Marsaskala Residents Network

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A walk and workshop on the coast of Marsaskala was held on Saturday 23rd May as part of a project developed by the Classics and Archaeology at UM, in collaboration with MELA in partnership with Marsaskala Parish and Marsaskala Residents Network (MRN).

Starting from the recently superbly renovated St Thomas Tower, participants walked all the way to Żonqor point, capturing objects, buildings, activities or scenes that they feel represent Wied il-Għajn today and/or in the past. This was followed by a round table discussion where participants explored the diverse perspectives, histories and contemporary challenges of the coast of Marsaskala.

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Mixja u diskussjoni dwar il-kosta ta’ Marsaskala li saret is-Sibt 23 ta' Mejju bħala parti minn proġett mmexxi mid-Dipartiment tal-Istudji Klassiċi u Arkeoloġija tal-Universita’ ta’ Malta, b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ MELA u bi sħab mal-parroċċa ta’ Marsaskala u il-Marsaskala Residents Network.

Il-mixja bdiet minn ħdejn it-Torri ta’ San Tumas li gie restawrat riċentement b’mod stupend, u mxejna sal-Ponta taż-Żonqor, filwaqt li gew mehuda ritratti ta’ oġġetti, binjiet, attivitajiet jew xeni li l-partecipanti ħassew li jirrapreżentaw lil Wied il-Għajn tal-lum u/jew tal-imgħoddi. Dan gie segwit b'rakkonti ta' memorji u esperjenzi fejn gew diskussi il-perspettivi differenti, l-istejjer u l-isfidi kontemporanji tal-kosta ta’ Marsaskala.

The lack of monitoring during the Marsaskala regeneration works is alarming. Palm trees are being almost completely uprooted and construction debris is ending up in the sea.

Where is ERA monitoring? Environmental protection cannot be ignored while this damage is happening in plain sight.

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority
Infrastructure Malta
Planning Authority
Kunsill Lokali Marsaskala - Marsaskala Local Council
Times of Malta
MaltaToday
Newsbook Malta
The Malta Independent

Post 8 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

• The fast ferry project is projected to reduce private vehicle trips by 19,875 per year.
• This equates to approximately 54 trips per day, or roughly 27 cars travelling to and from Valletta daily.
• Given these figures, how significant will the project’s actual impact be on reducing traffic congestion on Malta’s roads?
• Do the projected transport benefits truly justify the environmental, social, and archaeological risks associated with the project?
• Is Marsaskala Bay worth sacrificing for such limited traffic reduction?
• Has the project’s long-term economic feasibility been fully and transparently assessed?
• Residents are therefore asking whether this project is genuinely designed to address the broader needs of the community, or whether its primary benefits are more closely aligned with commercial interests, increased tourism activity, and a limited number of direct beneficiaries.

Post 7 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

• If the dredged area is likely to refill over time with material transported from surrounding areas, does this mean that repeated dredging will be required in the future?
• If so, what are the long-term environmental implications of ongoing maintenance dredging for Marsaskala Bay?
• How often is such intervention expected, and has the cumulative ecological impact of repeated dredging been properly assessed?
• Could this create a cycle of continuous disturbance to marine habitats, water quality, and public enjoyment of the bay?

Post 6 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

• Sediment trapped within silt curtains may re-suspend and escape once these barriers are removed.
• Currents, rough weather conditions, and vessel propellers can disturb settled silt, potentially releasing concentrated sediment plumes into the wider bay.
• How will this affect water quality in Marsaskala Bay after the silt curtain is removed?
• Increased turbidity, contaminant dispersal, and reduced water clarity could impact marine ecosystems and protected habitats?
• What consequences could increased turbidity have for swimming, diving, and the public enjoyment of the bay?
• How will residents and visitors be protected from potential declines in water quality and environmental degradation in the bay?

Post 5 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

• The proposed dredging works will completely destroy 1,496 square metres of sparse Posidonia oceanica beds. Posidonia oceanica is a protected marine habitat of high ecological importance. It supports biodiversity, stabilises the seabed, improves water quality, and plays a crucial role in carbon storage.
• The destruction of Posidonia beds means the irreversible loss of a legally protected ecosystem.
• The site also contains dead matte, which remains ecologically valuable despite no longer being living seagrass. Dead matte helps stabilise sediments, stores significant carbon deposits, supports marine habitats, and preserves environmental history. Disturbing dead matte may contribute to the release of stored contaminants or carbon.

How can such environmental losses be justified?

Where will the construction debris end up once the silt curtain is removed?

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority
Planning Authority

Post 4 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

Dredging works will expose a contaminated layer, which will become the new seabed surface in area SS6.

• What exactly is this layer contaminated with?
• What impact could the release and leaching of these contaminants have on marine life in the bay, as well as on residents and swimmers who use these waters?

Post 3 of 8: Marsaskala Residents Deserve Answers

• This statement clearly indicates that cultural heritage deposits are present within the proposed dredging area.
• The operation of the fast ferry may cause erosion and scouring, potentially displacing the protective sediment layer above these archaeological remains.
• In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Act (2002), archaeological remains should ideally be safeguarded in situ.
• These submerged archaeological remains are a non-renewable national asset of Marsaskala Bay, and preserving them in their original setting is crucial for their scientific, historical, and cultural value.
• If properly protected and managed, this heritage could also contribute to sustainable, quality tourism in Marsaskala.

Protecting Marsaskala’s cultural heritage means safeguarding an irreplaceable part of its identity for future generations.

𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚!

Join 𝐅𝐀𝐀'𝐬 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒' 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 to urge that elections should not be a race to see who can make the most unsubstantiated financial promises to the public. Instead, they should be a democratic test of who can best deliver what people actually need: a healthy quality of life.

Public spaces - pavements, squares, promenades, bays and beaches, are not assets for businesses. We are feeling increasing stress and pressure from noise, over-tourism, spiralling traffic and the steady destruction of our natural spaces and built heritage eroding our quality of life.

𝟏𝟒.𝟎𝟎 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟑 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚

FAA has compiled over 50 essential recommendations to repair Malta’s broken planning system, restore quiet to our streets, upgrade public transport and much more. Personal accountability for PA board members is essential along with suspension of works while permits are under appeal, a moratorium on major projects pending carrying capacity studies and a total reform of the BCA.

Residents want proper enforcement against construction abuse, vehicle emissions, and encroachments of public space.
We are moving beyond vague pledges and election rhetoric. Our quality of life is not a bargaining chip.

𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟐𝐩𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥, 𝐞𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞