Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524836
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 AUGUST 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt NOTICE The Office of the Presidency informs the gener- al public that as from the 1st of August, 2024, the Kitchen Garden is closed so that necessary works are carried out. The public will be informed when it re-opens. Polidano wants PA to know illegal Montekristo Magnate who illegally built events venue and zoo over 82,000 square metres of agricultural land, is making bid to regularise his piecemeal development THE developer Charles Poli- dano, whose construction illegal- ities include the massive sprawl of piecemeal development at the Montekristo winery and zoo in Siggiewi, has compared the illicit construction to the historic castles erected by 'royals and nobles'. Polidano's justification for his construction of an events venue and zoo in an area which was com- pletely agricultural in 1998, was included in a recently-presented document assessing the environ- mental impact of the mostly illegal development. In a linguistic soup designed to mollify readers, Polidano claims the silver lining of the illegal yet operational events venue, is an "architecture… reminiscent of pal- aces and other buildings built by royalty and nobility. Certain struc- tures can be considered as 'garden follies" and compare very well to other historic garden installations both in Malta and overseas." The Montekristo Winery and Vineyards commenced operations in 2005, through the approved redevelopment of an existing pig farm. Two years later, Polidano was issued with a permit for his winery for "tourist attractions". But between 2008 and 2012 the development started extending in to the surrounding area. The magnate still has two pend- ing applications with the Planning Authority to regularise his ille- gal development: one from 2009 to regularise an illegal extension to the winery and bottling plant, which includes the gate and en- trance foyer, the passageways and car parks, and an entire fairs and exhibition area; and from 2010 to sanction a "family park" which in- cludes a zoo, equestrian facilities and a museum. The 2009 applica- tion further includes a request for a 380sq.m extension to the winery to make room for more commer- cial development. 'Reminiscent of royalty' 14 years down the line, the two applications are yet to be approved by the Planning Authority. On its part, the Environment and Resources Authority is still screening the application and has asked Polidano to submit a project description statement on the basis of which it has to decide whether more environmental impact stud- ies are required before a final deci- sion is taken. The PDS, authored by ADI Con- sultants, offers a realistic picture of the situation by not shying away in documenting the take -up of agri- cultural land and other environ- mental problems resulting from the project. But the document also includes a "rationale" of the pro- ject provided by the developer. In this Polidano claims "the ar- chitecture of the structures erect- ed is reminiscent of palaces and other buildings built by royalty and nobility" and that some of the structures can be considered as 'garden follies' which "compare very well to other historic garden installations both in Malta and overseas". The inclusion of his "exotic and farm animals" is billed as "kepping in tradition" with the menageries once kept at San Anton Gardens and at the Dragonara, the latter a private estate of the Marquis Sci- cluna. Polidano also takes pride in building these structures "on a ter- rain that was already disturbed", by utilising traditional techniques and materials: "An opportunity was provided to artisans over the last ten years to produce archi- tectural elements, and for master masons to erect buildings of mon- umental stature. In doing so lost traditions were revived." And to add another touch to what he calls a "unique concept", Polidano says Montekristo's ol- ive groves, vineyards, extensive orchards and pristinely restored arable land" is based on the "good mediterranean living theme": "The visitor is given the opportunity to feast on produce on the estates. This can include preserved fruits and vegetables, cured meats, dairy products and traditional festive sweets". Polidano also takes pride in the the collection housed in a museum located in the family park of items related to "transport, folklore and popular engineering" which he says also form part of the Maltese national minimum curriculum for students. Massive take-up of ODZ land But the two project statements presented in the two separate bids to sanction the zoo and the winery area also document the massive take-up of agricultural land which made way for new buildings, paved and landscaped areas and parking facilities. These include 45,379 sq.m of agricultural land lost to make way for the illegal family park and zoo area, and 36,680 sq.m of agricul- tural land for the sprawling devel- opment around the winery. This adds up to the loss of a stagger- ing 82,059 sq.m of land. Existing buildings on the site – excluding hard-surfaced areas – cover a foot- print of approximately 6,947 sq.m. The PDS includes a series of aerial images taken between 1998 and 2018 which show "a consid- erable expansion of the built-up area on the site from what was approved in separate permits approved in 2004 and 2006 per- mits." The most intensive period in the development of the area took place between 2008 and 2012 with pho- tographic evidence showing the clearance of the fields to the south- west and southeast of Polidano's bottling plant, and the creation of pathways. An aerial image taken in 2012 also shows the development of an illegal car park serving the Montekristo Estate. Further clear- ing and hard surfacing of the areas