The Times
Friday, December 9, 2011

‘Boathouses must not get power supply’

The sprawl of boathouses at Armier seen in the background

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Seven environmental groups are appealing to the planning authority to refuse a request to build an Enemalta substation to provide electricity to the illegal Armier boathouses.

Approving this application “will go down in the annals of our history as one of the most irresponsible, illegal and unjust precedents the planning authority has ever set,” the groups said in a statement.

Ramblers Association of Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Friends of the Earth and BirdLife are “strongly urging” the planning authority board to refuse the application, in line with the case officer’s recommendation. The request comes up for decision next month. The substation, for which an application was filed by Enemalta in 2007, would strengthen the power supply to the estimated 800 illegal boathouses built in the protected ecological area of Armier, the groups said.

“The existing squatters have, in the past, convinced Enemalta to supply electricity to their habitations. This was not enough – they also convinced Enemalta to apply for a new substation,” they argued.

The case officer, “rightly so”, recommended the development for refusal, as illegal development in the area would benefit from it.

The seven groups quoted the case officer report which said: “There is no reason, from a planning point of view, as to why the substation should be permitted, considering how the proposed structure is aimed at providing services to beach rooms that are used as illegal holiday homes proposed to be demolished through the structure plan policies.

“Approving this application will simply encourage more building abuse that the planning authority claims it is trying to stamp out,” the groups said.

Times of Malta
Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 15:41

NGOs insist Mepa should turn down substation application to serve boathouses

The 'boathouses' at Armier.

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Seven environmental NGOs insisted today that the Mepa Board must turn down an application by Enemalta to build an electricity sub-station in Marfa - serving people who built 'boathouses' without permits.

The board is due to decide on the application on January 6.

The NGOs are the Ramblers Association of Malta, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Din L-Art Helwa, Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta and Birdlife Malta.

"Approving such an application would simply encourage more of the building abuse that Mepa claims it is trying to stamp out. As such, an approval of this application will go down in the annals of our history as one of the most irresponsible, illegal and unjust precedents that MEPA has ever set," the NGOs said.

"For a member of the European Union that prides itself on its sense of democracy and justice to allow prime land to be illegally seized, and subsequently have this occupation blessed by a government desperate for votes on the eve of not one but two elections, is a betrayal of every tax-paying citizen on these Islands," the NGOs said.

They said the area of 67,000 sq mt of land at Armier bay is illegally occupied by 800 illegal structures, "but if the squatters' political arm-twisting is successful, this will increase tremendously."

The NGOs explained that an agreement signed with the Nationalist government on the eve of the 2003 election could extend the existing 67,000 square meters to around 231,000 square meters or 230 tumuli of public land, against an annual rent of €350,000. The pledge was renewed by the leader of the Nationalist Party just before the 2008 elections when he committed himself to “consult with Mepa” on the pending applications. The squatters’ lobby has also made back-room agreements with the LP just before the last two national elections, the NGOs said.

In 2004, Armier Developments, the squatters’ company, submitted applications proposing the development of 1,589 rooms, five playgrounds and a bowls pitch, a minimarket, three restaurants, a two-storey garage, three community centres and a clinic in an area spanning Ramlet il-Qortin, Ta’ Macca u l-Armier, the Barriera tal-Ahrax quarry, Little Armier and the Torri l-Abjad zone.

Parts of these areas are supposedly protected as Areas of Ecological Importance (Habitat Directive), Special Protection Area (Birds Directive), Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance and Special Area of Conservation - International Importance.

"The existing squatters have in the past convinced Enemalta to supply electricity to their habitations. This was not enough – they have also convinced Enemalta to apply for a new substation in order to strengthen the supply to their 'boathouses', the NGOs said.

The Mepa case officer has recommended refusal by the Mepa board on the basis that this substation would benefit illegal development in the area.

In his report he said: "there is no reason, from a planning point of view, as to why the substation should be permitted, considering how the proposed structure is aimed at providing services to beach rooms that are used as illegal holiday homes proposed to be demolished through the Structure Plan policies".

The Planning Directorate is therefore advising the MEPA board to turn down this application.

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 14:44

NGOs support farmers' bid against Nadur Cemetery development

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Nine NGOs are supporting Nadur farmers in their bid to halt cemetery development that will damage freshwater springs that have been used for centuries.

The NGOs are Nature Trust (Malta), Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, the Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Moviment Ħarsien Ħondoq, Youth for the Environment, Grupp Universitarji Għawdxin, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta) and Ramblers' Association.

For over five centuries the terraced citrus orchards below Nadur have been fed by the Għajn Qasab springs funnelling rainwater from around 200 tumoli of adjacent garigue.

The Order of St John recognised the benefits of this precious freshwater resource and many of their stone channels still distribute the spring water in the terraced fields according to a traditional system of one weekday assigned to each farmer for irrigation.

The freshwater at Għajn Qasab provides the livelihood of these farmers cultivating approximately 5,000 citrus trees and vegetable patches below these springs.

In 2006, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved a 600 grave cemetery, at the very heart of the site despite objections by farmers who feared the contamination of these natural springs.

The permit, issued against all technical advice, saw the excavation with heavy machinery of the site above the springs, destroying historical techniques dating back to the knights, shattering bell-shaped wells that stored water, cutting off one of the valley springs and causing damage to the others, the organisations said.

In August 2008, when excavations commenced, the farmers requested a prohibitory injunction.

The court expert, whose expertise was contested by the farmers, stated that in his opinion "the construction of the cemetery will not have any detrimental effect on the quality or quantity of spring water that is used by farmers".

However, farmers' affidavits to Mepa testified to "considerable spring deviations, resulting in a two-third loss in spring water irrigation, loss of farmland dedicated to vegetable cultivation, the purchase of second-class bowser-delivered water, less citrus yields, and the shrivelling of numerous citrus trees".

This, they said, all adding up to a decline in their livelihoods. They also testified that during last year's rainy season dust and cement turned the spring water milky due to the savage excavations above the springs.

Last March, Mepa issued an enforcement notice as the developer abusively violated the permit conditions. The farmers fear that due to these violations in construction methods, the springs will in future be contaminated with dead body fluids, causing a fatal blow to the valley and their livelihood.

A report presented by hydrologist Marco Cremona noted "the very evident deterioration" of the quality of the farmers' water sources after the commencement of excavation works to make way for the cemetery.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the contamination is linked to the excavation and construction works at the cemetery, not least because the site of the cemetery lies just upstream of the farmers' springs.

"Moreover, the fact that the contamination increases (to a level that even becomes visible to the untrained eye) immediately after a rain event also shows that there is a direct and immediate hydraulic connection between the site of the cemetery and the farmers' water supply," Mr Cremona said.

The farmers appealed against the permit but the applicant continued with the excavations "at his own risk".

The Mepa Planning Appeals' Board is now examining the appeal and shall deliver judgment on December 15.

"The farmers are conscious that the Water Framework Directive, signed by the government in 2000, considers the monitoring of inland waters as urgent since these require a high degree of protection under national legislation and under the EU Habitats Directive.

"They still look to Mepa to uphold this legislation safeguarding their livelihood, and to ensure that this national natural heritage is kept alive for future generations. The NGOs call on Mepa to halt this development and rather look at the Eco Gozo vision which the present legislation is promoting for Gozo."

6th Nov 2011: From Sea Level to Highest Point - Part 1

Walk led by Simon

Duration: 5 hours

Approx distance: 13 km.

Walking up from sea level

6th Nov 2011: From Sea Level to Highest Point-Part 2

Ta' Dmejrek - approx 210 meters above sea level

6th Nov 2011: From Sea Level to Highest Point-Part 3

Photos courtesy of Censu Fenech

Saturday, November 5, 2011 , by

Lino Bugeja

Put your walking boots on

Beauty of Malta is just a ramble away for everyone and it’s so easy to find out

The Maltese countryside in late autumn. Photo: Romano Cassar

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The Ramblers’ Association of Malta has just launched its Autumn Walks programme including scenic routes through some of the finest and most exhilarating walking areas in the Maltese archipelago.

These popular walks encapsulate the main aims of this active NGO, mainly to promote rambling as a means of a better quality of life, to foster awareness and empathy towards Malta’s exceptional natural beauty and historical heritage and to ensure a more congenial environment throughout the Maltese countryside and coastal zone.

It may surprise visitors but after the first rains, the Maltese islands make a dramatic change as the dry, almost forbidding summer landscape rapidly changes, offering the most fascinating walks in the central Mediterranean region. They present a superb array of scenic landscape rich in geological and archaeological features, secluded beaches, ancient coastal towers, wayside chapels and vernacular art scattered in remote corners far from the hustle and bustle of the fast track of our lives.

This series of circular walks has been carefully planned to take in the rugged coastline scenery, impressive views of rock formations, a Bronze Age village (c. 800BC) complete with the bell-shaped silos then used for the storage of water or grain and the many rural characteristics dotting the Maltese countryside. These include the giren (corbelled huts), notarial deeds carved on stone, mġiebaħ (beehives) on the wild thyme covered xagħri (garigue), cart ruts, cave settlements like Għar il-Kbir in the limits of Dingli and the barumbari (pigeon houses).

Some of the walks in late autumn reveal the richness of our flora with over 1,000 varieties of delicate flowers foremost of which is the pyramidal orchid mainly growing on the garigue. The English mystic poet William Blake marvels about seeing “heaven in a wild flower”, in which case an endless paradise awaits the rambler in Malta with a feel for nature.

A walk along the green valleys of Wied Liemu and Wied Ħażrun , both rich in mediaeval remains, may regale the seasoned rambler with the discovery of the lost mediaeval chapels of St Nicholas and St James or a hamlet standing in solitary splendour.

This year, the Ramblers’ Association will be furthering its global aspiration in promoting international understanding through rambling when overseas groups will join the local clan in their pursuits.

For more information contact the Ramblers’ Association at ram205@gmail.com.

Mr Bugeja is honorary president of the Ramblers’ Association of Malta.

A silo pit in a Bronze Age settlement (c.800BC) in the limits of Ta’ Żuta. Photo: J.M. Falzon

The majestic cliffs along the northwest coast of the Maltese islands Photo: Romano Cassar

The pyramidal orchid, arguably the queen of the rich Maltese flora. Photo: Annalise Falzon

The secluded and inaccessible bay of Fomm ir-Riħ limits of Baħrija. Photo: Romano Cassar

Friday, October 28, 2011, 17:57

NGOs call on Mepa to refuse new Hondoq application

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A number of environmental non-governmental organisations are calling on the planning authority to refuse an application by the Qala Creek developers for a swimming lagoon.

In a statement this evening, Moviment Harsien Hondoq, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ramblers Association, FOE Malta, Nature Trust, GUG, Din l-art Helwa and Wirt Ghawdex said that in the face of an overwhelming outcry against the proposed Hondoq project to develop a large hotel and hundreds of real estate units around a yacht marina, the developers of Qala Creek have decided to drop the idea of the marina at Hondoq Bay, limiting themselves to a 'swimming lagoon'.

However, in the 2009 EIS coordinated report the developers themselves stated "the project would struggle if it had to be developed as a stand-alone hotel".

They said that to be successful the hotel needed to be part of an integrated project with features that differentiated it from other hotels.

When discussing revenue projections, the 2007 version of the report stated: "The hotel on its own is not commercially viable. It can only succeed and be sustainable if it forms part of a much larger complex which will attract interest by potential patrons to reside at the hotel. The marina development could act as such an attraction."

In the 2009 version this was modified to: "The hotel will be successful and sustainable if it forms part of a much larger complex which will attract interest by potential patrons to reside at the hotel. The marina development could act as such an attraction."

The NGOs said they, therefore, failed to understand how the developers could now eliminate the marina and claim that the complex would remain financially viable, as required by the Environment Impact Assessment.

"This eleventh-hour submission of new plans shows that the developers are intent on pushing through this venture in complete disregard of the social and environmental impacts of the project, ignoring the fact that the local community and also general public opinion has expressed itself against the project.

"The environmental NGOs therefore urge MEPA to refuse such a project and to revert the land to its original designation as a nature park.

"The Qala Local Council has already looked into the various aspects of creating an environment and heritage park, a project that would draw much-needed tourists to Gozo, and support existing hotels and catering establishments."

A petition on the project can be found at:

http://raxerri.com/soshondoq/

8th Oct 2011: Wied is-Sewda Walk Part 1

Walk from Marsa up to Rabat, through the Wied is-Sewda valley system.

Walk distance: about 16 km

Walk duration: 4 1/2 hours

Walk leader: Simon

Some photos below:

The confluence of the Wied id-Sewda and Wied il-Kbir valley systems

Minerva enlightens me.