Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1506016
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 AUGUST 2023 NEWS Qormi farmland earmarked for industrial expansion JAMES DEBONO OVER 23,000 square metres of Qormi farmland in Tal- Ħandaq has been targeted by three planning applications to build warehouses and work- shops. The development is foreseen in the local plans that were ap- proved in 2006. The largest application, over 15,500sq.m, was submitted by Malta Developers Association president Michael Stivala. The others are by Ray Formo- sa's Colinrose Ltd and Darren Ciantar's Ciantar C&F Limited. Stivala also presented pho- tomontages of the proposed development, including aerial views of the industrial com- pound. The Planning Authori- ty's advisory committee on de- sign issues issued its clearance for the development. The application is proposing the excavation for two levels of basement and a reservoir, and the construction of two full floors and receded floors. While located outside the de- velopment zone (ODZ), this land is a designated area of containment, which the PA al- lows to be used for industrial development that is best locat- ed outside residential areas. The three applications so far cover less than half of the 52,000sq.m of agricultural land earmarked for industrial devel- opment in the local plan. Stivala is not the owner of the entire site but declared being "authorised to carry out such proposed development through an agreement with the owners". Stivala and Ciantar's applica- tions were submitted by archi- tect and former environment minister George Pullicino, un- der whose purview the 2006 lo- cal plans were published. In a public consultation last carried out in 2017, Pullicino had pre- sented submissions on behalf of two landowners of the site – namely Sandro Estates, owned by former MDA president San- dro Chetcuti, and the Tumas Group. Warehouses are allowed in areas of containment be- cause this industrial activity is deemed incompatible with residential areas. The Ħandaq area is also strategically locat- ed close to the Grand Harbour, making it well placed for such land uses. But one of the problems re- sulting from such development is extensive soil sealing, which will inevitably block the re- charge of the underlying water table. Stivala said in a report to the PA that the rainwater run-off generated on site will be collected in reservoirs for eventual reuse. The Energy and Water Agency has con- cluded that the reuse of rain- water is enough to compensate for aquifer recharge losses but called for measures to avoid spillage and contamination of this water. Photomontage showing aerial view of industrial compound proposed by Michael Stivala compared to existing situation