The construction of a breakwater at Marsamxett has been mooted as one of the projects to be handled by the Chinese Government.
Before the proposed Sliema breakwater project can be seriously considered, meticulous studies need to be carried out, including wave motion analysis in order to assess how changes in currents and waves would affect water stagnation, impact the seabed and cause shoreline erosion in different areas of Marsamxett harbour.
It is not acceptable to continue as in the past, when concrete jetties were built without any thought about their effect on the seabed and surrounding areas. A case in point is the damage caused by the jetty built illegally by a hotelier in Mellieha which has led to the erosion of Għadira beach, with the diverted currents now depositing the sand by the Mellieha Bay Hotel.
Similarly, because of the badly-conceived jetty below Crucifix Hill, Valletta, waves and sea currents have eroded the rock beneath the jetty, creating a large cave. For this reason, the authorities do not allow tourist coaches to drive over part of the jetty.
If the Sliema yacht marina project materialises, serious studies are required on how the jetties that will form the marina will be constructed in order to be unobtrusive and have minimum effect on the environment in the area, while being effective as jetties.
FAA is extremely concerned about the increased traffic that a marina will generate in this heavily congested and polluted area. For a marina to be successful it needs an adequate jetty area for the passage and parking of yacht owners’ cars and vehicles servicing the marina.
A marina will not thrive in isolation, without training the necessary support expertise to service yachts, and an attractive setting, as is provided on the Continent. This project has to be assessed holistically along with the lido to be built at Gzira and the privatisation of Ta’ Xbiex Gardens in order to increase the yacht marina facilities there. We have lost enough already; public recreational areas cannot be taken over by commercial interests, especially when one considers that the present demand does not even fill the existing marinas, let alone fill large new marinas.
While FAA is in favour of creating a healthy yachting industry, it maintains that the creation of facilities for such an industry must be based on scientific research, viability and social impact studies. Unless such developments are properly planned, the end result will be a breakwater and an unsightly boat park which will increase disruption but generate limited economic benefit, rather than a thriving yacht marina which enhances the surroundings and respects residents living in the area.