Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547092
12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt WITH SAVIOUR BALZAN THURSDAY AT 10.15PM ON TVM PA set to refuse Marsaxlokk tourism project at il-Ballut A Planning Authority case of- ficer is recommending refusal of a proposal to demolish two dis- used livestock farms in Marsax- lokk and replace them with tourist accommodation. The proposed project, which includes the construction of seven buildings and ancillary facilities, is in a highly sensitive rural and environmental area. The application (PA/03071/22) concerns St Mary's Farm in Triq il-Power Station, in an area known as il-Ballut. The 29,400sq.m site lies outside the development zone and within a scheduled Area of Ecological Importance, a bird sanctuary and the Il-Ballut ta' Marsaxlokk Natura 2000 site. The proposal by AMJ Invest Ltd, represented by Michael Fenech, involves demolishing the existing pig and sheep farms and constructing Class 3A tour- ism accommodation in seven low-rise structures, together with ancillary facilities, paved areas and a swimming pool. The application was submitted in April 2022 and is now due to be considered by the Planning Board on 29 October. In his report, the case officer says the proposal would effec- tively commit around 8,300sq.m of land to the new development, compared with a footprint of around 1,220sq,m for the exist- ing farm structures. The Environment and Re- sources Authority strongly ob- jected, saying the development would result in a significant up- take of undeveloped rural land and urbanisation within the protected area surrounding the Il-Magħluq marshland. ERA also warned of longer- term cumulative impacts, argu- ing that approving such devel- opments on a case-by-case basis could create additional pressure for similar development on nearby land. It concluded that the proposal was objectionable from an environmental perspec- tive and could not be favourably considered under the Appropri- ate Assessment process. The case officer also found that essential information had not been submitted by the appli- cant. This included proof of the legal status of the existing struc- tures, floor-space calculations and an internal photograph- ic survey needed to establish whether older buildings on the site have architectural, histori- cal or vernacular significance. The Superintendence of Cul- tural Heritage had also request- ed a site inspection and noted that the property lies within the line of sight of the Tas-Silġ Fort. The report says the proposal would remove a legitimate rural use to introduce a commercial tourism activity in a sensitive ODZ setting. It concludes that the project conflicts with poli- cies protecting agricultural land, the Delimara Peninsula and pro- tected environmental areas. The case officer noted that the applicant had requested sus- pension of the application to address outstanding issues, but the maximum suspension peri- od had elapsed, together with a further 22 months, leaving the Directorate with no option but to refer the application for a de- cision on the available informa- tion. The recommendation to re- fuse permission is based on five reasons, including inadequate documentation, incompatibility with ODZ redevelopment pol- icies, loss of agricultural land, harm to the traditional rural landscape and unacceptable im- pacts on the protected environ- mental setting. The application concerns St Mary's Farm in Triq il-Power Station, in an area known as il-Ballu