Labour deputy mayor against ODZ construction in Marsaskala

Labour’s popular deputy mayor in Marsaskala, Desiree Attard, has declared her principled opposition to the proposed development of a private university campus outside development boundaries at iz-Zonqor in Marsaskala.

“I can never agree with building anything on this location, especially because it is an ODZ area,” Attard told MaltaToday.

She also claimed that opposition to the development was widespread in the locality. “Many residents have spoken to me over the past days, expressing disagreement with this development,” she said.

The budding politician was elected with 935 first-count votes in local elections in 2013, coming second after mayor Mario Calleja, who has shown his support for the university, describing it as “the kind of project nobody can be against.”

While Calleja emphasised the economic benefits of the project, his deputy mayor – who insists that she is speaking in her own personal capacity – is unfazed. “While I welcome wholeheartedly the interest shown in our locality, building up yet another plot of land is not the solution to Marsaskala’s problems,” she said.

Attard contends there are other areas in which the university could be located. “Taking up even more land on this small island of ours is ridiculous.”

She also lamented that neither residents nor council were consulted prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement of the project on 1 May. “In my opinion, what Marsaskala desperately needs is solid investment in its weak infrastructure and traffic management, as well as putting full pressure on the former Jerma hotel’s owners to develop the now dangerous area. It is untenable and a huge eyesore for locals and tourists alike.”

The government has so far sent mixed messages, with the Labour media repeatedly referring to Marsaskala as the site for the university’s development, while environment minister Leo Brincat insisting that the government was willing to consider alternative sites.

MEPA has made it clear that only one other site was considered: the fields around St Leonard Fort which is also outside development boundaries. Moreover the site was not accepted because the development would have ruined the setting of the fort.

A coordination unit under MEPA’s chief executive Johann Buttigieg made a preliminary assessment in a desktop study which concluded that the ODZ site is "acceptable".