Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528582
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, within the Office of the Prime Minister (European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue) is seeking to recruit the following personnel: MANAGER I (COMMUNICATIONS) Jobsplus Permit No. 214/2024 MANAGER I (POLICY) Jobsplus Permit No. 213/2024 CLERK Jobsplus Permit No. 727/2024 For further details and application guidelines contact: Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, Zentrum Business Centre, Triq l-Imdina, Qormi Phone 2276 8304 / E-mail: contactus@stopviolence.gov.mt Website: Vacancies - Stop Violence (gov.mt) THE Dominican Order has submitted a fresh planning ap- plication for the development of a school on agricultural land in Għaxaq, in another twist to a two-decades-old saga. The site is located outside de- velopment zones but identified for school development in local plans approved in 2006. The Order had already with- drawn another application which involved the take up of 72,000sq.m of ODZ land in 2019. Another application with a reduced footprint of 28,000sq.m was recently with- drawn by the Planning Author- ity itself. The plans attached to the new application are not yet availa- ble on the Planning Authori- ty's public information system. However, in a meeting held last week, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) requested an updated Envi- ronmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the new plans. The ERA, which supervises the EIA process, does not have the final say on whether the development is allowed, but it does issue a recommendation following the finalisation of the EIA. In September, MaltaToday revealed that the Dominican Order's application for the new school in Għaxaq was "con- sidered withdrawn" by the Planning Authority after re- quirements set four years pri- or remained unmet. However, college rector Father Aaron Zahra had told MaltaToday the Order was working on re- vised plans to address concerns raised by the ERA. "We have the intention of proceeding with the applica- tion," Zahra told MaltaToday. A new application has now been submitted. The ERA initially objected to the plans, which proposed the use of 28,000sq.m of agricul- tural land outside the develop- ment zone in September 2023. But following a negative rec- ommendation by ERA techno- crats, the applicant requested a deferral to revise the proposal and address concerns. Consequently, the ERA Board voted to postpone the discus- sion of the proposal for six months. A memo by ERA experts, pre- sented to the ERA board re- ferred to new plans submitted by the Order in October 2023. While noting the relocation of buildings, ERA officials still ex- pressed concern about the loss of agricultural land, concluding that the project remained ob- jectionable. This decision was commu- nicated to the architect on 15 December 2023. One of the main changes in- volved downsizing and repo- sitioning a sports ground and introducing a circular access road and a larger green area between the school buildings. Subsequently, a new applica- tion was submitted, and the de- veloper's consultant informed ERA that a new version of the EIA was being finalised. The Dominicans intend for the Għaxaq college to serve as a spacious alternative to Val- letta's St Albert College, which, being over 70 years old, lacks sufficient space for modern amenities. The EIA presented last year noted that the project would have a major visual im- pact on Għaxaq, introducing urban development to a cur- rently undeveloped site with a strong rural character and sense of openness. 24-year-old saga The decision to relocate the existing school from its current location in Valletta was taken in 2000. Back then the PA was ap- proached by the school to iden- tify "a suitable site for reloca- tion in the south of Malta". Subsequently the PA had con- ducted a site selection exercise which had identified 12 poten- tial relocation sites, all in the south of Malta. It was the PA which directed the applicant to the land in Għaxaq, as "the preferred option for relocation of the school." Although a planning appli- cation had been pending since 2012 the project only gained attention during the Żonqor controversy, when former prime minister Joseph Muscat rebutted criticism by Arch- bishop Charles Scicluna on the proposed development of a private university at Żonqor Point by referencing the Għax- aq school plans. Subsequently, the application which also included plans to accommodate a school run by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart were withdrawn in 2019 with a new application decreas- ing the land take up to take up being presented a year later. The application is now being presented for the third time. Third Time Lucky? St Albert College submits new application to develop ODZ site In September, MaltaToday revealed that the Dominican Order's application for the new school in Ghaxaq was "considered withdrawn" by the Planning Authority after requirements set four years prior remained unmet