NGOs Slam Sliema Lido Reclamation: ‘Pure Madness’

Imagine strolling along Sliema’s bustling promenade, the Mediterranean’s azure expanse stretching out before you. Now, picture that view marred by a wall of concrete, the sea replaced by a sprawling car park. This is the dystopian vision that Malta’s environmental NGOs are warning against, as plans for a massive land reclamation project in Sliema gather steam.

The proposed project, spearheaded by the Malta Developers Association, aims to reclaim 15,000 square metres of sea from Sliema’s lido. This would see the creation of a new plot of land, roughly the size of 1,500 average Maltese apartments, jutting out into the sea. The plan? To build a multi-story car park, offices, and luxury apartments.

But the environmental cost is staggering. The project would involve dredging the sea bed, dumping the resulting sediment elsewhere, and constructing a massive sea wall. It’s a process that would cause significant and irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem, according to environmental experts.

Malta’s environmental NGOs have been swift and vocal in their opposition. “This is pure madness,” says Mark Mallia, CEO of Nature Trust (Malta). “We’re talking about destroying a unique marine habitat, all for a car park and more concrete apartments.”

BirdLife Malta echoes these concerns. “The proposed development will have a devastating impact on local biodiversity,” says Nicholas Barbara, the organisation’s director. “It’s a shortsighted plan that prioritises cars and profit over our natural heritage.”

Even the Malta Developers Association admits that the project will have environmental impacts. But they argue that these can be mitigated, and that the benefits – more parking spaces, increased property tax revenue – outweigh the costs.

Opinion among Sliema residents is divided. Some welcome the promise of more parking spaces, while others are concerned about the environmental impact and the potential loss of the lido’s charm. “I love walking along the lido, watching the sunset over the sea,” says Maria Attard, a Sliema resident. “I don’t want to see that replaced by a wall of concrete.”

But others, like Joe Xuereb, a local businessman, see the project as a solution to Sliema’s parking woes. “I understand the environmental concerns, but we need more parking spaces. This could be a win-win,” he says.

The project is still in its early stages, and an Environmental Impact Assessment is underway. The outcome of this assessment will be crucial in determining the project’s fate. But one thing is clear: the debate over Sliema’s lido has only just begun.

“This is a fight we’re ready to wage,” says Mallia. “We won’t let Malta’s coasts be paved over without a fight.”