Make every day Environment Day

During the dialogue meeting on environment held at Castille following Environment Day, the Save Wied Garnaw Action Group addressed an appeal to the Prime Minister for assurance that the Sta Lucija-Gudja valley would be permanently protected from encroaching development.

Catherine Polidano, who heads the Garnaw Valley non-governmental organisation (NGO), appealed to Dr Gonzi saying that a stop had to be put to the loopholes by which developers bring about urban-type development in areas already declared by MEPA to be outside the development zone.

MEPA's own policy SET 11 regarding development in non-urban areas says that no form of urban development will be permitted outside existing and committed built-up areas. This is further strengthened by the next policy, SET 12, which puts the onus on applicants to present evidence as to why this policy should be infringed and submit a full environment impact assessment if the proposed development would bring about urbanisation in green zones.

Yet persistent developers are known to keep reapplying, even when permission to build has repeatedly been refused, in the hopes of crushing resistance from the authorities by clogging up the system through resubmitting applications. Although the South Malta Local Plan speaks of containing development of small scale industry outside the development zone the plan should be challenged wherever further incursions into the valley are proposed.

There is concern that some shifting of boundaries, similar to what happened at Kalkara Valley, could be in the offing to allow more industrial use of the area. At the same time the plan does lay down that the rural area surrounding picturesque Wied Garnaw is of value for country walks. Safeguarding existing agricultural land uses in the valley is another stated aim of the plan for South Malta. But sanctioned developments may have a field day.

On the subject of tower blocks, also raised at the dialogue meeting, the Prime Minister commented "I believe we have come to a point where we need high rise buildings although it depends where."

AD Greens insist that the entire island of Gozo should be kept free of high-rise blocks in order to preserve its unique character. AD has recently condemned the issuing of a permit to replace the old Duke of Edinburgh Hotel with a block which will mercilessly destroy the appearance of the main approach to Victoria and the Citadel.

Ombudsman on MEPA

MEPA's Structure Plan requires that any further development of tourist facilities at Ta' Cenc should be confined to the development of property in existing built up areas. Yet plans which have been submitted to MEPA show otherwise. The take-up of habitat and landscape to build rows of accommodation units on land overlying Mgarr ix-Xini inlet is splashed across the maps available for viewing on request at the MEPA front desk.

The planning application affects the clifftop area which lies outside the development zone and contravenes another MEPA policy. TOU 10 in the Structure Plan advises that a nature park at Ta' Cenc should take up the majority of the area. However the latest proposal, for which an application is being processed, indicates extensive development of villas and residences on the green area at Ta' Cenc.

The Ombudsman has recently made it clear that MEPA's Development Control Commission has no mandate to put aside the policies enshrined in the Structure Plan. An area as rich in natural and cultural heritage as Ta' Cenc should not be sacrificed on the altar of economic gain. MEPA must not bend to pressure from developers and should observe its own declared policies to preserve what is left of our environment for future generations. This is what sustainable development requires us to do at the end of the day.

Billboard-friendly

The bank which is building a good name for its environment-friendly attitudes and initiatives, HSBC, has shown by its actions that it means business. After hearing that billboards on the coast road between Bahar ic-Caghaq and Salina were in breach of MEPA guidelines against advertisements in rural areas, the bank took swift action and had its advertising posters relocated.

MEPA had shed the responsibility of permitting billboards (along with guidelines, it seems) onto the Malta Transport Authority. Now it appears that this is to change hands again and go back to MEPA. Hopefully more attention will be given by the planning authority to the prevention of advertisements sprouting in non-urban areas which are under siege from every angle these days.

To say a little more about HSBC's global activities, the bank's own EarthWatch initiative has urged employees to undergo a life-changing experience helping the environment in different corners of the globe and bringing some of what they have learned back home to stimulate interest and local action.

HSBC's contribution to sustainable development last year was to publish guidelines for forest lands and products. Prospective clients are encouraged to adhere to good management principles. This year the emphasis is on fresh water and reducing the number of people worldwide who have no access to clean water. HSBC has launched a new guideline governing its project finance activities in the area of freshwater infrastructure.

The guideline on water applies to direct lending or other forms of project finance, including corporate lending and other financial support where the use of proceeds is known to be project-related. It covers water resource management, water services and infrastructure. HSBC has pledged not to provide facilities or financial assistance, including any to projects which significantly degrade or convert critical natural habitats.

The Ramsar Convention to protect wetlands is recognised and the protection status duly observed by the bank. (Ghadira and Is-Simar are the two Ramsar wetland sites in Malta). UNESCO World Heritage sites are also on the no-go list for funding water projects which might damage these sites. HSBC refuses to fund dams that do not conform to the framework of the World Commission on Dams.

The bank says it will ensure that its customers observe international standards in respect of social impacts regarding land title and land use rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, disposal of chemicals, biological control agents and non-organic wastes.

Alternative site drawbacks

Size appears to have been the main deciding factor when reaffirming the existing location at Sant'Antnin for the development of a new recycling facility over three other possible locations. While the other sites were found to be too small to accommodate a full facility, an assessment of the alternative sites concludes that they also had environmental drawbacks which made them unacceptable.

Policy WDC 5 of MEPA's Waste Management Subject Plan states that waste management facilities will not be permitted where there would be adverse impacts on groundwater resources, sites of scientific interest, national parks and areas of ecological interest or agricultural value or high landscape and scenic value.

One site studied, near Ricasoli Industrial Estate, as a possible location for the recycling facility was found to have potential ecological value although it was noted that this was not designated or scheduled. It was also acknowledged that there were "landscape benefits" in leaving the site undeveloped.

Further south at Il-Mara, a site once considered for construction of a power station before Delimara was built, more ecological reasons for not siting a waste facility there were uncovered. The site was found to be adjacent to the coastal cliffs which are protected as a Level 2 Ecological Site and a Special Area of Conservation. These environmental considerations appear to have discouraged against the development of a waste facility being built in either location.

Looking at Ghallis as another possibility it was found that development of the recycling plant next to the Maghtab-Ta' Zwejra landfill would add to the overall negative cumulative impact of waste facilities at a location close to tourist facilities. While garigue in the area is described as "degraded" and there is evidence of disturbance the assessment recognises that "the site retains characteristics of the natural habitat."

A further reason for turning down Ghallis as a site is the visibility of the complex of "large industrial buildings" that would make up the plant from locations such as Qawra, the Coastline Hotel and the Coast Road, even if the site was excavated into the slope.

The available area at the Ghallis site was found to be less than half the area of the existing composting plant, and therefore too small to accommodate the whole development. The assessment report stated that although it may be possible to fit only the Materials Recycling Facility at the site the development "does not justify the disturbance of the open countryside.

Sant'Antnin was identified as the only location suitable. The other suggested locations were not only too small but were found to have "environmental impediments that make them significantly less attractive locations for the development."

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