Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/679878
JAMES DEBONO THE newly set-up Environment and Resources Authority is ob- jecting to a proposed four storey old people's home in an ODZ area in the vicinity of the Santa Lucija state school. ERA informed Healthmark Care Services that it is objecting to the proposal "since it would result in urban sprawl and land take-up at the expense of undeveloped rural land". The developers were also in- formed that if they intended to proceed with the project they would have to prepare an Environ- mental Impact Statement. At a meeting organised by the Santa Lucija council in December, 2014 Robert Sarsero, the architect of the proposed old people's home, revealed that 250 beds could be leased to the government while some 100 could be rented directly by the developer. Sarsero, who is also a member of MEPA's Appeals Tribunal, referred to various precedents where per- mits for homes for the elderly and other developments were granted in ODZ, a case in point being the home for the elderly in Mellieha. He said that because the pro- posed development had a commu- nity aim, it would be permissible with the SPED (Strategic Plan for the Environment and Develop- ment). While the site in question is near the Santa Lucija boundary, it falls within the Luqa boundary. The Luqa Local Council some months ago issued a press statement that it opposed such a proposed develop- ment on this ODZ site. The four-storey home for the el- derly is being proposed on 4,472 square metres of ODZ land along Luqa Road. Sarsero filed the application on behalf of applicant Neville Schem- bri, a director and shareholder in Healthmark Care Services, a com- pany providing home care and support services to seniors and persons who need help at home because of illness or disability. An online petition, 2,400 signa- tures strong, is urging the Plan- ning Authority to refuse this application. In 2007 the Malta Environment and Planning Au- thority had set a precedent by refusing the construction of 12 maisonettes in the same zone that is now being identified for the de- velopment of the private residence for the elderly. The case officer's report recom- mending the refusal of the 2007 application for 12 maisonettes states that the site was designated as an area of agricultural impor- tance, a valley protection zone, a strategic open gap, and an aquifer protection zone in the South Mal- ta Local Plan. The site also lies within the flight protection zone and is outside the limits of a buffer zone identi- fied for the overhead 33KV power lines. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 MAY 2016 News ERA objecting to Santa Lucija home for the elderly Saudi Arabia issues temporary ban on Malta's bee colonies SAUDI Arabia's agricultural minis- try has issued a temporary ban on the importation of all bee colonies from Bahrija as a result of the Euro- pean Foul Brood (EFB), a very com- mon disease of honey bees. It is also expected that Saudi Ara- bia issues a temporary ban on the importation of bee colonies from Wardija as well after EFB recurrenc- es were recorded in both areas. Despite the ban, the Veterinary Regulation Department said that "no major consequences" to the trade of bee colonies are foreseen. Foul brood is the bacterial disease of honey bee brood and is caused by the bacterium melissococcus plu- tonius. The first occurrence of EFB was recorded in Malta in 2005. However, the Veterinary Regula- tion Department has confirmed that two recurrences were recorded over the last two months in Malta. Since EFB is a disease required by law to be reported to government authorities, Malta is compelled to notify this disease to the World Ani- mal Health Organisation. The infection has the propensity to remain dormant within individual colonies and activates itself if the bees are stressed. In the case of Mal- ta, the department explained, the infection reactivated itself because forage – pollen and nectar – is not available in sustainable quantities. Saudi Arabia is free from EFB and has implemented the restriction that applies to Bahrija, as the region af- fected. Wardija, the department confirmed, will soon be added to the list. EU legislation provides for national programmes for certain diseases, including EFB: if a country can dem- onstrate it is free from EFB, it can require additional measures to keep out the disease as part of the intra- trade health certification.