Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1346072
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 MARCH 2021 NEWS No EIA needed for Msida flyover project, ERA says JAMES DEBONO THE Msida Creek project will increase traffic but result in "fu- ture short-term improvement in air quality", the Environment Resources Authority said. The regulator said the flyover project will not require an Environment Impact Assessment as long as a number of conditions, including a landscaping plan, are adhered to. It means Infrastructure Malta will not need to carry out detailed studies on the various environ- mental impacts of the project, including a public consultation on the terms of reference for such studies and town hall meetings. "Although traffic is envisaged to increase, traffic flows will be more continuous and vehicles will spend less time along the roads," the screening report – in which the ERA endorsed the project through its no-objection – states. The project will entail the re- moval of 430 trees and shrubs, of which 26 are proposed for trans- planting. These include 180 pro- tected trees and shrubs, which will be uprooted; they include three pine trees, six cypress trees, 13 Judas trees, an oak tree and 154 oleanders. 313 new indigenous trees will be planted to compensate for the loss. But the ERA acknowledged that the removal of this "signifi- cant amount of mature trees will drastically alter the landscape and reduce the capacity of ecosystem services provided by trees to such a highly urbanised area." The ERA expressed concern on the uptake of 480sq.m of a Val- ley Road field currently used for agriculture, outside the building zones, to accommodate a pro- posed roundabout at Valley Road in Msida, but noted that the land take-up had been limited to a bare minimum. The site is immediately adjacent to a Tree Protection Area which hosts a number of rare and historic English oak trees, whose trunks are over 1m in diameter. These trees provide a refuge in this predominantly urban area for avifauna, especially due to their large size and location next to a water reservoir. Whilst none of these oak trees will be uprooted, ERA called on IM to ensure that all measures are taken to limit disturbance from the construction works to this habitat, and to strictly avoid any damage to the root systems of these trees. The ERA report fell short of ve- toing a large parking area next to the Workers' monument, even if it acknowledged that the "car park- ing area, as currently proposed, is extensive and conflicts with the designation for this public area." But it said it was not opposed to its inclusion, providing space for 100 cars, due to the current pressures within the area as long as further improvements are done through landscaping. While exempting the project from an EIA, the ERA called for some changes: more landscaping in the proposed car park, the use of noise barriers and noise-reduc- ing asphalt in the flyover, and the presentation of a plan showing the connectivity of the proposed foot- paths and cycling lanes. The proposed landscaping should also include green walls, green embankments, and the greening of the flyover and its pil- lars to obtain green corridors. In its screening report, ERA did not address concerns expressed by environmentalists and academics on the social impact of the project, particularly mobility problems posed by pedestrian bridge, to vul- nerable categories like the elderly and pedestrians with young chil- dren who will be forced to climb stairs or use lifts to cross the road. The report simply acknowledges that the introduction of the flyo- ver, parking area and passenger bridges will introduce "sizeable structures which will be highly visible from the surrounding ar- ea". IM says the pedestrian bridges improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and public trans- port by reducing "the stoppages and interruptions to the traffic flows". When previously asked by Malt- aToday whether it intends to con- duct a Social Impact Assessment on the project, IM had replied that no such study has been commis- sioned. "IM will duly commission all studies that will be requested by the planning and environmental authorities during this process," a spokesperson said. Social impact assessments do not fall under the ERA's remit but may be called for by the Planning Authority. The Msida Creek project will consist in the construction of a flyover connecting M. A. Vas- salli Road with Marina Road, with one lane in each direction, three lanes passing beneath the flyover, one of which flowing from Marina Road to the Rue d'Argens and back; a second bus priority lane and a third for Valley Road traffic flowing into Rue d'Argens and Marina Road. A footpath will connect Msida skatepark to the Msida junction, while a car park will be built along Marina Road. An area of 274sq.m will be re- claimed from the existing marina for changes to road alignments and the inclusion of the car park- ing area. The proposed Msida Creek project will see the construction of two massive flyovers to remove the traffic lights junction NICOLE MEILAK THOSE approaching retirement will have their pension unaffected by COVID-19, with income generated in January and February to be considered as their annual basic salary. This will be carried out through an amendment to the Social Security Act. Those born between 1956 and 1961 will be benefitting from the measure. When assessing pensionable income, a yearly average is calculated of the person's basic wage during the best three consec- utive calendar years between the previous 12,13 years. For those whose best three consecutive calendar years also included 2020, only the first two payslips of the year will be taken into account and "annualised" for the entire year. The legal change will potentially affect 2,500 people and their families, so that the pandemic will not result in any reduc- tion in their net pension. "We are doing this to improve the nega- tive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," Family Minister Michael Falzon said. "Those affected are a number of people who have almost arrived at pension age but had their employment impacted neg- atively, in the last year, before reaching retirement." Offering more technical background to the measure, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana explained that this will not re- sult in any increased payments from government's side, and no changes will be carried out on the way pensions are changes. "If you were entitled to, say, an €8,000 per year pension in 2019, but due to the pandemic you're now entitled to €7,000, you will still earn that initial €8,000," he clarified. Retirees to benefit from pre-COVID pension over the coming years Finance Minister Clyde Caruana (left) with Michael Falzon, MInister for the Family