malta: golf course defeated
In a major
victory for the environment, a proposal to
have a golf course in the centre of Malta
was rejected unanimously by the board
responsible for planning. The proposal
would have meant the privatization of land
supporting local nature and
agriculture.
The golf course, planned by the company
AX Holdings, would have consumed a large
amount of water, a scarce resource in Malta
where already 50% of water comes from
desalination plants. A golf course would
also have been a poor choice of use for a
piece of land which provides work for 150
farmers. Malta already suffers from a
shortage of agricultural land, with only
20-30% of local food requirements provided
locally. In addition, golf courses don’t
fare well in the Mediterranean climate and
are usually ruined after 8 years because of
the excessive use of pesticides and water
required to keep them green. Moreover, to
grow the turf on the course, other native
organisms would be obliterated. The area is
also host to protected fauna as well as
organic farming, with more agricultural
projects in the pipeline.
A broad coalition of environmental and
nature groups, including Friends of the
Earth Malta, farmers and agriculture
organisations were among the many different
groups who successfully opposed the
scheme.
more information
Friends of the Earth Malta
background
