Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1412606
NEWS 6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 SEPTEMBER 2021 JAMES DEBONO THERE are yet no rules that can regulate the way crematoriums in Malta will work, an objec- tion filed by the Environmental Health Directorate reveals. The directorate is objecting to a crematorium proposed on a site adjacent to the national Addolorata cemetery, because legislation regulating the actual operations of crematoriums "is not yet in force". Malta approved a law allowing cremation in May 2019, but reg- ulations governing the actual operations of such facilities, in- cluding rules on the type of fuel which can be used, still have to be approved. The crematorium was pro- posed on a 7,600sq.m plot of agricultural land to the south of the Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery. The area, known as tal-Ħorr, is outside develop- ment zones and designated as an area of high landscape value and a strategic open gap be- tween urban areas. The application was present- ed by Johann Camilleri on be- half of Active Group Limited. The company also declared full ownership of the entire site. The Paola local council, through its architect Jesmond Mugliett, is also objecting to the development, describing it as "premature". The council notes that there are as yet no regulations estab- lishing the appropriate stand- ards or operations and man- agement of a crematorium, describing this as a "planning vacuum". "In the absence of Maltese laws and regulations establish- ing the manner how crematoria can be operated and managed in Malta, there are no official standards against which even- tual studies for this application could be checked. The appli- cation is thus premature and should not be considered fur- ther," the council said. The council also questioned the suitability of a crematorium in the proposed ODZ location, and raised concern on the ab- sence of detailed information on matters like what kind of fuel will be used for incinera- tion. "This application should be refused due to the proximity of the site to a scheduled mon- ument (Addolorata Cemetery and Church) and the impact on humans due to the proximity of the site to large urban commu- nities (Paola, Tarxien, Sta Lucia and Luqa)." The Tarxien local council has also lamented the lack of in- formation, particularly with regards to emissions from the crematorium, and said it will only take a position on the pro- posal when all studies are made available to the council. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has also ex- pressed concern about the in- tensification of development in this highly archaeologically sen- sitive area, noting also the site's close proximity to the sched- uled Addolorata Cemetery. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has also called for more information and is insisting that the proposed development only includes on- ly "what is really reasonably es- sential for a crematorium that should serve as a national facil- ity". Plans foresee the development of a crematorium complex over two underground levels and a ground floor. Apart from the cremation area, the develop- ment will also include two mor- tuaries, a multipurpose hall, a reception area, two viewing rooms, a cold room, five colum- baria and other ancillary facil- ities. No existing trees will be felled but existing rubble walls will be demolished or altered. A previous application by the same company had been re- fused in June 2018, before the passing of the law permitting cremations. While recognising the need for alternative funerary tech- niques, the PA's case officer had noted that the site for the devel- opment does not form part of the area identified by the local plan for cemetery extensions. At the time, consultation with the relevant health authorities indicated a lack of legislation on the operation of a crematorium. Health says no to Addolorata crematorium over lack of operational rules