Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471185
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JUNE 2022 NEWS Simar reserve threatened by eight-storey development JAMES DEBONO AN eight-storey block is threat- ening the bird sanctuary at Si- mar, located just 20 metres away from the site managed by BirdLife Malta. If approved instead of the present garage, the apartments would rise 22m above street lev- el on a T-shaped plot fronting Triq il-Pwales and Triq il-Ħaġra l-Wiefqa. Although located within the development zone, the 19-unit project lies within an area desig- nated as a Bird Sanctuary, which extends throughout the urban and rural areas of Xemxija Bay so as to protect both breeding and migratory avifauna seeking refuge there. The Simar in St Paul's Bay is a Natura 2000, Special Protection Area, Site of Community Inter- est, Site of Scientific Importance and Area of Ecological Impor- tance – all planning designations for European environmental ar- eas. Sanctuary manager BirdLife is objecting to the development, reiterating previous calls to cre- ate a buffer zone around the re- serve. Birdlife warned that construc- tion and the excavation of two parking levels, will result in noise, dust and vibrations just metres off the nature reserve. "This shall undoubtedly affect breeding birds but also migra- tory species seeking refuge at the reserve. Any materials flow- ing out of the construction site, whether air-borne or liquid risk ending up within the reserve as well and contaminate the waters therein," BirdLife's Head of Con- servation Nicolas Barbara told MaltaToday. When built up, the residential units including the rooftop areas shall reach high above any vege- tation cover around the reserve. "Therefore, there are further concerns from noise and light pollution again generated me- tres away from what should be a refuge to breeding and migrato- ry birds. Such disturbance shall be of a permanent nature," Bar- bara said. Thousands of yearly vistors, many of them school-children, will be greeted by the high-rise building overshadowing a nature reserve if it gets the Planning Authority's green light. "The development itself risks the area showcasing itself as an example of a nightmare of local policies versus nature protection." Birdlife is calling on the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity to protect the Simar site from any development impact on the Natura 2000 site's habitats and ensure "appropriate buffering" between the urban area and the sensitive site. It also called on the PA to re- vise the building policies in the area since they are counter-pro- ductive to the protection of the Natura 2000 site in question. BirdLife said the PA should also request the developer to downsize the proposed develop- ment in a way which respects the natural and educational value of the area. The organisation warned that the development would turn an area characterised by two-storey housing, into a site for higher buildings. Presently the area is still characterised by fields and low buildings. While the local plan limits de- velopment to four floors and a penthouse, subsequent changes allowed the floors to be 'translat- ed' in heights in metres, alllwing developers to fit in more storeys. Moviment Graffitti is also ob- jecting the development, warn- ing that approval would set a precedent for similar develop- ments that will ruin the area. Graffitti insists there is no need for nine levels of garages and apartments in such an area, and any development should be in line with the existing elevations and building styles. But the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has not ob- jected to the development, not- ing "the commitment of modern development and the compro- mised nature of the streetscape" in the area. If approved instead of the present garage, the apartments would rise 22m above street level on a T-shaped plot fronting Triq il-Pwales and Triq il-Hagra l-Wiefqa Thousands of yearly vistors, many of them school-children, will be greeted by the high-rise building overshadowing a nature reserve if it gets the Planning Authority's green light