Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/228594
4 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2013 More countryside development, this time with fireworks factories Triumph of the fireworks' lobby: factories to be allowed on areas of high landscape value and buffer zones for protected and rural conservation areas JAMES DEBONO A new policy on fireworks, authored in part by the Malta Pyrotechnics Association's own lawyer Michael Falzon, is to pave the way for the construction of fireworks factories in rural conservation areas, areas of high landscape value, and even buffer zones for Natura 2000 sites. The Labour MP is interviewed in today's edition of MaltaToday. The new policy, which will guide the way permits for new factories are issued by MEPA, gives the blessing to extensions to existing fireworks factories irrespective of the quality of the surrounding environment: the only condition is that they are located at a safe distance from schools, hospitals and other public facilities. The policy is also set to replace a previous presumption against the construction of new factories included in the North West and the Gozo and Comino local plans. According to both plans, a new factory could only be built "disturbed areas where any structures would be screened from view". It was these plans that were vital in MEPA decisions that turned down proposed factories in the past years, in outside-development zones (ODZ) in Mellieha, Rabat and Gozo. Now the only areas excluded from the development of fireworks factories are those enjoying the highest levels of protection, namely Areas of Ecological Importance (Levels 1 and 2); Sites of Scientific Importance (Levels 1 and 2) or Areas or Sites of Archaeological Importance (including a buffer zone under Class A and B), Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. Moreover, these limitations do not apply to extensions of existing factories. And the policy makes no reference to areas of "high landscape value" that are not necessarily scheduled as areas of ecological importance: and this includes most of the rural landscape of Rabat, Mtarfa, Attard and Mosta and an 11km stretch of pristine natural landscape between Djar il-Bniet and Wied Liemu in Rabat, right up to Wied tac-Cawsli in Qormi. The new policy in fact follows the same logic of another new policy regulating ODZ development, which has opened the way for the approval of new buildings in buffer zones of to be accompanied by a suitable environmental impact assessment. MEPA sees no need for studies archeological and ecological sites. In a clear indication that good quality agricultural land may be sacrificed to make way for fireworks factories, the policy stipulates that development on such land will be assessed on "case-by-case basis". For areas of scientific and ecological importance there are currently four levels of protection: Level 1 is the highest degree of protection Agriculture department objects to Gharghur fireworks factory THE Agricultural Directorate within the Ministry of Rural Affairs has written to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, objecting to the proposed extension of a fireworks factory in the Wied id-Dis valley in Gharghur. The directorate is objecting on grounds that the development entails the loss of agricultural land in the area. Similar concerns were expressed by MEPA's internal heritage watchdog, which is opposed to "the further proliferation of development along the valley". The application was presented before the issue of a new policy on firework factory extensions, which states that applications for the upgrading and extension of existing fireworks factories are "acceptable" as long as these are located at a safe distance from schools, hospitals and other public facilities. No reference is made in this part of the policy to the impact of such ex- tensions on the surrounding environment. The application for the extension of the St Bartholomew factory in Wied id-Dis foresees four workshops of 35 square metres, 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 square metres. whereas Level 4 is the lowest. No development is normally allowed on Level 1 or Level 2 areas while only minimal development is allowed on Level 3 areas. Under present rules, no commercial, industrial, commercial or tourism development is allowed on Level 3 Areas of Ecological Importance. Only small-scale physical development can be considered and this has MEPA did not even see a need for studies to establish whether there is a need for new fireworks factories before publishing the policy. According to MEPA, the requirement for new or upgraded complexes stems "from meetings, requests and reports" that current facilities are "insufficient to cater for the demand". MEPA claims that this situation can lead to accidents. Environmental NGO Din l-Art Helwa specifically asked for a thorough study to establish whether any new factories are allowed. The new policy also fails to provide an overview of the current number of fireworks factories including their location and legal status. A number of fireworks factories are not even covered by a development permit. Only last week MaltaToday revealed that MEPA could not trace the original permit for the St Catherine's fireworks factory in Zurrieq, which has asked for an extension. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Ta' Qali convention centre to rise further up DESPITE being limited to a 15-metre height by the Ta' Qali Action Plan, the first plans for a permanent convention centre in the place of the tent erected by the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre company, shows part of the building rising to 24.5m – as high as a seven-storey building. The land where the MFCC centre currently stands was unanimously approved by both sides of the House of Representatives nem con – no questions raised – back on 27 September, 2012. MFCC is owned by catering giants Catermax, a joint venture of Corinthia Hotels and Vassallo Builders Group. The MFCC's 65-year lease at Ta' Qali omits any reference to a €1.2 million "performance bond" originally envisioned in the 2006 tender for the siting of the lucrative venue, from which the preferred bidders were chosen. Originally, the request for proposals issued by the transport ministry in 2007 demanded that the developers pay a €1.2 million (Lm500,000) bond as a pledge to fulfil "all responsibilities and commitments as prescribed in the emphyteutical deed to bring the project to a full state of operational completion within the prescribed period." But it turned out that in December 2012, the performance guarantee was removed. And plans to rebuild the MFCC centre on its present "temporary" site, rather than relocate it to abandoned agricultural land behind the Ta' Qali national stadium as proposed in a 2006 action plan, won the MEPA's seal of approval in October 2012, after two years of public consultation. Originally, the 2006 plan was to limit the MFCC's height on the agricultural site to 10m. The developers insisted on a 17m height, which raised MEPA's concerns on the impact on the Mdina skyline. A new MEPA policy foresees a maximum 15metre height on the present area of the MFCC tent. Despite the imposition of this height limit, the approved policy foresees the creation of "architectural features and focal points" that could even exceed this height "if the merits of the design are of sufficient quality to outweigh the impacts on long distance views." The convention centre's footprint cannot exceed 32% of the 6.9-hectare site, and no residential accommodation can be permitted. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt