Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/208710
4 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2013 Despite archaeological find, Gudja home for the elderly set for approval Outsidedevelopment zone project was exempted from EIA despite discovery of archeological remains JAMES DEBONO AN old people's home comprising 54 rooms set over 3,000 square metres of agricultural land, and partly located outside development zones, is set to be approved in Gudja. As happened in the case of a controversial approval of Mistra's high-rise apartments, MEPA's planning directorate is recommending the approval of this development because it is already covered by an outline permit issued in 2009. A final decision on this application is expected on Thursday 21 November. Most controversially, no environmental impact assessment (EIA) was ever conducted on the site, but the case officer's report reveals that "archeologically sensitive areas" surround the site and that a possibility exists for further remains to be uncovered. Despite this information, the project was still exempted from an EIA. The case officer now recommends clearance from the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage before works commence. The two-storey development is set to include a chapel and other facilities, including living and dining areas. 26 parking spaces will be located at basement level. The site lies in areas known as Ta' Gluba, which lies in very close proximity to rock-cut tombs at Tal-Millieri. Most of the site is covered by agricultural land and includes one dwelling unit, which is proposed for demolition. The outline permit for this development was issued in April 2009. The application was originally refused in July 2008, but the decision was overturned a year later by the defunct Development Control Commission, despite the case officer's insistence that the development should be refused. Present MEPA deputy chairman Elisabeth Ellul had voted against this development, alongside DCC member Peter Axisa. In order to justify their approval, the planning directorate insisted that the The Gudja agricultural land set for development area to be built outside the development zone was in effect compensated by open gaps within that part of the site, corresponding to the Category 1 Settlement. According to the case officer's report, one-fourth of the site is located in a Category 1 Settlement where two-storey residential development is allowed; while the rest of the site is classified as a Strategic Open Gap, where no development except afforestation is allowed. Moreover the site is categorized as an Area of Agricultural Value. Curiously, an application to construct two dwellings to replace the existing dwelling had been twice refused in 1994. Heritage watchdogs say no to firework factories JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority's two internal heritage watchdogs have objected to the extension of the Wied id-Dis fireworks factory in Gharghur and to the construction of a new factory in Ghaxaq. In a meeting held last week, MEPA's Natural Heritage Advisory Panel chaired by entomologist David Dandria, "strongly objected" to the application which would result The ODZ Gharghur factory Site of the ODZ Ghaxaq factory in the "further proliferation of development" along the Wied id-Dis valley in Gharghur. The application for the extension of the St Bartolomew factory in Wied id-Dis foresees four workshops of Career Opportunity Strategy and Policy Executive The Strategy and Policy Executive will form part of the Policy, Strategy and Internationalisation Unit, and will be assisting in the development of strategy and policy as well as recommending suitable positions in response to EU initiatives in science, technology, research and innovation. A first degree level of education, preferably in Statistics, Economics, Policy or European Studies, or a Science or Engineering subject, together with three years of relevant work experience, preferably in Research, Innovation or Policy work. MPO Permit Number: MPO/269/2005/01 ETC Permit Number: 149/2013 Applications including CV's will be received until the 24th of November 2013, and should be addressed to mario.g.borg@gov.mt, or via postal mail to the HRMD Department of the Malta Council for Science and Technology. The Malta Council for Science & Technology is the government body responsible for research policy, promoting scientific research, management of the local research funding programme and is the national contact point organisation for the EU Research Framework Programme (FP). Malta Council for Science & Technology Villa Bighi, Kalkara, KKR 1320 – Malta Tel: 2166 0340 Fax: 2166 0341 35 metres squared, a 14-square metre workshop for packing colours, another 14-square metre workshop for mixing round, coloured 'stars', a 21-square metre flash powder mixing room, a 20-square metre shed for a drying area and another store of 18 metres squared. Two men had escaped unscathed from inside Gharghur's St Bartholomew fireworks factory when an explosion blasted part of the factory, back in 2010. Another of MEPA's heritage watchdogs, the Cultural Heritage Advisory Panel chaired by Albert Ganado, also objected to the construction of a brand new factory on agricultural land at il-Hbula, in Ghaxaq. Enemalta is also objecting to this application as the proposed factory is very near to its 33kV overhead infrastructure. The development abuts farmland that is being worked by both parttime and full-time farmers and lies in proximity to the Gudja cemetery, a number of greenhouses and neighbouring businesses. Over the past years MEPA has refused a number of outside-development zone (ODZ) firework factory applications in Mellieha, Rabat and Gozo. But MEPA is presently revising its policies on firework factories after the government appointed a committee, chaired by pyrotechnics lobby lawyer and Labour MP Michael Falzon. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt