Qala’s Wardija carob trees under threat

A quiet concern is taking root in Qala’s Urban Conservation Area (UCA) and it deserves public attention before it’s too late.

A plot of land in Wardija, recently acquired by Titan Developments Ltd (linked to Victor Hili and Joe Grima), contains several mature carob trees (ħarrub) – familiar landmarks to those who walk the popular route toward Ħondoq ir-Rummien.  Though no formal planning application has yet been submitted, locals are concerned – citing the company’s development track record elsewhere in Gozo, and the visible signs of disturbance already present on site.

Photos sent to The Maltese Herald show possible tampering and deteriorating condition. 

This unease is not unfounded. Titan Developments, it must be noted, has a track record of controversial projects in Gozo. In 2019, the company proposed a seven-storey development in Qala – breaching height limitations and placing further strain on infrastructure. That proposal would have removed multiple carob trees, sparking outcry at the time. But outrage fades. Trees don’t shout.

In 2022, The Shift News reported an “environmental massacre” in the same area of Wardija, where trees were cleared near a WWI battery – illegally, and without permits. Elsewhere in Gozo, protected trees have been cut to enable illegal bird trapping. And all too often, local resistance is crushed by a planning system that seems rigged to serve developers, not communities.

What adds to the concern now is the silence from the local council, especially from Mayor Paul Buttigieg – previously known for his strong opposition to development at Ħondoq ir-Rummien and Ta’ Muxi.

Today, Wardija’s trees stand on another cliff edge. The area is classified as an Urban Conservation Area – a term that should imply cultural safeguarding. Yet in practice, UCAs often receive weaker protection than designated woodland or tree zones. It is this grey area, this bureaucratic blind spot, that developers exploit.

Until questions are answered and facts clarified, the time to raise concern is now, not once the damage is done.

Ruth Zammit

News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster