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MaltaToday 1 June 2022 MIDWEEK

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9 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 JUNE 2022 Superintendence shoots down new plans for Mgarr solar farm Superintendence for Cultural Heritage insists revised plans do not change the principle of project and reiterates Heritage Malta's concern that proposal could f lood Ta Ħaġrat World Heritage Site. PA defends decision to refuse original plans JAMES DEBONO MALTA'S cultural heritage watchdog has reiterated its ob- jection to the mega solar farm being proposed on farmland in Mgarr, on land the size of six football grounds in an area des- ignated for its archeological and ecological importance at Tar- Ragħad. Following the refusal of the project in March, Electrofix Limited has not only appealed the decision but has presented new plans which envisage 6,528 panels on 18,760sq.m of land – which represents 42% of the 44,500sq.m site. Previous plans rejected were for 5,784 solar panels on 90 greenhouses over 14,100sq.m of land – a land cov- erage of 32%. Moreover, the height of the panels was reduced from 4.5m to 4m and the greenhouses will be placed into the ground using small concrete plinths to ensure that no damage is done to any archaeological remains. But the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage is not im- pressed by the latest plans. "These revised drawings do not alter the principle of the application and thus remain ob- jectionable." Moreover the SCH has re- served the right to make further representations if required in the pending appeal procedures. According to the SCH the area is one of considerable ar- chaeological importance to the extent that it is included within the Mgarr Area of Archaeolog- ical which includes the World Heritage Sites of Ta' Ħaġrat and Skorba. Not only will the proposed solar farm "negatively affect the perception of the cultural landscape" but the very nature of the proposed development is deemed to be "incompatible with the cultural and scenic val- ue of the area:. Moreover any ground dis- turbance in this area, resulting from the excavation of a reser- voir and the extensive trenching required for connectivity be- tween the solar panels and the substation and from substation to the national grid may also impact directly on archaeolog- ical remains. The SCH also reiterated con- cern by Heritage Malta as the state agency responsible at law for the management of the World Heritage Sites of Ta Ħaġrat and Skorba that the proposed development may increase the risk of flooding at Ta' Ħaġrat due increased rain- water run off resulting from the extensive soil-cover associated with the proposed greenhouses. PA defends decision The Planning Authority has strongly rebutted Electrofix's claim that the proposed solar farm is primarily an agricultural project. It said the project was refused as it was deemed to be in breach of the solar farm policy, which limits such developments to quarries and brownfield sites. But the developers have now appealed arguing that their pro- ject is primarily an agricultural one. In its appeal against the PA's refusal, Electrofix claimed that the greenhouses will be used to grow "extensive amounts of crops which will be put on the local market for sale, while the solar activity will also be used to lower the commercial cost of the agricultural produce apart from contributing to the na- tional electricity grid." But in its official reply filed by its lawyers, the PA questioned the impression being given by Electrofix that the greenhouses will "simply act as a roof over agricultural land", noting that the PA's advisory panel on ag- ricultural issues had already made it clear that "it is evident from the proposal itself that the primary objective is a solar farm and not a greenhouse." Electrofix's claim that its pro- ject is primarily an agricultural one was never backed by tech- nical studies which had been requested before the original application was turned down. In fact, Electrofix failed to present a "detailed technical report" requested by the PA's advisory panel on agricultur- al issues. The report had to be certified by a qualified engineer and agronomist to document the daily light integral required by the crops grown in the pro- posed greenhouses, and the photoperiod required by these crops. The report also had to show how the solar greenhouse will ensure that this photoperi- od is reached. In the absence of such docu- mentation the PA insisted that the project "cannot be regarded as one benefitting the agricul- tural sector" and confirms that the project is "just a solar farm." Plans cannot be changed at the last moment, PA insists The PA rebutted the argument that the company was denied a fair hearing after the authority refused to postpone its decision to give Electrofix more time to present new plans, insisting that by law it has to take its decision based on information present- ed before the publication of the case officer. In this case the request for a suspension was made in January 2022, a full month after the Au- thority had finalised a case of- ficer report which recommend- ed refusal. Moreover the PA had in- formed the applicant of its concerns about the project in a screening letter issued in Au- gust 2020, providing ample time for a change in plans. Since both the ERA and the PA's agriculture advisory com- mittee had objected "in princi- ple" to the project, "no amount of minor changes" could change these objections. In their appeal Electrofix claimed they had unsuccessful- ly asked the PA board to sus- pend the application so that they would be in "a position to submit revised plans following discussions with the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy (Trade Department) and the Ministry of Energy." The ministries for environment and energy, the economy, and agriculture, have all denied hav- ing held any talks with the pro- ponents of the Mġarr mega-so- lar farm. Suggesting that Electrofix wanted to discuss its plans with the three government entities in question, the appeal does not state any such meetings actual- ly took place following the PA's refusal. But it included a new set of plans "intended to be submit- ted during the suspension peri- od." Mgarr Mayor Paul Vella

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