Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/599604
6 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 NovEmbEr 2015 News Committee clears first hurdle for Luqa fireworks factory extension James Debono An ad hoc technical committee has cleared the first hurdle for an application to upgrade the exist- ing St Andrew's fireworks factory in Luqa which would involve the construction of six new stores on ODZ land. The adhoc committee was ap- pointed to conduct risk assess- ments for new applications for fireworks factories before these are submitted to the Malta Envi- ronment and Planning Author- ity (MEPA). The application will now have to clear the necessary planning process. Five other applications are be- ing discussed by the committee but only one has been given clear- ance so far, a spokesperson for planning parliamentary secre- tary Michael Falzon confirmed. The committee is chaired by Inspector Sandro Camilleri from the police force and includes Sergeant Patrick Vella from the armed forces and Carmelo Brif- fa. The new policy regulating fire- works factory complexes states that "prior to the submission of a development application to MEPA, the proposed design of a fireworks factory complex must be submitted to an 'ad hoc technical committee' appointed by the minister responsible for planning and which will have the role of guiding proponents on the technical parameters to be adopted within such complexes in order to examine design and take into account operational considerations and with a view to assess and reduce associated risks. The licensed fireworks factory is located on a large 11,598 square metres ODZ tract of land which is described as "underutilized" in the planning application submit- ted by the fireworks enthusiasts. The complex, located in an area known as Ta' Hal Saflieni, is partly covered by a planning permit issued in 1973. The pro- posed complex will consist of 26 rooms. The proposal involves the con- struction of six main stores, a reservoir, new storage and processing rooms, blast walls with sand bags, the installation of a new firefighting system, the construction of a chain link fence, the re-levelling of the site to ensure better access, the re- moving of "inappropriate" trees and the planting of new ones and the sanctioning of a number of pre-1967 structures. The factory is within the 183 metre safety limit from Triq Garibaldi and Triq Patri Indri Schembri. Majority against any development on Natura 2000 sites James Debono An absolute majority of 51% of Maltese respondents to a European survey believe that any "economic" development should be prohibited in "protected areas" such as natura 2000 sites and other designated ar- eas. The Europe-wide survey on bio- diversity, conducted by Euroba- rometer, shows that the Maltese are keener on prohibiting develop- ment on protected sites than the European average. In fact 46% of all Europeans express this view. Moreover while 41% of Europe- ans think that economic develop- ment in protected areas can be acceptable if it is for a major pub- lic interest and its damage is fully compensated through mitigation measures, only 32% of Maltese do so. The view that no development whatever should be allowed in pro- tected areas was strongest in Italy (62%), Portugal (61%), Greece and Cyprus (59%). This suggests that respondents in Mediterranean countries where tourist develop- ment often encroaches on pro- tected areas are wary of any kind of development in these areas. Only 30% of Poles and 25% of the Dutch express the same view. The survey indicates that a large majority of Maltese would like pro- tected areas to remain untouched by development. This contrasts with planning policies approved in the past months, which allow a number of developments, rang- ing from stores and agri tourism rooms to fireworks factories, in buffer zones to areas of ecologi- cal importance, which are also an integral part of the natura 2000 network. But the pro-development lobby is slightly stronger in Malta than in Europe. While only 7% of Euro- peans think that economic devel- opment should always take prec- edence even on protected sites, the percentage rises to 11% in Malta. The survey also shows that 17% of Maltese, compared to just 10%, have heard about and understand the meaning of the natura 2000 network. While 73% of Europe- ans have not heard about it, the percentage falls to 57% in Malta. A quarter of the Maltese have heard about it but do not know what it is. Awareness of the natura 2000 network varies widely across Mem- ber States. There are only three Member States where a majority have heard of the natura 2000 net- work: Bulgaria (75%), Finland (74%) and Slovenia (58%). In sharp con- trast, just 4% in the UK and 15% in Denmark and Germany mention having heard of it. FAA on Castille wires fiasco: authorities violated Heritage Act HErITAGE and environment nGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) condemned the Superintend- ence for Cultural Heritage for allow- ing invasive works on Auberge de Castille's facade, and in a statement pointed out that the building is of- ficially protected by Structure Plan Grade 1, which means that "build- ings are of outstanding architec- tural or historical interest that shall be preserved in their entirety" and that demolition or alterations which impair the setting or change the ex- ternal or internal appearance… will not be allowed. The installation of a new lighting system for the Auberge involved the drilling of circular holes up to five centimetres in diameter that punc- tured various cornices in the sched- uled building's facade to make room for a new wiring system, leading to a public outcry when close-up photo- graphs of the works were published in the media. On Monday, Malta Environment and Planning Authority CEO Johann Buttigieg placed the blame squarely on the the superintendence, claim- ing that the planning authority was following the law when it approved the installation works and could only issue a permit through the fast-track Development notification Order (DnO) system after clearance was issued by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. In its statement, FAA said that the law was blatantly ignored by the very persons who are responsible for protecting the nation's heritage and who hurriedly approved this highly sensitive project in 24 hours, instead of scrutinising it properly to ensure correct practice. In so doing, the FAA added, the au- thorities have violated the Heritage Act which stipulates that the State in Malta has the duty to protect, the duty to conserve, maintain, restore and to intervene whenever deemed fit, including in circumstances of misuse, lack of conservation or ap- plication of wrong conservation methods. The Heritage Act also establishes that "It shall be the function of the Superintendent to promote and en- sure the best policies, standards and practices in the conservation and presentation of artefacts, museums, buildings, monuments and sites… Before determining an application… the Superintendent may require such information including the re- sults of such tests, examinations or inspection... as he may consider nec- essary. Any person who wilfully, or through negligence, unskillfulness or non-observance of regulations causes damage to or destroys any cultural property… shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa)…not exceeding €116,468.67, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years, or to both such fine and imprisonment." In recent years, FAA said, such cases have shamefully multiplied – in September 2013 MEPA granted a permit to build a house within the boundary of the Ta' Ħagrat Tem- ples, a World Heritage Site. The FAA statement added that following group pressure, that permit is now inoperable. MEPA had also approved a mas- sive development on the Zbibu lane archaeological site, just 50 metres from an archaeological buffer zone. In October 2014 MEPA granted a permit for the building of a telecom- munications tower on the Victoria Lines, a protected Grade 1 monu- ment set in an Area of High Land- scape Value. More recently, FAA's enquiries about the structure being built at Haywharf were dismissed on the ground of it being a national security project. "The carbuncle that sprang up there could have been built in a pres- ently unused and less conspicuous part of the Grand Harbour, instead of ruining Floriana's bastions vista, a prime tourist area designated for a quality yachting project," the FAA said. "In all of these projects Malta's laws have been blatantly violated by MEPA, the responsibility of Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who operates out of the Office of the Prime Minister. Shockingly, none of these develop- ments were opposed by the Super- intendence of Cultural Heritage, which is responsible for ensuring that restoration works are carried out correctly. Will these two, as the competent authorities, fine them- selves? The silence of the Superin- tendence and the dormant Commit- tee of Guarantee is outrageous in the face of the rape of our heritage," the statement added. The installation of the new lighting system required the drilling of circular holes up to 5cms in diameter that punctured cornices in the 1574 building's facade The Ghadira Nature Reserve is a fully protected bird sanctuary within the EU Natura 2000 network Part of the site earmarked for the construction of new stores in Ta' Hal Saflieni in Luqa