The Planning Authority has approved the Gozo Rural Airfield project, proposed by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning.
This project was an electoral promise by the Labour party, emphasising the importance of improving connectivity between Gozo and Malta.
Minister Clint Camilleri explained that the project aims not only to enhance transport links but also to create new economic opportunities in sectors previously untapped by Gozo.
‘These initiatives are expected to generate high-quality jobs and align with the Gozo Regional Development Strategy, involving various stakeholders’, a statement outlining the approval explains.
The minister stressed that environmental considerations are a key aspect of the project, with mitigation measures planned to minimise both visual impact and noise from airfield activities.
The Gozo Rural Airfield project will not involve the use of virgin or agricultural land. Instead, it will extend the existing runway on land previously allocated for development when Local Plans were revised in 2006.
The site had been misused for construction waste dumping. No new buildings will be added, but the existing structure, previously used for helicopter services, will be renovated.
This project represents a step towards improving Gozo’s connectivity while respecting environmental concerns and creating new economic avenues.
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