Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1028264
NEWS 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 SEPTEMBER 2018 CHARLES GRECH Boschendal 1685 Sauvignon Blanc Given our exceptional winemaking heritage of almost 300 years, the Boschendal cellar masters meticulously balance rustic tradition and modern innovation to produce classic, fruity wines while upholding the ecological integrity that has become synonymous with our brand On the nose: An abundance of tropical fruit f lavours with hints of lime and green fig Palate: A melange of yellow and green tropical fruits with hints of citrus. A soft, full-bodied wine with a harmonious palate and coated acidity adding to the zesty, mineral finish. Food affinities: goat cheese, smoked fish, sea food and creamy poultry or veal dishes. Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co Ltd Valley Road, Birkikara T: 21 444 400 Fine quality Italian wines of tradition Irpina. Donnachiara, winery located in Montefalcione (Avellino), with its vineyards that stretch along the hills typical of the Irpinia, produces white wines and red wines of high quality including Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, Taurasi DOCG but also sparkling like Santè Falanghina. Soft crushing of the selected grapes and after that cold decanting of the must fermentation at 57-60°F in steel vats for 15 days. Malolatic fermentation is not done. Full expression of it's territory, the heart of Greco di tufo, with a specific attention to all the factors of maturation of it's aroma's. Nose: Offers fruity flavours of pear, apricot, pineapple and citrus Palate: Smooth, elegant and structured, with good freshness and a great persistence that confirms and amplifies the olfactory sensations. Food Affinities: Perfect with all seafood, pasta with light sauces , white meats and herb cheeses Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, Birkirkara T: 2144 4400 Donnachiara Greco di Tufo: DONNACHIARA JAMES DEBONO A Gozo facility to recycle live- stock manure in Xlendi is being recommended for refusal by the Planning Authority's planning directorate, because its location is not ideal for a waste treatment facility. The private facility wants to convert animal waste into packaged pellets that would be exported, and to also re-use and polish any liquids from the waste for irrigation water. But the new facility on Triq Zghawri in Xlendi, has created quite an uproar in the locality, attracting nearly 400 objections including that of the Munxar lo- cal council and the Nationalist Party. A final decision in the project will be taken on 28 September. The case officer report con- firms that current disposal prac- tices by livestock farmers are not desirable and raise "major concern". "The material cannot be flushed away into the domestic sewer system, as it will cause damage to the system, and also may cause blockages in the network." The report also says that when untreated material ends up in the sea and it has a detrimental effect on the marine environ- ment. The case officer dismissed con- cerns that the project will result in more traffic in the village core of Munxar, noting that there will be no significant change in the number of bowsers passing through the built-up area. The 4,800sq.m site in Munxar earmarked for the facility al- ready includes a bovine farm. The farm will be in the vicin- ity of eight existing dairy farms altogether contributing 45% of Gozitan dairy production, re- ducing the need to transport the waste on Gozitan main roads. 28 out of 34 Gozitan livestock farms have signed formal agree- ments with Tenaga regarding the management of their animal slurry. "Should this project be refused the farmers cooperating on this project will face a serious prob- lem since now regulations are more stringent. Unless long- term solutions are applied most of the farm may face closure of their activity and business," Marco Cachia, a representative of the company told MaltaTo- day. Cachia described the project as "the most viable and feasible proposition presented in the last years." "It is a long-term solution which applies the reuse concept instead of discarding this waste." But according to the PA case officer's report, the proposed farm effluent processing plant is considered to be "excessive in a rural area and should be located in a waste treatment facility." The case officer suggests that this can be located near the civic amenity site currently in opera- tion at Tal-Kus in Xewkija. Tenega says that an alternative site next to the sewage treat- ment plant at Ras il-Hobz had been considered, but according to Cachia the Veterinary Regu- lation Division and the Depart- ment of Agriculture did not approve this site due to contam- ination fears. Cachia also disagrees with the case officer's description of the project as a "a waste treatment plant" as the process is an inte- gral part of farming activity and requirements imposed on farm- ers by law. The Environmental Health Directorate has also objected to the reuse of the water derived from the process for irrigation purposes. Cachia insists his company will abide with any directive issued by the Environ- mental Health Directorate while pointing out that the WSC is al- so deriving new water from sew- age. "Tenaga will be prepared to follow the same Directive and guidelines in producing this ef- fluent water." One of the main concerns of the project's objectors relates to smell. When asked why his com- pany has not presented an odour report addressing this issue, Cachia replied that mitigation measures were presented in their project development statement. These mitigation measures in- clude a carbon filtration system which will "drastically reduce odours over and above that of any other farm in the vicinity". But Cachia claims the results of any odour report would be in- conclusive unless the facility is already operating. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Despite animal waste emergency, Gozo objectors could stop new facility No smells please, say Gozo residents objecting to a new facility that will turn livestock farms' animal waste into pellets for export George Hyzler will be MP standards czar DAVID HUDSON THE former Nationalist MP George Hyzler will be Malta's first ever Com- missioner for parliamentary standards. His name was proposed by Opposi- tion leader Adrian Delia, and also ac- cepted by the Labour parliamentary group, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said. Hyzler will be in charge of regulating MPs' conduct and propriety. One of the tasks assigned to the Commissioner would be to ensure the disclosure of fi- nancial interests that may be relevant to the members of Parliament. Hyzler is himself a former MP and also served as parliamentary secretary in the ministry for economic services between 1998 and 2003, under Eddie Fenech's Adami tenure as Prime Min- ister. The Commissioner will be able to start investigations upon written com- plaints or on the Commissioner's own initiative. The Commissioner will be granted the authority to review declaration of assets of MPs and will also have a con- sultative role, allowing MPs the oppor- tunity to seek the Commissioner's ad- vice on whether their planned actions or events were in line with the code of ethics. The Commissioner will be able to in- vestigate alleged breaches of the code of ethics "independently" while main- taining confidentiality. In the case of persons of trust appoint- ed by ministers, the Commissioner will have the authority to order sanctions, unless the person involved falls under the remit of the public service commis- sion. George Hyzler