Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/292371
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2014 9 News Gaffarena project exempted from EIA Government fighting unemployment by increasing public workers – PN JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority has exempted busi- nessman Mark Gaffarena from hav- ing to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the development of 33 warehouses on 2,887 square metres of Kirkop land outside development zones (ODZ). In August 2004, MEPA had re- fused an application presented by Mark Gaffarena to build 13 ware- houses in the same area. In 2006 MEPA also refused an application by Gaffarena to demol- ish and rebuild a number of dilapi- dated rooms on the same footprint. Subsequently Gaffarena applied to construct a batching plant but the Planning Directorate withdrew this application. The land in question, which lies on the groundwater protection zone, was occupied by a farmer till 2012 and is classified as an agricul- tural zone in the local plan. A number of quarries and batching plants are present in the surround- ing area. Part of the site lies within a listed buffer zone due to the discov- ery of Roman remains, consisting of a cistern, in the vicinity. The development was deemed to be in breach of the Structure Plan, which does not permit urban devel- opment outside existing and com- mitted built-up areas. "It is apparent that there are no reasons from a planning point of view why the proposed development can not be located in an area desig- nated for industrial development," the case officer recommending a refusal of the development said. The proposal was also deemed to result in an unacceptable impact on the road network in the area. Exemption from EIA MEPA justifies the exemption be- cause a project development state- ment presented by the develop- ers last month provides sufficient information on the impact of the project. The project is also deemed not to have any significant environmental effects. The exemption states, how- ever, that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage should be asked to monitor any works on the site due to the possibility of archeologi- cal finds. The development will see the site transformed from an abandoned field into a series of garages accom- modating medium-sized businesses such as panel beating, car spraying, printing activities and other activi- ties. According to the Project Devel- opment Statement, the concept of this development is primarily to en- courage such businesses to go out of the village centres dedicated to residential zones. The site is considered ideal for such businesses as it is located mid- way between the Valletta port areas and the international airport. Since the site lies within an aquifer protection zone and a water catch- ment area, a rainwater reservoir is being proposed. The developer has also committed himself to seal the whole site with concrete f looring in order to pre- vent any accidental spillages from entering into the aquifer. The proposed development is to include a total of 33 industrial ga- rages at basement and ground level. According to the PDS, the devel- opment will "compliment the sur- roundings especially the airport's runway, which is considered to be close to the site". These 33 garages will be occupy- ing a total space of around 5,500 square metres on two levels. Mark Gaffarena is also a share- holder in the 'J Gaff ' petrol station in Qormi, which was recently given a three-year clearance to open again after it was sealed shut by MEPA in 2009. Proprietor Johann Gaffarena recently applied to sanction illegali- ties on the site and an additional 31 square-metre food and beverage outlet and six new car washes on the same site. Mark Gaffarena is also a share- holder in International Tobacco (Malta) Limited together with government representative on the MEPA board Joe Sammut. The deci- sion to grant this temporary permit for the petrol station was not taken by the MEPA Board, on which Sam- mut sits, but by a subsidiary board. But the Labour MP was unexpect- edly cagey on when MaltaToday tried to solicit a comment on his business relationship with Marco Gaffarena, describing it as a "a pro- fessional secret". OFFICIAL statistics have confirmed that government was addressing the issue of unemployment by engaging more people with the public service, Nationalist MP and deputy leader Mario de Marco said. According to data issued by the Na- tional Statistics Office, the number of individuals seeking employment rose by a further 541 persons, mark- ing an 8% increase. Almost 30% of workers recently employed have been engaged by the state, de Marco said. By November 2013, a total of 42,345 persons were working with the government, compared to the av- erage of 40,893 employed by the state during 2012. At the same time, between January 2013 and the first week of March, a total of 519 people were employed within the civil service. This means that at least eight persons were em- ployed on a daily basis. Reacting to this month's statistics, de Marco said it was evident that the country's economy was not creating enough activity to meet the demand of persons seeking employment. "These statistics confirm the gov- ernment's lack of vision in creat- ing employment: its first year was marked by lack of incentives in fa- vour of the industry, SMEs and sole traders," de Marco said. "It is worrying that the govern- ment has not yet submitted its plans on how to make use of over a billion euro in EU funds, approved over a year ago." De Marco said hiding the unem- ployment problem by absorbing more workers in the public service was "a failed recipe" which created enormous problems in neighbouring countries. The Nationalist MP said govern- ment could not ignore the 8,000 families who were after a better quality of living.