Golden Bay water park: 'We had no idea it was happening', says Mellieħa mayor

Environmental impact studies should be carried out before a floating fun park can be considered for Golden Bay, Mellieħa mayor John Buttigieg said. “I am against this in principle and hope that if this is seriously considered by the authorities, then proper studies are conducted first to see what effect this will have on this natural gem,” he said. Mr Buttigieg was contacted for his reaction to proposals made by the Transport Ministry to establish a floating water fun park at Golden Bay, similar to that at Għadira Bay in Mellieħa. “We didn’t even know this was happening until a tender was issued by the government. We weren’t consulted,” Mr Buttigieg said. A number of non-governmental organisations have expressed concern about the proposals, with several insisting the beach should not be treated like a commercial hub, but an important natural spot instead. The Heritage Parks Federation, a collective of eNGOs, has come out strongly against the proposals, insisting such a floating park would “not be in keeping with the pristine environment of the bay”, recently awarded Blue Flag status. In a statement, the federation, made up of Nature Trust Malta, the Gaia Foundation and Din...