Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/571192
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 16 SEptEmbEr 2015 News Drainage flowing from pipes in Santa Marija estate JaMeS Debono The stench is nearly unbearable, made worse by the still summer air, as drainage trickles from a plastic pipe, going down the Wied Zejtuna valley, possibly right up to the sea. This was confirmed by a visit by a MaltaToday journalist to the site a few days ago. The situation was first brought to light in a report compiled by the Ghaqda Residenti ta' Santa Marija estate. The residents had complained about the in- discriminate trenching of the valley bed and the laying of plastic drainage pipes, which results in the diversion of the natural watercourse beneath Triq Ghajn Zejtuna. In 2010 a report by MePA's enforcement directorate made it clear that "the installation of the pipes together with the engineering works related to the storm or drainage water from high levelled villas down into the water course at lower levels, required a development permit" and no such permit was ever issued. An enforcement order issued by MePA in 2010 against the installation of large diameter pipes without permit is still pending. A report by biologists Jeffrey and Arnold Sciberras had also denounced the installation of sewage pipes directly over the riverbed of the valley. The re- port was published in MaltaTo- day in August 2010. According to the two biolo- gists the impact of this inexcus- able action on the dynamics of the valley is "glaring, grievous, and scandalous and infringes every environmental tenet and every principle of sustainabil- ity avowedly exhorted in the Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands." They claimed that the devel- opment is resulting in severe damage on both the surround- ing areas because storm water is no longer able to seep harm- lessly into the riverbed. In- stead, storm water is rushing downstream in aggressive tor- rents, which could erode banks on the riverbed further down- stream. even mature trees could be uprooted and caused to top- ple over. Damage to the sewage pipes could also create havoc as raw sewage starts to f low down the valley into the other, as yet untouched, areas of the riverbed. The report also expressed concern about the future of the fresh water crab, which is known to inhabit the valley. The Sciberras brothers express concern that, due to the vari- ous modifications of the valley, storm water is rushing down the riverbed towards the sea much more aggressively, carry- ing with it a great deal of de- bris, including loose stones. This could actually crush these crustaceans and it might even wash away their burrows altogether, destroying their habitat. The authors speculate that, in this manner, their pop- ulation is being periodically decimated, preventing them from establishing a thriving colony. Store approved beneath Fort Bingemma JaMeS Debono MePA has approved the con- struction of a new agricultural store immediately underneath Bingemma fort, a historical building located in an Area of ecological Importance. A letter issued by the parlia- mentary secretary for farming, fisheries and animal rights re- veals that the applicant was only registered as a farmer on 18 Sep- tember, 2013 and subsequently applied for eU farming subsi- dies. Both MePA's environment Pro- tection Directorate and MePA's advisory committee on natural heritage had strongly objected to the development because the site is designated as an Area of high Landscape Value. "The proposed construction is considered inappropriate due to the sensitive nature of the area and the relevant scheduling," the natural heritage panel said. But the Superintendence for Cultural heritage, while noting that the development is located in the immediate vicinity of tomb clusters of high importance, has not objected to the development of a store in the historical fort. The Superintendence has simply insisted that works are moni- tored by an archaeologist, which it approves. The newly set up Agriculture Advisory Committee had also objected, noting that the new store was not necessary as "it is evident that there are (other) structures and buildings" on ap- plicant's holding. In fact the case officer had originally objected to the devel- opment because applicant Kevin Bezzina already had enough stor- age place on his holding. The policy sets a 15 square me- tre limit to the size of stores for holdings which are between four and 10 tumoli in area. But the recommendation was changed to a positive one after Bezzina, who was represented by the architectural and design firm XYZ Limited, submitted evidence that the existing illegal store had been removed. The updated case officer report states that the architect had pre- sented evidence that the "illegal structure has been demolished." A condition being imposed on the developers is to surround the store with trees. Three indig- enous trees will be grown by the developer to mitigate the visual impact of the new structure. Fort Bingemma ODZ 'adjustment' foreseen by MEPA chairman JaMeS Debono MePA chairman Vince Cassar has signalled that the Authority is once again revising development zones approved by the previous admin- istration in 2006. While excluding any "indiscriminate enlargement", the MePA chairman referred to an adjustment of boundaries. "I am not in favour of further indiscriminate enlargement of already existing Development Zones, however I recognise that there are a number of anomalies that need to be addressed and ad- justed." Cassar made this declaration in his introduction to this year's MePA annual report. The local plans were set to be finalised in June 2015. Writing in the same report MePA CeO Johann Buttigieg re- vealed that the plans are now be- ing assessed by the government. Cassar argued that past deci- sions like the extension of build- ing zones in 2006 and the intro- duction of areas of containment where industrial development is allowed in parts of the ODZ, had led to further anomalies being created. he also expressed his view that whenever new sites are added to development zones, the param- eters for such development should be established by the Planning Authority and not by the develop- ers themselves. his comments echo those of planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon who in an inter- view with MaltaToday in Decem- ber also excluded a major exten- sion of development boundaries but confirmed that boundaries may be extended in some cases. "The general political direction is that the new local plans will not double or triple the size of the development zone… We are say- ing clearly that as far as possible the development zone will not in- crease." But when asked why the gov- ernment does not simply keep boundaries as these are today, Fal- zon justified tweaking the 2006 boundaries by accusing the former government of being "creative" in including certain lands and not others. "even from an aesthetic point of view it would make sense to include lands which were left out unfairly," the minister said, while adding, "there is no intention to repeat the obscenities committed in 2006." Curiously the 2006 extension was also justified as a way of rem- edying anomalies created in 1988 when the newly elected PN gov- ernment rushed to introduce the first development boundaries, leaving out a large number of plots earmarked by previous building schemes. In the report Vince Cassar also expressed his frank views on MePA's enforcement, which he describes as "weak". While argu- ing that the daily fines system introduced in 2012 is effective, Cassar still considers the fines as being on the low side. "I am still of the opinion that the fines are on the low side and should be increased a hundredfold." Conveyor of drainage, creating an unbearable stench Vince Cassar – not in favour of further indiscriminate enlargement of ODZ