Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1494347
8 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 MARCH 2023 JAMES DEBONO A solar farm larger than a foot- ball pitch is being proposed on degraded land hosting invasive acacia trees, as well as an un- used sewage treatment plant and stores. But while the solar farm as proposed will not have any significant ecological impact, its visual impact is being con- sidered unacceptable by the cultural heritage watchdog and the PA's advisory panel on de- sign issues. Photomontages of the pro- posed development show how the solar farm will be highly pronounced in the view from the Mellieħa to Għadira by- pass and from the road linking Għadira and Popeye Village at Anchor Bay. But it won't be visible from the Għadira prom- enade and barely visible when seen from the Red Tower. The SCH has taken note of the most recent plans which reduced the height of the pro- posed solar panels. Neverthe- less, the Superintendence not- ed that the revised proposal will still result in a significant visual impact, "negatively im- pacting on the significant and rural landscape" and therefore recommended "this area be re- habilitated and restored to its natural state". The Design Advisory com- mittee called on the owners to relocate the PV panels "to the various roofs of the existing holiday centre complex build- ings" while this "disturbed area" is rehabilitated and re- stored to the original garrigue landscape. The current policy regulat- ing the sector precludes solar farms from being set up in the open countryside, Natura 2000 sites, on garigue, in valleys, ridge edges or areas of archae- ological, cultural or scientific interest and considers disused quarries as the 'preferred' loca- tion for such development. The Environment and Re- sources Authority described the proposal as one "in line with previous discussions" and concluded there are "no ma- jor environmental concerns" about the proposal. It also noted that the proposal includes the removal of inva- sive alien species on site. ERA concluded that the nature and scale of the proposal is unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the nature and in- tegrity of the Natura 2000 site. A masterplan for the area foresees the planting of indig- enous trees on parts of the site. Cultural heritage watchdog says no to Mellieha solar farm 7,740sq.m solar farm proposed by the Danish Village given thumbs down by both the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and the Design Advisory Committee due to its impact on iconic views