Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514570
MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt 4 NEWS 4 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 JANUARY 2024 A case officer is recommending approval for the construction of six villas near Miżieb instead of a dilapidated tourist complex built in the 1970s. The site close to the Tal-Hilda caves, which overlook the Mizieb woodland in an area known as Tal-Argentier, is today a buffer zone for a protected area. The development is being pro- posed by a company in which Jo- seph Portelli is a shareholder. The development entails the demolition of the long-aban- doned tourist complex known as Sunshine and replacing it with six villas with extensive gardens and pool areas. Presently, development on the site includes a 139sq.m farm- house, a 340sq.m green house, an agricultural shed, a 764sq.m restaurant and 640sq.m of tourist apartments over a total footprint of 1,883sq.m. According to the case officer, all structures on this site are covered with permits dating back from 1966 to 1998. A permit dating back to 1974 covered the construction of six apartments and later turned into holiday flats, while a permit dat- ing back to 1991 had approved the construction of a farmhouse and stores. These permits were issued be- fore the Planning Authority was established and before the area was scheduled for its ecological importance. Since the complex has long been disused, substantial parts of it have been reclaimed by vegetation. According to the developer's ar- chitect, Maria Schembri Grima, the area is set to be "visually im- proved" since the existing struc- tures are "massive and derelict" while the new development will occupy a decreased footprint. Moreover, according to the ar- chitect the use originally pros- pected for the structures was more "intense" on the surround- ings than the residential use be- ing proposed. She even claims this will result in increased "qui- etness", less lighting and traffic even if the complex has long been disused. The case officer also argued that the proposed development will represent an improvement over what exists today and even cites improvements over the develop- ment of 13 dwellings proposed in an application presented in 2008 which was subsequently with- drawn. Despite the sensitivity of the site, no photomontages have been presented to show the visual impact of the proposed develop- ment. The Environment and Resourc- es Authority has described the site where the villas are being proposed as an environmental- ly sensitive location within the rural area but has not objected to the development after noting that most of the site is currently occupied by commercial and res- idential buildings which are in a dilapidated state. On previous occasions ERA had objected to developments which contribute to urban sprawl in ru- ral areas. But the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has warned the proposal will lead to further con- solidation and formalisation of the site, having a negative impact on the rural and cultural land- scape. The PA's Development Man- agement Directorate is recom- mending a one-time payment of €41,075 to the Authority's plan- ning fund since the development is located in the ODZ . The pro- posal is being recommended for approval on the basis of the rural policy which allows the redevel- opment of existing dilapidated structures for residential use. A final decision will be taken by the Planning Board on 25 Janu- ary. Portelli set to get permit for six ODZ villas near Mizieb MALTESE households can expect bet- ter-tasting tap water as part of a dec- ade-long national initiative for Malta's water sector. On Tuesday, environment minister Mir- iam Dalli announced that the plan will spread from 2023 to 2033. The Water Services Corporation will ex- ecute this plan, entailing upgrades to Mal- ta's reverse osmosis facilities and significant amplification in the production of "new water" – treated drainage water repurposed for irrigating fields and farmland. Here it was stated that approximately 41% or €126m of the plan's budget is antic- ipated to be sourced from EU funds. Last Sunday, MaltaToday reported that tap water is being utilised by one of Malta's main bottlers given its known quality. In 2022, a study by MCAST researchers had shown that for years, Maltese households shun tap water for its taste. An effort to standardise taste across the islands had already kicked off. WSC CEO Karl Cilia stated that last year saw the in- itial phase, reducing groundwater in tap water from 40% to 35%, with 65% pro- duced through reverse osmosis. This not only diminished chloride levels but also decreased water extraction from the table by approximately 1.5 million cu- bic metres. The subsequent phase involves enhanc- ing the Ta' Qali water reservoir's capac- ity to create a tap water blend, slated for distribution as a central hub, with another process scheduled for Gozo. During the press conference, Miriam Dalli outlined a €46m investment to bet- ter the new water network, boosting daily production by 6,000 cubic metres. This initiative, crucial for addressing worsening drought conditions due to cli- mate change, aims to enhance the sustain- able reuse of sewage and decrease reliance on groundwater extraction, Dalli said. Additionally, the WSC intends to em- ploy artificial intelligence to combat water theft, with systems tracking usage and de- tecting unauthorised extraction or metre bypassing. The initial implementation de- tected over 100 cases in 2023, recovering €1,000,000 in backdated payments. This technology will also facilitate the centralised distribution of new water to farms based on their requirements, con- sidering field size and crop types. The plan envisions a one-third increase in wa- ter production through reverse osmosis plants and a reinforcement of wastewater management. Plan to make tap water more palatable unveiled