 29 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2000 |
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AX presents Planning Authority with Rabat golf course EIA By David Lindsay AX Holdings yesterday presented the Planning Authority with its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the controversial Rabat golf course proposal. The EIA, AX Holdings Chairman Angelo Xuereb, explains, has left nothing lacking and consists of some 3,000 pages of detail. The report, which has been in the making for the last 12 months, was drawn up with the assistance of over 15 different consultants. AX Holdings appointed one of the top international consultants specialising in golf course EIAs, who described this particular EIA as one of the most exhaustive terms of reference that they have ever seen. In addition to the one local firm selected by the international experts, AX Holdings has appointed about 15 local consultants specialised in differing areas such as agriculture, ecology, economic, noise pollution, dust pollution, traffic, and water irrigation. Mr Xuereb, speaking to The Business Times explains, "I’m happy with the results, which are very thorough. The consultants have carried out such an immense range of studies that nothing has been left in question" Asked how he replies to criticisms from environmental organisations, Mr Xuereb explains, "I have met with a number of them and, unfortunately, they simply do not know the facts. They fire statements and figures out of the blue without any concrete facts or evidence to back them up, many of which are so ridiculous that I don’t even know how they get themselves into the newspapers. "One said that a golf course of these proportions consumes water enough for 200,000 people, which if it were the case, I would agree that we shouldn’t be given a permit. "Furthermore, we will demonstrate how we will collect water in the area, which at the moment is draining into the sea. In winter we do not need water and in the summer we will use what we have trapped over the winter. "We have identified an old quarry in the area that we can easily line for use as a reservoir. Apart from that we have also, in case of a draught, come to an arrangement with the WSC that we will buy water from them, should the case arise, at commercial prices." Mr Xuereb explains that he never retaliated to these claims and many other allegations as he was awaiting the results of the in-depth studies, and now that they are ready, he would be willing to sit down and talk it through with all the concrete facts in hand. "Regarding ecology," Mr Xuereb explains, "I believe that we have proven over and over that we are not going to destroy the topography of the area, we will keep it the same, rubble walls and all. We have taken care that all the flora and fauna remain intact, in fact we will encourage the flourishing of flora and fauna in the area. Furthermore, the golf course will provide a haven for bird life." Additionally, Mr Xuereb guarantees that farmers in the area will earn no less than what they are earning presently, even without carrying out any labour. "We have collected the history of each and every field in the area for the last five years and we know exactly what each field has produced in market terms. "I am offering them compensation, either financial compensation, which, if deposited in the bank, farmers – who number 90 in all, not 150 as has been stated by NGOs, would receive a higher return, without risks, than they would if still working the land. "We also plan to give them vineyards to work, amounting to one third of the area of the golf course, which has been earmarked to be cultivated by the farmers. Moreover, we will give them the roots for the vines, the training to work the vineyards and the water for irrigation. All they will be responsible for is trimming the vines, collecting the harvest and ploughing the land a couple times a year.” Mr Xuereb explains that, with what AX is proposing, by utilising one third of the original land area, farmers will reap a larger income than what they are receiving today by using the entire area in question. Next week’s Business Times will carry a full interview with Mr Xuereb | ||||||
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