Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/842553
2 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 2017 News EIA proposes omission of tunnel from Kalanka plans Visual impact considered a "major negative one" AN Environmental Impact As- sessment warns that the con- struction of a tunnel linking the proposed Kalanka hotel (for- merly the Delimara Bay Hotel) and the beach could undermine the stability of the cliff and sug- gests that the negative geologi- cal impact of this development would be minimised if the pro- posal is dropped entirely. "The omission of the tunnel and beach facilities would con- siderably mitigate the impact of the scheme in respect of the geomorphology of the area and the stability of the cliff," the EIA says. The proposed 50m long tun- nel, which would breach the cliff face, would have a width of 1.8m and a height of 2m and would be excavated in the cliff face. The project involves the extraction of 2,708 m3 of rock. According to the study sensi- tive excavation will be required to ensure that the stability of the cliff face isn't jeopardised. "Nevertheless, and because of the proximity of the excavation to the cliff face and the breach- ing of the cliff face, the predicted impact of the tunnel and beach facilities on the stability of the cliff is considered to be of major negative significance". Owing to the clayey nature of the rock to be excavated, shrinkage cracks may develop on the walls of the excavation as the rock is exposed. However, this is not expected to signifi- cantly jeopardise the stability of the excavation. The study suggests that to en- sure the stability of the cliff face the excavation should not en- croach within 2m-3m of the cliff line, and that excavations close to the cliff edge are undertaken using a drum excavator, or a quarry chainsaw, so as to dis- turb the rock as little as possible. Public facilities to service the bay, including a beach equip- ment store, first aid room, and ablution facilities are also pro- posed to be constructed within the excavated cliff. Access to the bay from the hotel via the lift and tunnel would allow for wheelchair access to the rocky beach. New hotel will have negative visual impact The project proposes the re- placement of the derelict De- limara Bay Hotel with a new boutique hotel comprising 13 luxury suites, three superior deluxe suites and one presi- dential suite. Proposed ameni- ties include a lounge area, bar and restaurant, gymnasium, a spa, and an outdoor pool. The built up area will increase from 343m2 to 561m2. The existing concrete terracing to the west of the building will be replaced with landscaping. The hotel is being proposed to cater "the growing eco-tourism niche market in Malta" and as a way to increase tourism accom- modation in the Marsaxlokk area. The EIA warns that the im- pact on the landscape character of Delimara is considered to be of major negative significance. "Notwithstanding that there are existing structures on the site, the scheme will result in a large change in the rural / natural landscape with the in- troduction of a larger and taller hotel building with a modern form". Moreover, the report warns about the impacts of more commercial activity in the ar- ea, which is currently remote and not highly frequented by people. "The physical inter- ventions to the cliff, to provide the tunnel and beach facilities, and the increased activity on the rocky beach will result in a large change in the coastal landscape". The Delimara Bay Hotel was built in the 1950s, and later, due to demand, another wing and an additional storey were built. Eventually, the hotel was converted into a bar and res- taurant, which remained open until 1985. The building has since been in a state of disuse and is currently in disrepair. Kenneth Abela, the sole shareholder of Delimara Bay Hotel Ltd, filed the applica- tion in 2014. The company was registered under another name in May 2013 and had its name changed in February 2015. In 2015, Abela told MaltaToday that he signed a promise-of- sale agreement for the derelict structure in June 2015, and signed the final contract to ac- quire the land on 15 August. Comparison between the present view of the derelict hotel with that of the proposed new hotel Workers in financial and insurance service sectors earn the most Looking for a high-paying job? Look no further than the financial and insurance service sectors where the average annual basic salary stands at €29,445 MIRIAM DALLI DATA published by the National Statistics Office yet again con- firms that the employees who earn the most are those engaged by the financial and insurance services industry. At an average annual basic sal- ary of €29,445, the sector is the highest paid in Malta, followed by the information and com- munication industry (€23,033). Employees in the construction industry are the least paid, with the annual basic salary averag- ing at €15,789. The gap between occupations is relatively high: managers earn an average annual salary of €30,299 whilst persons em- ployed in elementary occupa- tions earn an average of €11,771. Maltese employees work an av- erage of 41 hours a week. The Labour Force Survey, pub- lished on Tuesday, indicates that total employment during the first quarter stood at 192,277 – this figure accounts to more than half the population aged 15 and over. The number of unemployed persons stood at 8,359 (2.3 per cent) while inactive persons to- talled 166,385 (45.3 per cent). The activity rate for the quarter under review was estimated at 68.7 per cent with the highest rate recorded among persons aged 25-54 (82.6 per cent). On average, out of every 100 persons aged between 15 to 64 years, 66 were employed. The male employment rate for this age bracket was 77.9 per cent while that for females stood at 53.0 per cent. Self-employed persons ac- counted for 13.3 per cent of all persons with a main job. The majority of employed persons worked on a full-time basis to- talling 164,727 and 27,550 had a part-time job as their primary employment. Results show that, on average, full-timers work 41.3 hours while part-timers work 23.5 hours per week. According to the Labour Force Survey, 56.7 per cent of the 15+ population have attained a low level of education. This com- prises persons with fewer than five 'Ordinary' level or equiva- lent qualifications. Among the employed population 26.0 per cent have a tertiary level of edu- cation.