PA starts clearing Ta' Qali site following months of illegal dumping
Contravener has accumulated €100k in fines and will have to cover the PA action expenses as well
The planning authority has moved in to clear an illegal dumping site at Ta' Qali that has to date accumulated €100,000 in fines.
The PA said in a statement that following weeks of unsuccessful discussions with the contravener, its compliance and enforcement directorate kicked off action in a 13,000 m² field in Vjal l-Istadium Nazzjonali, opposite the Ta’ Qali National Park, located outside the development zone.
The contravener responsible for the site had an enforcement notice issued in 2016, and the PA had intervened to remove the illegally deposited material.
In 2020, the PA issued another enforcement notice for illegal dumping of material. The PA proceeded with a partial direct action in July 2021, allowing the contravener to proceed with the removal of the illegally deposited material and the reinstatement of the land for agricultural use.
However, instead of cooperating with the PA and complying with the instructions given, the contravener continued to deposit further considerable quantities of inert material on arable land, the authority said.
This resulted in further action by the PA in January 2024 to remove the illegally deposited material at the expense of the contravener.
Photo of the illegal dumping: Planning AuthorityOver the past months, the PA noted renewed illegal dumping and the contravener was again given instructions to comply with the enforcement notice and remove the material.
But he remained uncooperative, so the PA resumed action on Thursday.
Given that the site has an area of over 13,000 m², and given the substantial works required to return the land to agricultural use, the operation is expected to continue over the coming days.
The site is subject to an enforcement notice and a breach of enforcement notice carrying daily penalties which, to date, amount to €100,000.
Apart from these penalties, the contravener is also required to pay the PA for the full expenses incurred in its action to remove the illegally dumped material.
The direct action is being carried out by the PA with the assistance of the police.