Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534344
JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 9 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 APRIL 2025 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: 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 FARMERS tilling government land in Ta' Qali woke up recent- ly to an unpleasant surprise – a notice affixed to a wall told them their agricultural leases were be- ing terminated. The reason – government is planning to build a sewage treat- ment plant to provide water for the National Park project. Park manager Winston Pirotta, an engineer, explained that the new waste water treatment plant is part of the major afforesta- tion initiative undertaken by the Transport Ministry. The idea is to supply all the irri- gation systems in the Ta' Qali Na- tional Park with up to 1,200 cubic metres of appropriately treated water per day. The water will be reclaimed from the existing sew- age network, Pirotta said. The ar- eas that will be supplied with the water include the formal garden, the farmers market, the concert area and the picnic area. When asked why this specif- ic site was chosen and whether non-agricultural land was con- sidered Pirotta explained the site was chosen for three reasons – its proximity to the Malta National Park, its proximity to the main sewer, and its distance from any nearby residents. "Thus, an area in Ta' Qali, close to a main sewer connection, which is not in proximity of res- idential area, such as Attard and Mosta, was chosen," he said. Asked whether the impact on farmers tilling the land was con- sidered, Pirotta insisted the cho- sen land parcel is government property and will be used to en- sure a "sustainable future to Mal- ta's largest park/green area". But in a nod to farmers in the ar- ea he also suggested that the water produced will also be supplied to farmers in the area. "The design of the treatment plant will take into consideration the possibility of providing irriga- tion water, not only to the park it- self, but also to farmers. This is to ensure the maximum usage of the water generated," he said. MaltaToday understands that the land in question is split in small plots tilled by around 12 different famers. A variety of veg- etables and fruit trees are grown in the area. Farmers who spoke to MaltaTo- day also fear a negative impact on neighbouring vines in proximity to the new plant due to shading. They expressed concern on the increase of traffic, noise and pos- sibly odours in the area once the plant is built. When told that the water could also be used to cater for their needs, they said that it makes more sense to build reservoirs to collect rain water under the park's carparks and to connect farmers with the new water distribution system. They also believe that the project is linked to the development of an extensive lawn for the park's con- cert area. "Someone decided to build a concert area with a lawn and now they are trying to find a solution on how to water it," one farmer said. A planning application still has to be presented for the develop- ment to take place. Ta' Qali to get sewage treatment plant… on agricultural land Government terminates agricultural leases in Ta' Qali to make way for sewage treatment plant to cater for the needs of the national park and afforestation project