Nature Trust regrets timing of Mepa decisions

Nature Trust (Malta) has expressed concern that on the eve of a MEPA reform, mega projects are still being considered by the Mepa board.

"If the authorities really believe in the reform and sustainable development and want to get the public to believe that there is a goodwill to really improve MEPA operations, such decisions should have been postponed till the reform is in place within a few months time," NTM said.

It said it was referring in particular to the Mepa decisions on the power station and freeport extensions.

"Nature Trust (Malta) acknowledges the fact that the Freeport is an important economic decision and that power generation is really required for our future needs - however the decision timing are not right and that in the case of such mega projects the studies should be carried out."

It said that Marsaxlokk Bay was already facing problems which were leading to the depletion of the sensitive and protected habitat found at il-Ballut salt marsh. The water current problems first occurred with the development of the Delimara power station and were later made worse with the development of Malta Freeport. Up to some decades ago the port of Marsaxlokk was very rich with Posidonia meadows and fish. Today the marine ecology was a disaster. Dredging by the Freeport, the hot water of the power station and the tuna industry had degraded this area completely