Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1019972
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 AUGUST 2018 4 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The study was conducted by ADI, an environmental con- sultancy firm, for Transport Malta. It was presented to the Environment and Resources Authority, which concluded that a full environment impact assessment is now required before the Planning Authority makes its decision. The preliminary assessment recommends the reduction in the take-up of agricultural land in view of the impact on agri- cultural productivity and on the livelihood of farmers using the land. According to the PDS the land take-up for the proposed road is 11,486sq.m less than that envisaged in the Central Malta Local Plan. Agricul- tural land take-up has been reduced by creating a bypass accommodating westbound traffic only. The study said that an increase in hard-surfacing is likely to exacerbate storm water runoff and reduce aquifer recharge. According to the same report the project involves the uproot- ing of 402 trees in different areas of the project. Of these, 147 cannot be transplanted elsewhere. These include 92 in- digenous species and five alien species. The report warns that there may be difficulties in securing the successful transplantation of the more mature trees; and therefore there may be the loss of more trees than currently envisaged. The tree loss will be com- pensated by growing new trees along various sections of the project. Loss of farmland The initial assessment of the significance of the impact on ag- ricultural land suggests poten- tially "major negative impacts", including the loss of high qual- ity, irrigated and cultivated agri- cultural land in the area south of Triq Oliver Agius, where there are a number of greenhouses, reservoirs, and farms. Another sensitive area which will be impacted is the one be- tween Triq Oliver Agius and Triq Ferdinandu Inglott (west of Triq Hannibal), which pres- ently hosts a large farm com- plex, managed by a full-time farmer. This farm includes a number of greenhouses, as well as underground cisterns. A number of hobby farms in the area south of Triq Ferdi- nandu Inglott and Triq San Pawl will also be lost. The pro- ject will also incur the partial loss of land cultivated for vines, including the Delicata Vineyard located to the north of Triq l- Imdina and to the west of the Attard development zone, and a smaller vineyard on the northern side of Triq l-Imdina. An initial survey of the area south of Attard suggests the value of the agricultural land in this area to be of medium to high value. According to the study the government is proposing al- ternative farming sites to those farmers that will be affected by the scheme. As regards air quality the PDS envisages an improvement in air quality in the area of Triq l-Imdina junction with Triq iż- Żagħfran to the junction with Triq in-Nutar Zarb, due to the likely reduction in traffic on this part of the route. However, in the areas adjoin- ing Triq Oliver Agius, Triq Fer- dinandu Inglott and Triq Tu- mas Chetcuti, the project may result in a deterioration in air quality given the increased traf- fic in this area owing to the new bypass. To mitigate this negative im- pact the bypass will be con- structed at a lower level, creat- ing a buffer between the bypass and the local access road. The buffer zone will include cycle paths which will be bordered by trees planted on the outer edge of the bypass. The scheme will include ap- proximately eight kilometres of new cycle paths along this route. The project will also result in the demolition of three build- ings, which according to the report have "some historical and architectural significance". One of these rural structures is located in the vicinity of the Chapel of St Paul which may lose part of the garden which surrounds it. Farmland take-up is 11,486sq.m less than envisaged in the Central Malta Local Plan