Government cleaning up rubble outside Gozo heliport boundaries

Rubble outside the boundaries of the Gozo heliport is being cleaned up as part of a joint effort by the Ministry for Gozo, the Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry for Home Affairs.

According to a spokesperson for Gozo Minister Anton Refalo, the cleanup is taking place "for the benefit of farmers in the area and the general environment which was abandoned for a long period of time".

In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the Gozo Business Chamber and the Gozo Tourism Association said they welcomed these works, "in preparation for the Gozo airstrip".

Contacted by MaltaToday, the spokesperson said the Ministry for Gozo was still studying the options by which accessibility to the sister island could be improved.

"The Ministry is currently evaluating, and working on all options towards the strengthening of accessibility and connectivity between Malta and Gozo through a reliable investment which would increase the island's competitiveness and ensure more jobs for Gozitans in Gozo," the spokesperson said.   

The spokesperson added that clearing out the rubble was the first step, as the Gozo heliport had not been in operation for a number of years.

"This cleaning-up process will lead to the long-awaited improvement of the environment and, likewise, serve as a potential option for the required infrastructure," the ministry said, with reference to Labour's pledge to strengthen accessibility between the two islands.

The spokesperson added that both the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber welcomed such a commitment towards the economical and social advancement of Gozo, something that "they had appealed for, for years".