Project Olympus - Coastal Conservation
Progress Report
August to September, 2001.
Low lying small signs were placed along the sand dune area indicating the protected nature of the site at Ramla, and requesting the public to use the footpaths.
Vehicular access points to the beach and sand dunes had to be repaired several times owing to vandalism caused by some beach patrons who insisted on parking their vehicles on the protected site. Two new heavy duty bollards were inserted 2 metres into the ground and sealed with a steel cable, secured by a heavy duty padlock placed inside a bollard and inaccessible to steel cutters. The controlled access points are also important for the control against the stealing of sand for construction, which has been a major preoccupation here.
Discussions were held with the operator of one of the beach bars, who was seriously opposed to the enforcement of the present regulations against offroading in the protected area at Ramla. He claimed that some of his patrons wanted to park there and that such control was prejudicial to his business. He also threatened a security member of staff. A report was filed with the central Gozo police station.
Billboards were produced and set up at Ramla, one with information about the conservation nature of the site, and one with a list of regulations pertaining to the site, in accordance with current laws and legal notices.
Wardens were used throughout the week and longer hours on weekends. Their main tasks were to provide information on the site as well as to secure implementation of environmental as well as maritime regulations (safety for bathers).
Parking problems owing to congestion on weekends were alleviated owing to the partial use of some land tenanted by a farmer. The land is otherwise disused during the summer months, but used to grow corn in winter. The main concern on site was public complaints that the exclusion of parking from the protected area would create a parking problem. The use of these fields solved this problem.