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Save Queensway Quay: a Civil Society platform created to save Queensway Quay Marina, threatened by a private project for the construction of a hotel in its basin waters, and apartment blocks
Gibraltar, pearl of the Strait, heiress of the ancient and magic Carteia, at risk of perishing asphyxiated not by the action of natural destructive forces, as in the case of the ancient Phoenician and Roman city, but by the hand of man in the form of concrete, steel and glass.
Real estate speculation, its ability to attract high-yield investment and an outdated town planning are driving Gibraltar away from those urban growth models that preserve and improve the quality of the environment, protect residents' health and favour rational use of natural resources.
In full exchange of accusations between the Government of Gibraltar (GoG) and the opposition about the political responsibility of the urban disaster that is taking place, the GoG has come to affirm that Gibraltar is being the victim of its own (economic) success, a group of citizens have decided to take action and set up the Save Queensway Quay platform to request community support and stop the destruction of the charming Queensway Quay Marina, threatened with death by the proposal presented to the GoG by the same company that currently manages its facilities, Marina Properties Ltd.
Marina Properties Ltd.’s proposal includes the construction of a 120 rooms hotel with serviced apartments for commercial uses to be located at the centre of the marina; a commercial and residential 11 storey building located between Ragged Staff and Cormorant Wharf as well as a new development in marine waters behind Cormorant Wharf.
The new buildings would add to other major developments, some in the same area, which are in different stages of execution, such as Victoria Keys, Kings Wharf and Midtown, so their impact on the local population, services infrastructure and environment, would be amplified by acting in conjunction.
Save Queensway Quay petition
Save Queensway Quay has launched a petition addressed to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, urging him to stop the project. The arguments raised by its members and followers are multiple and range from "the adverse impact on marine ecology and the natural environment to the destruction of the Gibraltar local waterfront and the attractive, vibrant, yet tranquil, recreational character of the marina and loss of its visual amenity."
Gib people’s remarks
Usually-resident people in Gibraltar, in general, are unaware of the proposal for the construction of such a hotel and apartments in Queensway Quay Marina so, the information and awareness campaign initiated by Save Queensway Quay is also aimed at preventing the reaction of residents in the Rock occurs too late.
The opinion of the Gibraltarians is clear and cogent: symptoms of exhaustion due to incessant construction activity; outrage at the ability of the money-corruption duo to keep pace with the works without considering other aspects of urban development, bringing Gibraltar to levels of over-development; resignation ("if they allow it is because it is necessary", some people said); surprise at the lack of sufficient information and anger at the alleged construction of the hotel and its annexes in an emblematic place of Gibraltar that is characterized by its pleasant atmosphere, the excellent quality of its facilities and the fact of being a regular meeting place for the local community.
Julian, for instance, believes that Gibraltar is being overdeveloped and the proposal for Queensway Quay Marina is disgusting; James considers that there should be a balance between the development of the city and the quality of life of its inhabitants; Iris wishes that the urban model of Gibraltar will never be like that of Hong Kong or Singapore; a Gibraltarian citizen who didn't want to say his name believes that the current development is excessive; two women living in Queensway Quay, Natalia and a lady who was in a hurry but kindly agreed to be interviewed, were upset and doubt the need to build more hotel beds in Gibraltar.
Political reaction to the Save Queensway Quay campaign
In response to Save Queensway Quay, the GoG issued a press release stating that if Fabian Picardo, the current Chief Minister, wins the elections called for next October 17th, his government will stop the implementation of the Marina Properties Ltd. initiative. The opposition parties have manifested in the same way. It lacks to be seen whether it is an electoral declaration by politicians or if, on the contrary, the new Gibraltarian authorities will meet the widespread demand of citizens and therefore the threat will disappear.
Town planning
The private proposal is not in line with the 2009 Development Plan, at present in force, which foresaw a number of extensions and constructions of hotels even at the Eastside reclamation, but not in Queensway Quay Marina. According to this town planning instrument, the demand for further hotel accommodation has to be kept under review and suitable sites must be identified if necessary but there is no evidence of the existence of any study of suitability of the site and the current demand for more hotel beds is not consistent. The hotel occupancy level has raised irregularly in recent years in Gibraltar, from 58.5% in 2009 to 68.7% in 2018 (in 2017 was 71.4%) cushioned by the entry into service of new hotel beds. Recently, the GoG has launched a tender for the review and replacement of the old 2009 Gibraltar Development Plan.
Sustainable Development of Gibraltar
Sustainable development (SD) is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In other words, a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come.
Although SD focuses on the future, that does not mean the citizens of Gibraltar should lose out now. And they shouldn’t lose out now because SD is also about finding better ways of doing things, both for the future and the present. People might need to change the way they work and live now, but this doesn't mean their quality of life should be reduced.
Last year, the GoG appointed Prof. Daniella Tilbury as Commissioner for Sustainable Development to embedding SD principles across government as well as overseeing a new SD framework.