The full text (for the benefit of those who dont have an online Times subscription) of my article published yesterday: (timesofmalta/articles/view/20130908/environment/Trees-in-the-way-of-development-.485272) Trees in the way of development? The media has reported a few weeks back on the untimely death of three mature tree specimens within the Villa Rosa garden precincts. Under normal circumstances, such a demise would not raise many eyebrows, especially being the summer season when environmental issues take the backburner for many. However, it so happens that these are not ‘normal circumstances’ for the area in question. In fact, an application has been lodged for the development of the same gardens, which would entail the encroachment upon the lower level of the gardens in favour of 7,500 square metres of new commercial space, besides the removal of the 3-metre wide boundary wall and the pedestrianisation of the back-beach area at St. George’s Bay. Trees which are considered as spokes in the wheels of development have been known to face, surreptitiously, the gauntlet, through a slow but steady onslaught. Besides the three mature trees in question, the normally dark green foliage of a number of mature cypress trees has started to verge on the yellow, possibly marking an imminent future death of more mature trees within the same Villa Rosa garden precincts. One cannot obviously, in the absence of ironclad evidence, conclusively tie the tree deaths with the proposed development and the above are none other than speculation. However, one augurs that any sanctioned development on site does not come at the expense of such a green lung, which, in this part of the island dented by an unforgiving concrete blanket, is such a rarity. Developers should, from this point onwards, be bound by authorities through onerous (and not token) bank guarantees against further mature tree deaths, despite being in the very early stages of consideration of such a development application. Still reeling from 2006 Reams upon reams have been written about the collective lunacy way back in 2006 known by the unassuming term of ‘scheme rationalization’, which eventually resulted in the development boundaries of the Maltese Islands being extended. Yet no prose can substitute the sobering view of seeing construction equipment move in on previously unchartered grounds (read ODZ, or green areas, for the uninitiated) as a result of such delirium. Such a trauma has been witnessed by those opposing the further uglification of Malta at numerous sites around the islands, but this still does not water down the trauma every new ODZ is encroached upon. Hence, when it was the turn of the Tal-Mirakli area in Attard for the umpteenth scourge, understandably, residents and the public in general (at least, those with a modicum of amour propre for the country) were up in arms, especially since the development is seen as further bridging the undeveloped gap between Mosta and Attard (the so-called ‘strategic open gap’ in the lingo used by planners). The case officers’ report makes reference to a lone objection received by a resident of the area on the grounds that the site was an ODZ one. One can only imagine the disillusionment within the same resident at getting to know that no site, even if is lies just a stone’s throw away from the Tal-Mirakli chapel and on the other side of the boundary road, is too sacred for governments or developers in Malta. The same report tries to sugar the pill by stating, as one of the permit conditions, that the development, consisting of basement garages, residential units at three levels and at penthouse level, should have a water cistern to collect rainwater run-off, in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (2012). You are right to shout ‘scant solace indeed, especially considering that, with a surfeit of an estimated 75,000 vacant buildings, such residential development is completely unnecessary. The present government has a golden opportunity in its lap – that of not emulating the lunacy of 2006 in the upcoming exercise leading to the revision of the local plans. No calls from tycoons or simple individuals for further ODZ plots to make into the development boundaries should be entertained and the identity of those making such ostentatious claims and of their architects should be published. My hunch is that I am letting my wishlist run riot and that we will soon have a repeat of the 2006 mess on our hands. Has common sense finally prevailed? The protracted 14-year-long saga concerning the proposed development of one the last undeveloped coastal stretches at St. Paul’s Bay (at Triq it-Tonn, close to the Dejma Tower in the Ghar Ghasfur area) seems to have finally ended, with the resolute stand taken by residents against such a coastal ODZ development finally paying dividends. In fact, no appeal was lodged within the 30-day period, as stipulated by law, against the decision by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal to refute the first appeal and uphold the original refusal of such an application. Why bother to treat sewage? A stunning photo taken at a depth of ca. 65m by technical diver Matthew Montebello of the treated sewage outfall at Ras il-Hobz in Gozo and posted on the social media has elicited more than its fair share of comments by the public, which in turn nudged the Water Services Corporation (WSC) to issue a formal press release. Through such a press release, the WSC rebutted claims that raw sewage was still spewing from the Ras il-Hobz discharge point as a result of some form of malfunctioning of the same plant and that what the photo in question was actually depicting was a plume of treated sewage with a lower salinity (and, consequently, lower density) and not of raw sewage. Since this column does not have the capacity to test the in situ water quality, it will take the WSC’s word for good. However, what boggles the mind is that, in the same vein, the WSC solicited the public not to dive (and presumably, not to swim either) in the area. The following question is only legitimate then: why bother to treat sewage, to the tune of over 7 million euros (the price tag of the Ras il-Hobz sewage treatment plant, 3 million of which were funded by the EU), when one cannot dive in what has essentially become a popular diving site in recent years? The popularity of the Ras il-Hobz dive site is such that it is regularly advertised online with divers (e.g. wannadive.net/spot/Europe/Malta/Gozo_Island/Ras_Il-Hobz/). In addition, no less than 3 wrecks – MV Karwela, Cominoland and the Xlendi, are located just a couple of hundred metres away from the same outfall, towards Xatt l-Ahmar. Just imagine the fallout on the Gozitan diving industry if they were to comply with the WSC’s advice. The following question also beckons....is Anchor Bay then safe to swim and/or dive in, being close to the Ic-Cumnija sewage treatment plant? And what about the Marsacala-Xghajra coastline, being downwind of the Ta’Barkat outfall? alandeidun.eu
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 04:14:08 +0000
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