Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1060184
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 DECEMBER 2018 NEWS Position may be co-funded through European Union Funding/Bilateral Funds PROGRAMME OFFICER (EU FUNDS) Applications are invited for the positions of Programme Officer (EU Funds) in the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality. Applicants must be in possession of a recognised Bachelor's qualification at MQF Level 6 in relevant areas plus one year relevant work experience. Duties may be related to policy matters concerning EU funds and/or the operational and implementation aspects of such funds. Applications will be received at the Corporate Services Directorate, Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, 31B, Tal-Pilar, Marsamxett Road, Valletta, VLT 1850 by not later than noon of Monday, 17 th December 2018. Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette of 30 th November 2018. Application forms may be downloaded from: https://publicservice.gov.mt/en/people/Pages/PeopleResourcingandCompli ance/FormsandTemplates.aspx INCREASE LIFE! LIFE is the EU's financial instrument suppor�ng environmental, nature conserva�on and climate ac�on projects throughout the EU. LIFE has two sub-programmes: Environment and Climate Ac�on. Project proposals are welcome from public bodies, private commercial organisa�ons and private non-commercial organisa�ons (NGOs). To receive updates on the LIFE Programme email us at life.mesdc@gov.mt or find us on Facebook, Twi er and LinkedIn. Interested applicants are encouraged to check our LIFE website at h ps://msdec.gov.mt/en/life/Pages/home.aspx KAI Marine Services, LIFE+ MIGRATE Project. Photo Credits: OCEANA / Carlos Minguell ©LIFE BaĦAR for N2K OCEANA © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K JAMES DEBONO THE approval of a 189 square metre home in Siggiewi has emerged as another textbook case of how small countryside structures are being turned into small villas using a 2014 policy. The planning policy allows rural ruins to be turned into homes if owners manage to prove that someone used to live in them in the past. The latest example involves an old 50sq.m room, with a habitable internal area of only 25sq.m, ac- cessible through a country lane linked to Triq il- Lewz in Siggiewi's Ta' Xurraf area. The proposal involves the construction of a 75sq.m extension at ground floor level and a 65sq.m extension at first floor level, which will effectively increase the total building floor space from 49 to 189sq.m, a 385% boost – almost four times as much as the current building profile. The small room is located on a 7,000sq.m plot of agricultural land bought by Dianco Company Limited in 2017. During the processing of the application, archi- tect Robert Musumeci submitted an extract from the 1939 electoral register showing Lorenzo Far- rugia as a registered voter at a 'Farmhouse' located in the limits of 'Tax-Xurraf', Siggiewi. The case officer initially objected, noting that this does not clearly establish the previous residential use of the building as it was not clear whether this relates to the site in question or to another build- ing in Ta' Xurraf. He also noted the absence of any legal declaration proving that a certain Lorenzo Farrugia was the ancestor of the Farrugia siblings, who sold the property to Dianco Co. Ltd in 2017. But subsequently the architect submitted fur- ther notarial proof consisting in a receipt issued in 1940 which established a link between the property in question and Guiseppe Farrugia, a direct ancestor of the siblings who sold the prop- erty in 2017. This was accepted as proof of past residential use by the PA's planning commission, which issued the permit. The Environment and Resources Authority ob- jected to the proposed development as it involves the construction of a new property outside devel- opment zones, and the replacement of undevel- oped land with urban-type development – which creates a precedent for further built-up structures in the area. Indeed, the PA has recently issued a permit for a swimming pool and decking area for a brand new ODZ dwelling in Tal-Fata in Zabbar. The dwell- ing is being constructed instead of a pile of rubble that was left from a farmhouse which collapsed more than 30 years ago. PA's magic wand turns tiny room into 189sq.m home JAMES DEBONO THE wife of former Labour works minister Lorry Sant has requested a planning permit to demolish her Marsaskala seafront villa, to make way for six semi-de- tached villas with common pool-and-BBQ area. The villa overlooks the salt pens of Marsaskala and is within the development zone, but a substantial part lies in a 'safeguarded area' which, according to the lo- cal plan, should be limited to the upgrade of public recreation facilities such as children's play areas of landscaped seating areas for the public. The 'safeguarded area' presently includes a large pond where the late politi- cian used to keep ducks, as well as three small struc- tures. The local plan stipulates that wherever buildings are present on these sites the PA can only consider the upgrading and improve- ment of such buildings, particularly for uses com- patible with recreational provision "provided that there is no increase in the built-up footprint". The Environment and Resources Authority ex- pressed "no particular en- vironmental concerns" and made no reference to the safeguarded area. But since the proposed works will take place next to the salt pens it is insisting that all the works towards the pe- riphery wall must be carried out diligently and that no encroachment beyond the existing site into the Salini takes place. The Marsaskala local council is not objecting as long as the coastal area pro- tected by the public domain act, is not impacted. Lorry Sant's home could make way for six villas Aerial photo of site, with area safeguarded from development shaded in pink Soon to turn into a villa: a 50sq.m room