jetty and commercial establishments, would result in a staggering increase in building volume. The intensified use of this area – compared to the former hotel bungalows and especially its current tranquil state – would transform Santa Marija Bay into an exclusive village with year-round occupancy. 

No assessment has been carried out to determine whether this development and its associated activities are compatible with the carrying capacity of the nature reserve.

By recommending approval, the Planning Authority has once again demonstrated its willingness to bow to corporate greed at the expense of the people and nature of the Maltese Islands.

Comino is a Natura 2000 site and an area of exceptional ecological and social value. The Planning Board should uphold Malta’s legal and moral obligations to protect such sites by categorically refusing a project that would inflict serious damage to our common heritage.Filmat li jiżvela l-ħsara ekoloġika kkawżata minn Six Senses qabel it-teħid ta’ deċiżjoni dwar lukanda u vilel f’Kemmuna

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Filmat jiżvela l-ħsara ekoloġika kkawżata minn Six Senses qabel it-teħid ta’ deċiżjoni dwar lukanda u vilel f’Kemmuna

Hekk kif l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar mistennija tiddeċiedi dwar il-proposta ta’ Hili għal lukanda u vilel fir-riżerva naturali ta’ Kemmuna nhar il-Ħamis, 24 ta’ April, illum il-Moviment Graffitti qed jiżvela l-ħsara li l-franchise ta’ żvilupp lussuż Six Senses ikkawżat f’postijiet ekoloġikament sensittivi oħra.

Ara l-filmat hawnhekk.

Fl-2023, kien ġie mħabbar li l-iżvilupp propost ta’ Hili f’Kemmuna kien se jkun parti mill-franchise ta’ Six Senses, f’dikjarazzjoni mimlija kliem fieragħ dwar sostenibbiltà u rispett lejn in-natura.

Tkellimna ma’ attivisti ambjentali f’Ibiza li qasmu magħna kif l-istess kliem fieragħ u wegħdiet sbieħ kienu ntużaw minn Six Senses biex jippromwovu l-iżvilupp ta’ lukanda fuq il-gżira tagħhom. Iżda wara li nbniet, ir-realtà kienet ferm differenti: Six Senses bdiet taħtaf l-ispazji pubbliċi u tniġġes l-inħawi, b’detriment għar-residenti u għall-ambjent naturali.

F’Malta, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar injorat numru bla preċedent ta’ oġġezzjonijiet għal dan l-iżvilupp, kif ukoll il-pariri ta’ esperti ambjentali, billi rrakkomandat l-approvazzjoni ta’ dan il-kumpless li se jkun operat mill-istess kumpanija Six Senses.

Fil-Bajja ta’ Santa Marija biss, il-kostruzzjoni ta’ 16-il villa bil-pixxini, flimkien ma’ moll u stabbilimenti kummerċjali, se twassal għal żieda qawwija fil-volum tal-bini. L-użu intensifikat ta’ din iż-żona – meta mqabbel mal-bungalows tal-lukanda ta’ qabel u l-istat seren tagħha fil-preżent – se jittrasforma l-Bajja ta’ Santa Marija f’villaġġ esklussiv li jkun okkupat is-sena kollha.

Ma saret l-ebda evalwazzjoni sabiex jiġi determinat jekk dan l-iżvilupp u l-attivitajiet relatati miegħu humiex kompatibbli ma’ kemm tiflaħ intensità fl-attività din ir-riżerva naturali.

Billi rrakkomandat l-approvazzjoni, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar reġgħet uriet kemm hija lesta tbaxxi rasha għar-regħba korporattiva, a skapitu tan-nies u n-natura tal-Gżejjer Maltin.

Kemmuna hija sit tan-Natura 2000 u żona ta’ valur ekoloġiku u soċjali kbir. Il-Bord tal-Ippjanar għandu jħares l-obbligi legali u morali ta’ Malta biex jipproteġi dawn is-siti, u jirrifjuta kategorikament proġett li jwassal għal ħsara serja lill-wirt komuni tagħna.