Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1445232
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 JANUARY 2022 NEWS Government advised to relocate refugees because of Hal Far racetrack JAMES DEBONO THE government is being asked to consider the relocation of the various refugee centres in Ħal Far, especially those abut- ting the proposed motorsport track, so they are not exposed to increased noise emissions. The possible relocation of the refugee centres is proposed in a set of mitigation proposals for the environmental impact of the racetrack outlined in a Pro- ject Development Statement authored by ADI consultants on behalf of the Malta Motor- sports Federation. According to the document, the main impact from the op- eration of the racetrack is ex- pected to be "noise emissions from the racing cars, especially from non-electric vehicles and, in particular, the combustion engines". The PDS also calls for the in- stallation of noise barriers in strategic locations to minimize noise impacts, "together with the strict monitoring of noise emissions from individual ve- hicles, in line with the race- track's noise limit policies". During operations, emissions from visitor traffic and from the non-electric racing cars are also expected to increase and are likely to impact the air quality of the site and its sur- roundings. But such impacts will not be constant but linked "to event days when the num- ber of cars would increase sub- stantially". The document warns that the proximity of some of the "sen- sitive receptors surrounding the site, especially the residen- tial Ħal Far tent Village which abuts the proposed site of the racing track on the northwest, and the Ħal Far Day Centre, which abuts the site on the east, could be "a cause for con- cern" due to noise pollution. The racetrack will also be 60 metres away from the Peace Lab, a charity that also accom- modates a number of refugees and includes extensive gardens. It is also in close proximity to the Sonia Tanti Independent Living Centre and the refugee open centres. As proposed, the track de- signed by Tilke GmbH & Co. KG of Germany will have a maximum 2,000m length. The project will include the race- track itself, which will have 12 turns, six right and six left- hand turns, a 472m start-finish straight, and over 4,800sq.m of paddock, grandstands, and ac- cess roads. But the race track may trig- ger the need for new access to industrial estate. The develop- ment will eliminate the current northern access to the Ħal Far Industrial Estate, which will be incorporated within the race- track. The loss of this "major entry/ exit point" for the Ħal Far es- tate is of "major concern" and the consultants are calling on the authorities to explore the possibility of substituting the present access "with an alter- native access point… so as not to impact traffic movements within and around the estate". Access to the racetrack and the drag racing facility will be via a new road off Triq Birżebbuġa, whereas access to the kart-racing track will be through a new tunnel on the western boundary of the site. The proposed site occupies an area of 82,900sq.m, which in- cludes land presently occupied by the kart racing track and the paddock and part of the drag racing facility. The rest of the land proposed is vacant: "partly agricultural" but "mostly aban- doned" or used for parking or open storage. The main ancillary building will be the paddock supporting the racetrack. This will have an overall area of 4,885sq.m and will include the pit build- ing and pit garages, over 2,300 sq.m. The pit building will be the highest building on site at four floors or 15m above road level. Any vehicle using the race- track will have to be free of ex- cessive smoke, does not leak oil and other liquids, and complies with noise emission standards set by the racetrack, which fol- low relevant FIA rules. Five other sites had been con- sidered The study reveals that five oth- er different locations were con- sidered for the development. These were Bengħajsa in Birżeb- buġa, Ta' Ħlantun in Ħal Safi, Magħtab in Naxxar, San Niklaw in Siġġiewi and Ta' Qali in At- tard. The sites were excluded be- cause of a greater impact on ecology and landscapes or due to their impact on neighbouring residential areas or recreational users. Ta' Qali was proposed as a site for motorsports before the 2017 election but was deemed to have an adverse impact on the cul- tural heritage asset of Mdina, as well as on Attard residences. The San Niklaw site was ex- cluded due to its impact on agri- cultural land and its proximity to Villa Dar Monsinjur Gonzi. The chosen site in Ħal Far was deemed to have "a low social im- pact on surrounding residential development" given the limited number of units in the vicinity" while recognizing that it is "close to the Ħal Far refugee centre which accommodates asylum seekers and illegal immigrants." Racetrack abuts on refugee centre, with preliminary studies indicating noise pollution would be major impact of proposed racetrack The proximity of some of the "sensitive receptors surrounding the site, especially the residential Hal Far tent Village which abuts the proposed site of the racing track on the northwest, and the Hal Far Day Centre, which abuts the site on the east, could be "a cause for concern" due to noise pollution