Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524836
16 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 AUGUST 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PA set to refuse Palumbo plan to extend Dock 6 THE Planning Authority's board will meet on 19 September to reconsider an application by Palumbo Shipyards to extend Dock 6 to accommodate larger vessels for maintenance and re- pair. If approved, the application will allow Dock 6 to be lengthened by approximately 40 metres, reaching a total length of 400m. The pro- posal also includes relocating an existing operations room and ex- cavating up to 12m to facilitate the dock extension. Palumbo argues that the exten- sion is necessary to ensure that the shipyard remains competitive in the international market. Dock 6 is the shipyard's largest hard standing dock and one of the largest in the Mediterranean. It was built in 1975 by the Chinese government, earning it the nick- name Red China Dock. The application was initially recommended for approval by the PA's development manage- ment directorate a year ago, as it was deemed to conform with the local plan's zoning of the site for port-related uses. However, a majority of PA board members present at that meet- ing expressed their intention to oppose the directorate's recom- mendation, citing concerns from residents about the intensification of industrial use in the densely populated area, particularly in the absence of studies on the impact of larger vessels on their health. In re- sponse to these objections, board chairman Emanuel Camilleri in- structed the case officer to prepare the reasons for refusal. Additionally, the chairman ex- pressed concern over an enforce- ment order issued in 2016 against the landfilling of grit at another site within the dockyard. This enforce- ment order, issued by the PA, was subsequently confirmed by the authority's Appeals Tribunal. The chairman noted that these illegali- ties raised concerns about whether the applicant would breach other conditions if this application were approved. The board concluded that these illegalities should be ad- dressed before the application can be considered. This time, the case officer has provided three reasons for recom- mending that the application be refused. The proposed development is deemed to be in breach of the Grand Harbour Local Plan, as the extension of the existing dock would result in further intensifica- tion of industrial use. The proposal also contradicts the objectives of the SPED, which aims to protect and enhance the character and amenity of urban areas. Moreover, according to the case officer, the proposal cannot be considered further unless the illegality concerning the landfilling of grit blasting material on the site is either regularised, sanctioned, or removed. Grit blasting saga Last year, the Environment and Planning Tribunal confirmed the validity of the planning enforce- ment issued in 2016 against the dumping of grit-blasting waste un- der a concrete platform erected in 2012. The enforcement was issued nearly two years after enforcement officers collected samples from a concrete platform near the Smith- ery block during a well-publicised inspection of the site. In its deci- sion, the Tribunal stated that the evidence clearly showed that the material found under the platform consisted of used grit. Palumbo claimed that when it took over the shipyards in 2010, it found a patch of dilapidated land that had been used for grit-blast- ing and painting activities for dec- ades. They asserted that the works carried out were to level the rough terrain and that the area had been thoroughly cleaned before ce- menting, with any grit-blasting remnants deposited there before they assumed ownership of the shipyard. The Tribunal's decision was con- firmed in July by the Court of Ap- peal, presided over by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, who dismissed Palumbo's appeal against the PA's Environment and Planning Re- view Tribunal. To comply with the enforcement notice, Palumbo will have to pres- ent a method statement detailing how the now-buried grit will be recovered, treated, and transport- ed from the site. Malta Maritime Forum supports Palumbo's bid Palumbo's bid to extend the dock has received support from the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF), a non-governmental organization that serves as a platform for Mal- ta-based entities involved in the maritime, logistics, and transport industries. According to the MMF, the pro- posed extension of Dock 6 is nec- essary because modern ships are becoming longer and wider, and Malta needs to be prepared to ac- commodate such vessels. The MMF also expressed con- cern that the local ship-repairing industry is struggling to remain competitive in the international market. They refuted arguments that the extension would increase pol- lution in the surrounding area, noting that modern vessels with advanced technologies are less polluting. Dock extension would intensify industrial use and cannot be considered until Palumbo removes illegally dumped grit blasting material subject to enforcement order issued in 2016 Palumbo Shipyards is seeking to extend Dock 6