Updated | Front Favur il-Mina welcomes strong support, urges further studies

A movement set up to support a permanent link between Malta and Gozo has welcomed survey results that confirm strong support for the submarine tunnel.

A MaltaToday survey among 400 Gozitan respondents confirmed strong support for the tunnel between Malta and its sister island, with 60% favouring its construction. But comparison with a similar survey in 2011 suggests a 5-point drop in agreement with the tunnel, mainly among PN-leaning voters.

Labour MP Franco Mercieca and Opposition MP Chris Said have joined forces to campaign in favour of the proposed €300 million tunnel. However, the MPs’ public backing have been chastised by AD chairman Arnold Cassola as studies on the geological impact and the social, business and environmental impacts, have yet to be carried out. 

Echoing Cassola’s reservations, Front Favur il-Mina, a group of university members set up to support permanent connectivity, encouraged all entities to carry out studies. 

“Pertinent information must be passed on to stakeholders while entities must be encouraged to carry out the required remaining studies, all in pursuance of constructing a sub-seabed tunnel,” the Front said.

Front Favur il-Mina also said its informative campaign in favour of the tunnel will intensify, and will strive to educate both Maltese and Gozitan citizens of the benefits that such a project would have.

The Front explained that it is in favour of a three-stage to tackle accessibility issues that have besieged Gozitans for several years. The first stage will see commuters ferried to Sa Maison and Cirkewwa, while the second-stage proposed the re-introduction of the catamaran fast ferry service.

“The final stage is the tunnel. This long-term strategy is essential; the current lack of accessibility between Malta and Gozo must be dealt without hesitation. Such decisions cannot be postponed any longer,” it said.

Citing a pre-feasibility study by Gordon Cordina, which concluded that a tunnel is more feasible than a bridge, the Front argued that everyday problems being experienced by Gozitans on a daily basis would be mitigated through the construction of a permanent submarine tunnel would increase investment and work in the sister island.

Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh argued the push for a tunnel between Gozo and Malta is all about securing Gozitan votes, without actually providing a viable long term solution for the real issue: the traffic and congestion from Cirkewwa towards the centre of Malta.

ADZ also said that the tunnel was being proposed before geological, social, environmental and business impact studies have been carried out.

“The true cost of the tunnel has yet to be established. Comparisons with similar tunnels show that the true costs may well be much higher than those being bandied around, meaning that both the toll and subsidies may turn out to be extremely expensive,” ADZ said.

It added that a tunnel would increase fuel expenses for Gozitan commuters as in most cases they would need to cross half of Malta.

A fast ferry system from the Grand Harbour would prevent these expenses and reduce traffic and congestion on our roads, not to mention air pollution.

“A tunnel would only create more traffic for Maltese and Gozitan commuters. With the current state of traffic, the government would much better invest in a better public transport systems including sea transport,” chair Marc Andrea Cassar said.

“A fast ferry service from the Grand Harbour would provide a faster transit at a cheaper price”.

ADZ spokesperson Pascal Aloisio added: “A tunnel would ruin Gozo’s unique natural character, which is unique for the Maltese Islands. One must also remember workers on the Gozo Channel. A tunnel would make the ferry service unviable, costing many workers their jobs”.