Comino Watch: Moviment Graffitti Calls on the Public to Help Protect Comino

Comino may soon need many more eyes watching over it.

Moviment Graffitti has launched “Comino Watch”, a public monitoring initiative calling on residents, visitors, boat owners and anyone travelling around Comino to immediately report signs of demolition, excavation, construction, tree removal or the transportation of heavy machinery to the island.

The initiative follows ERA’s decision concerning works connected with the proposed Hili Group development on Comino.

According to Moviment Graffitti’s latest statement, ERA’s decision greenlights the uprooting of around 800 trees, as well as heavy construction and excavation works within the Comino nature reserve.

Moviment Graffitti says this means Hili Group could begin works connected with the proposed 44 swimming pools, 16 villas and 140-room hotel in the coming weeks.

These figures and descriptions are those given by Moviment Graffitti in its statement.

What should people report?

Moviment Graffitti is asking members of the public to immediately report any signs of:

• Demolition works
• Excavation
• Construction activity
• Uprooting or removal of trees
• Heavy machinery being transported to Comino

How to report activity on Comino

If you see anything that may be connected with works on the island, Moviment Graffitti is asking people to send the information directly to the organisation.

Why is Comino Watch being launched now?

Moviment Graffitti says ERA’s decision means works could potentially begin even though the Planning Authority permit remains subject to an ongoing legal challenge.

In its statement, the organisation says that in May the Court ruled in its favour on a major point and sent the case back to the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal for reconsideration.

According to Moviment Graffitti, the case remains ongoing.

The organisation has reiterated that it does not intend to allow works to begin without public scrutiny while the legal challenge continues.

Moviment Graffitti argues that the proposed development poses a serious threat to Comino’s delicate and already heavily strained environment.

It says the project would bring intensive, year-round activity to the island, extend the existing development footprint into a large area of untouched garigue and increase the overall volume of built development.

The public can become Comino’s eyes and ears

Comino is small, and that also means that moving excavators, construction machinery and other heavy equipment onto the island should be difficult to do without somebody noticing.

This is where members of the public can help.

Boat owners, visitors, swimmers, divers, hikers, photographers and anyone passing around Comino can form part of a much wider monitoring network.

If you see activity that appears connected with construction, excavation, tree removal or the transportation of heavy machinery, Moviment Graffitti is encouraging people to document what they see and report it immediately.

People should avoid entering restricted areas, interfering with workers or putting themselves at risk. Photographs and observations should only be made from places where the person is legally entitled to be.

Support the campaign to protect Comino

Moviment Graffitti has also been raising funds to support action connected with protecting Comino and challenging decisions relating to the development.

The Save Comino crowdfunding campaign has received significant public support, highlighting the level of concern surrounding the future of the island.

SUPPORT THE SAVE COMINO CAMPAIGN

Public participation can take many forms: donating, sharing information, attending actions, reporting activity or simply helping keep watch.

Whatever happens next should not happen unnoticed

Comino is one of Malta and Gozo’s most recognisable and environmentally sensitive areas.

Works of this scale within a nature reserve deserve close public scrutiny, particularly while legal proceedings concerning the permit remain ongoing.

Moviment Graffitti has now created a direct way for the public to stay informed and help provide that scrutiny.

Source: Moviment Graffitti statement announcing the launch of Comino Watch. Project details, legal claims and descriptions attributed in this article are based on Moviment Graffitti’s statement.