Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/758493
9 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2016 News Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas Notification of Applications for Measure 4.4: Support for Non-productive Investments linked to the Achievment of Agri-environment-climate Objectives The Director General Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, notifies that applications for Measure 4.4: Support for non- productive Investments linked to the Achievment of agri-environment-climate objectives of the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 will be recieved from Monday 5th December 2016. M4.4 supports non-productive investments envisaged to contribute to the achievement of agri- environment-climate objectives and will include the restoration of habitats and landscapes, soil conservation, and water management where there is no significant economic return to a farm or other rural business from such action. The Application Form and relevant documentation (including the list of eligible actions) will be available on the Managing Authority webpage: www.eufunds.gov.mt Applications may be submitted at the Front Office within the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change (MSDEC) at Pitkali Markets, Ta' Qali (l/o Attard) every Monday and Thursday between 07:30 and 15:00 or at the Front Office, Governmental Experimental Farm, Xewkija, Gozo every Tuesday between 07:30 and 13:00. Farmers are reminded to bring an offical identification document when applying at the Front Office. Further information may be obtained from: www.eufunds.gov.mt or by email: rdd.meaim@gov.mt or by calling 22001108. mayor non-committal on ODZ elderly home overlooks the scheduled area and is in the vicinity of the primary school, Boxall insisted that the council needs to discuss the issue before he takes a stand. The application was filed in September 2013 by Prof. Mark Brincat on behalf of St Paul Resi- dential Homes. Since then, Brin- cat has been substituted by Don- ald Magro as the applicant of the project. The latest plans envision a four- storey building over two storeys of underground parking. Labour MP Charles Buhagiar is still listed as "project architect". Buhagiar is the government-ap- pointed chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council. In 1992, MEPA had refused an application to erect garages and stores on the site presently ear- marked for the development of the old people's home. But in 1997 the authority issued a permit to Joseph Gaffarena's son Marco, to erect a maisonette and a garage over a small part of the site. Civil aviation reiterates objections to Lidl's Luqa supermarket Tribunal refuses Lidl appeal against solar panels, canopies and play area in car park located in the airport's safety zone JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority's En- vironment and Planning Review Tribunal confirmed a decision by the authority in 2015 not to issue a permit for shading canopies, solar panels and a play area in the car park of the Lidl supermarket in Luqa. The supermarket itself was con- troversially approved by MEPA in 2007, against the advice of both the Civil Aviation Directorate and the Malta International Airport, which both had objected because the supermarket is located in the safety zone of the runway. But Lidl's architect, Kurt Camill- eri Burlo, pointed out that if "Me- pa didn't find these objections worthy in 2007… I do not see why such reasons for refusal would be considered as reasons for refusal now". But called to the witness stand, the Civil Aviation's Directorate Operations Officer, Stephen Mus- cat, insisted that "10 years ago the permit was issued despite the objections of the Civil Aviation Department" and the same objec- tions still hold to the newly pro- posed development in the super- market's car park. Lidl also pointed out that "there are numerous developments and roads that have been permitted within the airport's safety zone". They also argued that runway 24 is a secondary runway that is rarely used by commercial air- craft due to the prevailing north- westerly winds. According to Lidl the height of the canopies is only 2.68m high. "Trucks passing by Triq Hal Qormi are higher than that. Why would 2.68m be an issue?" they asked. But Muscat replied that the road and other developments in the area were present before the Civil Aviation Department issued a policy banning any development in the safety zone. He also clarified that the policy applied to develop- ments resulting in the congrega- tion of a large number of people. The Civil Aviation Directorate also warned that the proposed so- lar panels on the canopies could result in light being reflected in a way which would affect pilots while landing and no building de- velopment should be permitted due to the possibility of "aircraft accidents taking place in the area and as a measure to safeguard property and people." Signs in the car park erected af- ter the permit was issued, still ad- vise the general public that the site is located "within the direct path of low-flying aircraft" and there- fore exposed to health and safety risks… "particularly in the event of an aircraft accident". Legal Notice 80 of 2004 provides that when low-flying aircraft, 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 in 2010 confirmed that the permit for the supermar- ket was approved by MEPA de- spite the objections filed by the Civil Aviation authorities and the Malta International Airport, be- cause the supermarket was located within 250m of runway 23, and its height was 2.5m higher than the runway approach protection sur- face. 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 approach to the run- way. Caution shoppers: low-flying aircraft around these parts...