Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1407680
JAMES DEBONO A villa complex of 10 dwellings set to replace scattered, roofless ruins over 19,000sq.m of garigue in Kalkara, would lead to the destruction of the rural charac- ter and habitats of the area, the Environment and Resources Au- thority has warned. The environmental watchdog has expressed concern on the proposal by Duncan Deguara Attard, saying the complex outside development zones would be built inside a buffer zone for the protected Rinella valley. The ERA said the project was an "excessive uptake of rural land" that would lead to the "destruction of the existing habitats and species" and lead to "adverse impacts on the ru- ral character" of the area. The ERA warned that ap- proval would set a pretext for additional interventions, like extensions, infrastructural ser- vices, and the construction of swimming pools. It warned against the "cumu- lative environmental impact caused by the numerous ad hoc proposals for residential dwell- ings currently being proposed on ODZ land" which in this particular case risk "opening up the remnant rural lands of this particular area to develop- ment pressures". The complex of 10 dwellings with extensive paved area is being proposed on 19,000sq.m of land outside development zones, in close vicinity to Smart City in Kalkara. The villas are being proposed instead of a cluster of roofless, dilapidated buildings inter- spersed on land designated as a rural conservation area and an ecological buffer zone to the Rinella valley. In a separate objection, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage expressed grave con- cern at the "proposed intensi- fication of development and formalisation of this cultural landscape" which is marked by the presence of significant mil- itary and historical structures. These structures include a Grade 2-scheduled, British-pe- riod pillbox which risks being engulfed by the development if approved. The property is five metres away from the historic, Grade 2-scheduled Red House. The SCH described the pro- posal as "totally objectionable in principle due to detrimental impact this would have on this culturally and ecologically sig- nificant environment as well as the values of the Grade 2 build- ings". The Kalkara local council is also objecting to the develop- ment inside a rural conserva- tion area and Area of Ecological Importance, where "no devel- opment should be allowed." Environmental NGO Nature Trust warned that approval would result in urban sprawl in the ODZ and reduce ground water infiltration. "Such ar- eas should be safeguarded at all costs as they serve as small refuges for biodiversity and an open green space". 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWS Watchdogs shoot down Kalkara 10-villa project By a decree given on 28th June, 2021, by the Civil Court First Hall, the Court ordered that the extract hereunder mentioned be published for the purpose of service according to Article 187(3) of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12). By the application filed in the Civil Court First Hall on the 30th March 2021 by APS Bank plc gia APS Bank Ltd (C2192) Judicial Sales number 17/21 in the names APS Bank plc gia APS Bank Ltd vs Daniel Aloisio being asked that the Court orders the sale by auction of: The apartment internally marked numbered two (2) situated on the elevated ground floor level, on the right-hand side when one faces the building complex of which the apartment forms part of the road. The apartment is overlying on one floor of garages and underlying two apartments. Included with this apartment is the courtyard situated at the back of the apartment along with the internal courtyard, which apartment and courtyards are marked on the plan attached to a contract in the acts of Notary Rachel Busuttil dated thirty January of the year two thousand and six (30/01/2006). The building complex is officially numbered ninety-seven (97) previously officially unnumbered but known as 'Chamonix', in Triq it-Torri, Birkirkara, Malta. The apartment is free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtenances. The apartment is bounded on the northeast by the said street, on the northwest by Carmelo Muscat's property and on the east by the remaining complex property of Jakro Developments Limited or its suc- cessors. Also included with the apartment is an undivided share of the common parts in the said building complex which common parts consist in the entrance, entrance hall, stairs leading to the main entrance, internal stirs to the roof (but excluding the roof ), halls, lift and lift shafts and shafts. The roof shall not be considered a common part, but the owner of the apartment has a limited right of use of the roof for the purpose indicated in the relative contract of Notary Rachel Busuttil dated twenty-first May of the year two thousand and fourteen (21.05.2014). The apartment has the right of perpetual use and uninterrupted use of the common passages on the roof for the purpose indicated in the same contract of sale. This apartment is subject to the right of active rights and is subject to the passive resulting from the relative position of the apartment in the complex, including the common drainage and rainwater system. Lock up garage at semi basement level marked with unofficially number five (5) forming part from a level of underlying garages in the block marked with official number ninety seven (97) previously unofficially numbered but known 'Chamonix', in Triq it-Torri, Birkirkara, the garage bounded on the northeast by com- mon drive in and southeast and north by property of Jakro Developments Limited or their successors in title, free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtenances. This garage is marked by pink on the plan annexed with contract in the acts Notary Rachel Busuttil of the fifth June of the year two thousand and six (05/06/2006). This garage is accessibly from common drive in and ramp that abuts in Triq it-Torri, Birkirkara. Also included with the garage is an undivided share of the common parts in the said level of garages which common parts consists in common the ramp and drive in, lift and lift shafts and shafts. The garage is subject to the enjoyment of active rights and is subject to the passive servitudes resulting from the relative position of the garage in the complex. There is one drain going through to the roof of the garage. The block is bounded on northeast by the said street, on the northwest by property of Carmelo Muscat and on the east by property of Giuseppe Borg or other more correct boundaries. The complex consists of garages on the semi basement level, overlying three floors with two apartments on each floor and an- other floor with five washrooms. This complex was developed on the site formely occupied by a terraced house with its relative airspace and the ground floor, which terraced house was unofficially numbered but previously known as 'Saint Helena', in Triq it-Torri, Birkirkara. Kalkara council, ERA and Superintendence for Cultural Heritage object to villa outside development zones LUKE VELLA ADPD has appealed for an im- mediate reversal of the 2006 local plans, that saw 2 million square metres of land outside the development zone turn into a development opportunity. ADPD chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said in a press con- ference on Saturday that the Greens had been been high- lighting the negative conse- quences of this decision since 2006. "Most of what our party predicted has occurred or is oc- curring. Whole areas all around Malta are being developed as evidenced by the protests of residents in all localities," said Cacopardo. He appealed for the protection of a sizable portion of virgin land earmarked for development in 2006, saying the environment and the quality of life should be prioritised over economic gains. "The revision of the local plans should commence the soonest leading to new plans which are to the benefit of the whole com- munity and not catering for the speculative interests. It is essen- tial that the development zone boundary is restored to its 2006 position as far as is possible." Cacopardo added that the relaxation of the permissible height development that is re- ducing sunlight access for var- Call for local plan redraw