Updated – 424 Objections – Third time lucky? Salt pans proposed on access route to Cathedral Cave (Għar ir-Riħ) and Ras il-Kanun

Update 08/01/2024 – 424 Objections so far – keep them coming until 13 January!

No prizes for perseverance, but the site owners surely try their luck! Another application was filed for rock-cutting to create new salt pans in the area named as Għar Tal-Ħdejda, Zebbug (Gozo). The plan shows it clearly cuts (literally) through the single access route for diving support vehicles to the Cathedral Cave (Għar ir-Riħ) and Ras il-Kanun.

This PA application – PA/08292/24, looks like a rehash of two previous applications.

Application PA/1038/21 was rejected by the PA, whilst application PA/2121/22 was withdrawn after the case officer has recommended for refusal. In both cases, the Diving Industry and many other eNGOs (Ramblers Malta, Nature Trust, Wirt Għawdex, Din l-Art ħelwa, Moviment Graffitti, etc.) submitted their objections.

What’s New?

In this latest application, the originally proposed store for salt has been omitted, and the architect has changed. Whilst the applicant may have decided that the store could be done without (or possibly, applied for later or use other alternatives), the other major change was the architect applying. And having done some research, apparently the new architect has a very good pedigree of getting things through as per this article https://theshiftnews.com/2022/04/16/five-labour-linked-architects-had-more-than-90-of-development-applications-approved-since-2013/

What can you do?

Object to start with! Objections need to be filed by 13 January 2025. Maybe the timing of the application over the Christmas and New Year period was quite deliberate, with less diving activity at this time of the year. Could it have been assumed it would be overlooked? Surely they miscalculated…

To object, one needs to send correspondence to the Planning Authority stating so. As we did with the Wied iż-Żurrieq project, divinginfo.mt will give you the opportunity to object. By filling the form below, an email will be sent to the Planning Authority to stand up and be counted as an objector. If you choose to include your email, you will be advised of any future hearing, in which in person or remotely you can also voice your concern directly. If you do not enter an email or name, objection is still filed.

Objections are recorded in the PA system which you can access by using your Eid. Please note, that if you provide an email, name or id it will be visible within the system to other logged in users – PA rules, not ours – but then again, we know many of you will not be intimidated by this.

You can also use the PA website to object, using this link: https://www.pa.org.mt/en/representationform?CaseFullRef=PA/08292/24&SystemKey=286502&target=

But if you want to join the diving community, and pretty sure also the other eNGOs which will for sure be objecting, fill the form below and click send!

Objection Form

Confirm your disapproval as per plans presented in application PA/08292/24

• I object to the plans presented

Are you a Maltese resident (optional)

• Yes
• No
• No but a frequent visitor

Optional: Enter your name

If you wish to follow this application process, your name and email address are required to be considered by the PA as an "objector" and to be able to be informed of upcoming public meetings and progress on the application.

Optional: Email address

If you wish to follow this application process, your name and email address are required to be considered by the PA as an "objector" and to be able to be informed of upcoming public meetings and progress on the application.

Comments (optional)

Data protection *

• I consent to having this website store my submitted information so they can track the number of objections sent to the PA and keep me updated on the campaign progress

Send your representation by clicking here

Special thanks

Thanks to the individual who flagged this application to us yesterday. The diving community can greatly contribute to safeguarding access, infrastructure and the protection of our marine environment. Seen something that needs to be shared? Contact us!

We remind you of our dive site issue report facility on this website, through which many reports are filed and forwarded to authorities for their action. The reports are published in a tracker also, so we can keep chasing and trying to get issues addressed. You can find both reporting facility and tracker here.