Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544495
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 APRIL 2026 NEWS Qala quarry extension 'necessary' despite environmental impacts A proposed extension of a hard- stone quarry in Qala will have sig- nificant environmental impacts, a new study shows as it defends the project's economic rationale. The conclusion comes from a newly published Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed extension at Ta' Kle- ment. The application (PA/05665/18), submitted by Joe Grima on be- half of Road Construction Co. Ltd (RCCL), seeks to extend the quar- ry by around 20,700sq.m. The EIA acknowledges that the development would remove ter- races, rubble walls and natural landforms, fundamentally alter- ing the area's rural character. It notes that around 33% of the wider study area is agrarian land, although only a small por- tion remains actively cultivated, and confirms that the extension would result in the loss of both agricultural and ecological land, including areas adjacent to desig- nated Areas of Ecological Impor- tance. Ecological surveys also identified protected species within the foot- print, such as African tamarisk trees and the pyramidal orchid, with the report conceding that the project would "obliterate natural ecosystems" within the affected area, highlighting the irreversible nature of the impact. The extension will result in the loss of a row of eight protected African Tamarisk trees, which are already disturbed by existing quarry debris. While a separate group 100m away must be shield- ed from industrial activity. Additionally, the project impacts pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis); including a specific clump within the impacted zone. Visual impacts The assessment does not ignore the visual consequences of the project, explicitly stating that the extension will "intensify the exist- ing landscape and visual impacts along a highly sensitive coastal corridor". It acknowledges that the devel- opment will "increase the visible scar from both land and sea" and that additional excavation will further heighten visual exposure. It also notes that current quarry operations already blanket the ar- ea in dust, contributing to a "visi- bly degraded landscape". However, despite recognising these effects, the EIA characteris- es the site in a way that downplays its perceived sensitivity, stating that the "scenic value of the Ta' Klement area is relatively low". It also argues that, due to the site's "remoteness and secluded posi- tion", it is only used by a limited number of people such as farm- ers, hunters and ramblers, result- ing in a low viewing population. The report further emphasises that coastal extraction activities are "screened from landward key viewpoints" such as Ta' Gafan Road and Tal-Qasam Road due to surrounding topography. Howev- er, the assessment notably omits visual montages from maritime viewpoints, despite acknowledg- ing that the site is visible from the sea. Air quality The report states that hardstone extraction itself is not inherently a major dust source. Airborne dust primarily arises from windblown fragmented limestone and vehicle tyre turbulence on unpaved roads. While existing operations already "blanket the area" in dust, mitiga- tion includes tyre washing, vehicle sheeting, and sheltering stockpiles from wind. Economic rationale At the same time, the EIA pre- sents the quarry as strategically important to Gozo's construc- tion sector. RCCL is a major player in road building and relies on high-quality Lower Coralline Limestone from the site to meet infrastructure demands. The report notes that the quarry has supplied material for major national projects, including Ren- zo Piano's parliament building in Valletta and works at the Citta- della. A key argument in the assess- ment is the comparison with a "do nothing" scenario, which it describes as economically and practically unfeasible. Without the extension, high-grade mineral reserves would remain untapped, potentially affecting the quality of construction materials and the viability of ongoing operations. The quarry is also presented as a recycling hub, processing inert construction waste into usable aggregate and reducing pressure on other sites. The long-term vision for the site is based on a restoration strategy described as "landscape archae- ology". This involves infilling the quarry void with inert waste and reconstructing terraces and rural features to restore the original landform. The process is expect- ed to take around 10 years after quarrying ceases, with the aim of re-establishing vegetation and ag- ricultural use. Lino Bianco, an architecture professor, coordinated the EIA and authored multiple sections. Baseline studies were contributed by Stephen Mifsud, Edwin Lan- franco, Antoine Gatt, and George Peplow. ERA had objected In a 2019 screening opinion on the same application, the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity (ERA) had objected to the extension, warning that it would encroach into a sensitive coastal area designated for ecological and geological value under the Gozo and Comino Local Plan. ERA emphasised the loss of rural land, the intensification of quarry scars in the landscape, and the ap- plicant's history of enforcement cases related to illegal dumping and activities outside approved boundaries. While noting that the proposal qualified for a full Environmental Impact Assessment, the authority stressed that such studies would not address the fundamental conflict with planning policy and the wider environmental context, concluding that the development was objectionable on environ- mental grounds and could set a precedent for further degradation of the area. Viewpoint of location (marked in yellow) JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Qala quarry site visual after proposed extension