Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1507818
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 SEPTEMBER 2023 NEWS has never been restored to its "agricultural state", with vege- tation on site consisting of wild grass and plants that grew on the unlevelled and loosely laid con- struction inert material which has been left undisturbed for some time. For this reason, the solar farm was positively recommended by the planning directorate "since it will put the site to good use" while imposing a commitment to re-instate it into a proper ag- ricultural field after the decom- missioning of the solar farm. This represented a departure from a previous decision taken by the PA board in 2018 when it ruled out a similar development proposed by Renergy Ltd. On that occasion the develop- ment of a grid connected solar farm was refused for being in breach of the Solar Farm Policy since the site "cannot be consid- ered as an operating or disused quarry as it has been backfilled and vegetation has taken over the site". It was deemed to be in breach of the policy, which spec- ifies that quarries which were re- stored before 2017 are not eligi- ble for the development of solar farms. The PA had overruled argu- ments by the project's propo- nents that although most of the quarry was filled with construc- tion material and debris it still lacked soil cover. Even in 2021 in a screening let- ter highlighting the major issues facing the second application presented by Bajada New Ener- gy, the PA had warned the site proposed for development can- not be considered as an operat- ing or disused quarry as it was backfilled, and vegetation had taken over the site. Sources in the Planning Au- thority told MaltaToday that the latest decision follows a com- mon-sense approach as the solar farm policy is meant to avoid the development of solar farms on agricultural land. Moreover, the land in question has limited en- vironmental value as confirmed by ERA's no objection. But the decision could create a precedent for long restored quarries which have never been restored to agricultural use. While ERA had raised no con- cerns about the development, the Superintendence for Cultur- al Heritage had objected noting that the installation of PV panels over such an extensive area "will inevitably negatively impact on the perception of the cultural landscape". But the project was approved by the Design Adviso- ry Committee, the advisory pan- el which guides the PA on the visual impact of projects. Left: The reclaimed former quarry in Siggiewi that will now host a solar energy farm with more than 3,000 panels THE University of Malta is introducing a postgraduate course to equip indi- viduals with the skills to conduct and interpret social impact assessments (SIAs). So far these assessments primarily fo- cus on evaluating the repercussions of major projects on local communities within the context of urban planning. However, SIAs have broader applica- tions, extending to the evaluation of major changes in policy. The Labour Party had committed itself to a more widespread use of SIAs before it was elected to power in 2013. By international standards, SIAs delve into both intended and unintended so- cial consequences, encompassing pos- itive and negative outcomes. They in- vestigate the societal changes resulting from policies, plans, and projects, often providing recommendations for their management and mitigation. Nevertheless, judging by the little weight presently given to SIAs when mega projects are approved the ques- tion arises: do SIAs risk becoming a mere formality; an obligatory checkbox for developers with limited follow-up after project approvals? Michael Briguglio, a prominent soci- ologist coordinating this new Univer- sity of Malta programme and himself a long-standing advocate for a more structured SIA system in the planning process, acknowledges the risk. He emphasizes that the methodology of SIAs is designed to prevent this by making them ongoing practices, con- ducted before, during, and after policy development, rather than one-off exer- cises. SIAs also typically include action plans to address the concerns raised by affected residents. Furthermore, SIAs can extend their utility to various fields beyond urban planning, such as environment, econo- my, tourism, health, culture, maritime, and social policy. They enable critical analysis, assessing the social implica- tions of projects and policy initiatives, ultimately contributing to "sustaina- ble and equitable outcomes", Briguglio says. As modern societies confront a mul- titude of social, environmental, and technological changes often in a short span of time, the demand for social im- pact assessments is expected to surge, particularly in addressing the risk of marginalization among 'left behind' communities. Briguglio anticipates a growing de- mand for SIA professionals both locally and internationally, driven by develop- ment proposals requiring these assess- ments. He also foresees an expansion of policy fields that will necessitate SIAs in the near future. The Master of Arts in Social Impact Assessment programme caters to in- dividuals "passionate" about compre- hending and evaluating the social con- sequences of various projects, policies, and initiatives, Briguglio argues. Graduates will be well-prepared for roles in government agencies, nonprof- it organizations, consulting firms, and research institutions. The programme is scheduled to com- mence in February 2024, with applica- tions opening in the coming weeks. Can these studies become another box to tick without meaningful consequences for communities elbowed out by major projects? JAMES DEBONO speaks to course coordinator Michael Briguglio. University to introduce degree in Social Impact Assessments Michael Briguglio