James Debono
The Development Control Commission (DCC) has saved a centenarian Norfolk Pine tree after it finally turned down an application to build an apartment block in Manoel Dimech street in Sliema.
The tree, also known as an Awrikarja, faced felling when a MEPA case officer failed to take note of the tree, located in the building’s garden.
The Awirkarja is one of three remaining pines found in Sliema. The others are in St James’s Street and at Villa Drago in Tower Road.
Two recent additions are in Bisazza Street and at the Independence Gardens.
It was only after a report in MaltaToday in 2006 that the case officer’s report was amended to take note of the tree, and the five-storey development was eventually turned down.
The developers re-applied, this time for a four-storey development and the complete demolition of the existing building, except for the facade at the first floor.
Surprisingly, MEPA’s own Natural Heritage Advisory Committee concluded that the proposed development and the tree “cannot reasonably co-exist”, adding “that there is no overriding case for preservation” and that “there would be no objection for the uprooting of the trees in question.”
The case officer’s report simply called on the developer to replace the uprooted trees with 20 indigenous trees in a site approved by MEPA.
The Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs had also granted a permit for the felling of this tree.
But on Wednesday, the DCC board refused the permit despite the favourable recommendation, because the depth development was deemed to impair neighbouring back gardens.
Environmental NGO Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar called for the scheduling of the tree, saying that the refusal did not prevent the developer from re-applying with fresh plans providing more garden space.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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