Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/550022
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 AUGUST 2015 News 9 JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Planning Authority has heeded the objections of Transport Mal- ta and has deemed the proposed development next to a Lidl su- permarket in Luqa as not being "in the public interest". Lidl was proposing a galvanised steel shading device on the exist- ing carpark equipped with solar panels and an outdoor children play area. The proposed develop- ment was rejected on Friday. Although the development it- self was not objectionable as it was located within the commer- cial site's grounds, the case of- ficer pointed out that Transport Malta had strongly objected in view of the location of the devel- opment in the approach path of Runway 23, which has been des- ignated as a Public Safety Zone. The public safety zone is meant to protect third parties outside the confines of the airport from potential catastrophic aircraft incidents. "The development site is lo- cated within the critical public safety zone, which is considered to carry notable risk," the report calling for a refusal said. The supermarket itself was ap- proved by MEPA in 2007, against the advice of both the Civil Avia- tion Directorate and the Malta International Airport, which both had objected because of the proximity of the development to the runway. In its letter against the planned playing field, Transport Malta had recalled that it had "strongly objected" to the development of the supermarket in 2007 and pointed out it is objecting to the latest application "for the same reasons". Signs in the car park erected after the permit was issued, still advise the general public that the site is located "within the direct path of low-flying aircraft" and therefore exposed to health and safety risks… "particularly in the event of an aircraft accident". Legal Notice 80 of 2004 pro- vides that when low-flying air- craft, at or near an aerodrome, are likely to be hazardous to people or vehicular traffic, the aerodrome operator is obliged to post hazard warning notices on any public way that is adjacent to the manoeuvring area. A report by former MEPA audi- tor Joe Falzon confirmed that the permit for the supermarket was approved by MEPA despite the objections filed by the Civil Avi- ation authorities and the Malta International Airport, because the supermarket was located within 250m of runway 23, and its height was 2.5m higher than the runway approach protection surface. The permit was even approved despite a previous refusal for a car hire firm to build a garage, because the site is within the public safety zone on the ap- proach to Runway 23. MCAST reserves the right to accept or refuse in part or in whole, any or all tenders submitted. Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology Administration Building, MCAST Main Campus, Corradino Hill, Paola PLA 9032. T: 2398 7100 F: 2398 7316 E: tenders@mcast.edu.mt www.mcast.edu.mt Invitation to tender Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future MCAST T. 15/2015 TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF SOFTWARE TO THE MALTA COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Tender documents may be requested by email (on the email address below) or collected from the Purchasing Department at the MCAST Administrative Building (at the address below), from Monday to Friday, from 08:30hrs to 13.30hrs. Tenders should be placed in the pre-addressed envelope and deposited in the appropriate tender box at the MCAST Administration Building, at the address below, by no later than Friday 21st August 2015 at 11:00hrs. The Principal of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology notifies that offers from interested parties will be received for: EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND 3.102 86% of companies not abiding by enforced disability quota TIM DIACONO THE vast majority of Maltese companies bound to a newly- enforced disability quota are not employing enough disabled peo- ple to meet it. Employment and Training Cor- poration (ETC) statistics reveal that 1,052 companies employ over 20 people and are therefore required to maintain a disabled employee quota of at least 2%. However, eight months after the scheme was announced, only 144 (13.7%) of these companies are actually meeting this quota, with the remaining 908 (86.3%) falling short of the law. The law that 2% of the work- force of companies employing over 20 people must be composed of disabled people has technically been in place since 1967. Yet its lax implementation by employers and the persistently high unem- ployment rate among disabled people prompted the government to announce in this year's Budget that they will be enforcing it for the first time. The law passed in Parliament on 15 July and com- panies now have until the end of September to meet their quotas or face a fine for every disabled person they should be employ- ing. The fine will be set this year at €800 for every disabled person who should be employed by law, and will rise to €1,200 in 2016 and €2,400 in 2017. The fee will be capped at €10,000 per com- pany, and the money generated through such fines will go to a national fund for the integration of disabled people. The ETC has sent a letter to all companies to notify them of their status and has offered to help those in breach through a public- private partnership, the Lino Spi- teri Foundation, that has been set up to help match disabled people with jobs that match their skills. The foundation, named after the late finance minister and author, also aims to support disabled employees through job coaches. It is spearheaded by business- man Joseph Gasan as chairman and long-standing Inspire CEO Nathan Farrugia as executive di- rector. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has argued that the mainstream- ing of disabled people within soci- ety starts and finishes in schools, and has promised that invest- ment in the disability sector will be one of the government's main priorities for 2015. The 2% rule has been in place since 1967 but never enforced Lidl development 'not in public interest' Lidl was proposing a galvanised steel shading device over the existing car park