Bid-deċiżjoni li s-sit propost għall-moll fejn jittrakka l-ferry fil-bajja ta’ Marsaskala ma jeħtieġx studju sħiħ dwar l-impatt ambjentali (Environmental Impact Assessment), l-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u Riżorzi (l-ERA) qiegħda tabdika mir-responsabbiltà tagħha li tħares l-ambjent tal-lokalità ta’ Marsaskala minn żvilupp li jista’ jwassal għal dannu għall-bajja. Dan qalu Brian Decelis – uffiċjal ta’ ADPD-The Green Party u kandidat fuq id-distrett li jinkludi il-lokalità ta’ Marsaskala.

Ir-rapport li ġie imħejji mill-ERA hu limitat għall-baħar ma jiħux in konsiderazzjoni l-impatti eventwali li dan il-proġett se jkollu fuq iż-żona residenzjali tal-madwar. Dan meta n-numru ta’ passiġġiera li qed jingħad li ser jużaw dan is-servizz u bit-traffiku li inevitabilment jiżdied f’żona li diġà hija waħda problematika. In-nuqqas ta’ ħtieġa tal-Environmental Impact Assessment ifisser li se jkun hemm ftit li xejn opportunità biex il-pubbliku jiġi ikkonsultat dwar analiżi teknika iddettaljata li tinkludu studju dwar alternattivi u impatti kumulattivi.

ADPD-The Green Party ilu jinsisti sa minn meta ġie propost dan il-proġett li għalkemm servizzi ta’ trasport bil-baħar jistgħu jiġi ikkunsidrati bħala alternattiva għal dawk fuq l-art, dawn għandhom iħarsu l-interessi tar-residenti ukoll. Saħansitra, fir-rapport tagħha, l-ERA naqset milli tikkunsidra li ż-żona proposta hija ukoll użata għall-għawm u li jekk jitwettaq dan il-proġett dan ma jibqax possibbli jew jonqos drastikament.

Wieħed ma jistax jifhem ukoll kif baqgħet issir riferenza għaż-żona bħala waħda dedikata għal Yacht Marina meta din m’għadhiex ikkunsidrada bħala tali wara kampanja kbira li saret mir-residenti u l-emenda eventwali li kienet saret lill-Pjan Lokali.

Bħal fil-każ tal-proġetti kollha li għaddejjin bħalissa f’Marsaskala, ADPD-The Green Party jinsisti li għandu jkun hemm konsultazzjoni sħiħa mar-residenti wara li jsiru l-istudji neċessarji. Studji, sfortunatament, ghadhom ma sarux u allura mhu ser issir l-ebda konsultazzjoni.

ADPD-The Green Party considers that ERA is seeking to avoid its responsibilities

The decision to waive an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the area earmarked for the Marsaskala Bay ferry is clearly evident that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is abdicating all responsibility to protect the bay from development that may be detrimental to this protected habitat, said Brian Decelis, ADPD-The Green Party official and electoral candidate on the Third District, which also includes Marsaskala.

The report issued by ERA is quite limited vis-à-vis the bay, as it does not take into consideration the impact that this project will have on the surrounding residential zone. This does not take into consideration estimated passenger numbers and the traffic increase that this zone will inevitably face, which will surely be problematic. The lack of an EIA means that there will be little opportunity for the public to be consulted after a detailed technical analysis, including alternative proposals as well as the cumulative effects on the area.

Ever since this project was first announced, ADPD-The Green Party has made it clear that whilst sea transport should be considered as an alternative to land transport, this must take into consideration the interest of the residents’ well-being as well. In fact, it is noted that ERA has ignored the fact that the proposed zone for development is also used by swimmers; if this project is given the green light, swimming in the area will no longer be possible or, at most, severely restricted.

One also fails to understand how this zone is still being referred to as one earmarked for a yacht marina after it was shelved following the residents’ campaign against this decision and any changes to the local plan.

As in the case of all ongoing projects in Marsaskala, ADPD insists that there should always be full consultation with residents after all necessary studies have been conducted. As no studies have been carried out, there will be no consultation.