Over recent months, residents have observed surveying activity in part of Marsaskala Bay which, upon further inquiry, appears to be linked to plans for a new ferry landing. The Transport Minister has confirmed that these plans are underway. However, this proposal has never been formally presented to residents, and its rationale and feasibility remain undisclosed and undiscussed. A letter sent to the Minister months ago by concerned residents – requesting clarification and consultation – has gone unanswered.
Moviment Graffitti and the Marsaskala Residents Network strongly support investment in public transport. However, they are cautious about projects that may prioritise private or commercial interests over the needs of the public.
This is not the first time Marsaskala Bay has faced the threat of overdevelopment. Proposals for a water polo pitch with commercial facilities, and later a yacht marina, were met with strong public opposition and ultimately halted thanks to community mobilisation.
In their letter to the Minister, the residents had raised questions about the environmental and social impacts of placing a ferry terminal in the middle of a bay that is actively used by residents and visitors. They also questioned the utility of constructing a new terminal just a few kilometres from the already-operational Cottonera ferry service.
If the Minister has concrete answers and data supporting this proposal, he must engage in transparent and inclusive dialogue with residents, based on a comprehensive and evidence-based transport plan.
In the absence of meaningful engagement, the proposed ferry infrastructure – located in the heart of a socially and environmentally sensitive bay – raises serious and legitimate concerns, including increased land traffic, pollution, foreshore occupation, and ecological degradation.
Above all, is this project truly intended to serve the transportation needs of residents, or is it designed to funnel mass tourism to the commercial establishments surrounding the bay?
******
L-Infrastruttura tat-trasport għandha sservi lin-nies l-ewwel – residenti jesprimu t-tħassib tagħhom dwar pjanijiet għal ferry terminal fil-Bajja ta’ Marsaskala
Matul l-aħħar xhur, ir-residenti osservaw attivitajiet ta’ stħarriġ f’parti mill-Bajja ta’ Marsaskala li, wara aktar investigazzjoni, jidher li huma marbuta ma’ pjanijiet biex jinbena ferry terminal. Il-Ministru tat-Trasport ikkonferma li dawn il-pjanijiet huma għaddejjin. Madankollu, din il-proposta qatt ma ġiet ippreżentata formalment lir-residenti, u r-raġuni warajha kif ukoll il-fattibbiltà tagħha għadhom mhux magħrufa u baqgħu mhux diskussi. Ittra mibgħuta lill-Ministru xhur ilu minn residenti mħassba – li kienet titlob ċarezza u konsultazzjoni – baqgħet ma ġietx imwieġba.
Il-Moviment Graffitti u l-Marsaskala Residents Network jappoġġjaw b’saħħa investiment fit-trasport pubbliku. Madankollu, huma kawti dwar proġetti li jistgħu jagħtu prijorità lill-interessi privati jew kummerċjali qabel il-bżonnijiet tal-pubbliku.
Din mhix l-ewwel darba li l-Bajja ta’ Marsaskala kienet taħt theddida ta’ żvilupp eċċessiv. Proposti għal piċċ tal-waterpolo b’faċilitajiet kummerċjali, u wara għal marina tal-jottijiet, ġew milqugħa b’oppożizzjoni qawwija mill-pubbliku u sfaxxaw grazzi għall-mobilizzazzjoni tal-komunità.
Fl-ittra tagħhom lill-Ministru, ir-residenti qajmu diversi mistoqsijiet dwar l-impatti ambjentali u soċjali tat-tqegħid ta’ ferry terminal fiċ-ċentru ta’ bajja li tintuża b’mod attiv mir-residenti u viżitaturi. Huma staqsew ukoll dwar il-ħtieġa ta’ terminal ġdid hekk viċin is-servizz tal-ferry li diġà jopera mill-Kottonera.
Jekk il-Ministru għandu tweġibiet konkreti u data li tappoġġja din il-proposta, għandu jidħol fi djalogu trasparenti u inklussiv mar-residenti, ibbażat fuq pjan komprensiv għat-trasport mibni fuq l-evidenza.
Fin-nuqqas ta’ trasparenza u djalogu, l-infrastruttura proposta għall-ferry – li tinsab fil-qalba ta’ bajja soċjalment u ambjentalment sensittiva – tqajjem tħassib serju u leġittimu, inkluż dwar żieda fit-traffiku tal-art, tniġġis, okkupazzjoni tal-kosta, u degradazzjoni ekoloġika.
Fuq kollox, dan il-proġett huwa tassew maħsub biex jaqdi l-ħtiġijiet tat-trasport tar-residenti, jew huwa mfassal biex jidderieġi t-turiżmu tal-massa lejn l-istabbilimenti kummerċjali ta’ madwar il-bajja?
