News | Sunday, 22 February 2009

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Nine fireworks factories await MEPA’s verdict

Three factories proposed in Rabat

James Debono
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is currently faced with six applications for new fireworks factories and three applications for extensions of existing factories.
All nine factories are being proposed outside development zones (ODZ) and seven are being proposed on land designated for its rural, archeological or ecological value.
Rabat alone is faced with three applications for new factories all located on unspoilt land in the vicinity of Buskett, Chadwick lakes and the Victoria Lines.
Rabat mayor Sandro Craus told MaltaToday the council is completely against these applications and has sent its objections to MEPA. “We already have two fireworks factories in Rabat. All three locations should be preserved as countryside and should only be developed for agro tourism,” Craus said.
A Rabat farmer who contacted MaltaToday also expressed his concern on safety. “If MEPA approves these fireworks factories our life will be in constant danger,” he said.
Two of the proposed sites in Rabat, and another in Ta’ Sansajna in Birzebbugia are also designated as rural conservation areas where urban development is prohibited by the Structure Plan.
One of the proposed factories in Rabat is being proposed in ix-Xaghri tal-Isqof, not far from Buskett. The area was noted for its “rural and scenic beauty” by MEPA when it had considered an application for two greenhouses on an adjacent site in 2002. It also lies on the groundwater protection zone.
Another fireworks factory is being proposed on agricultural land facing a country lane (Sqaq l-Isbal) that leads to Chadwick Lakes.
The third fireworks factory proposed in Rabat is located in an area known as Nadur, a site is designated as an area of high landscape value because of its vicinity to the scheduled Victoria Lines.
Another factory, earmarked at Tas-Sanap in Munxar, Gozo, is protected by the EU’s Habitats Directive as a site of ecological and scientific importance. The Gozo local plan clearly forbids new fireworks factories unless the site lies in a disturbed area like a disused quarry, where any structures would be totally hidden from view.
Two other sites, one in Mosta and another in Ghaxaq, are designated as archeological zones. MEPA’s own Heritage Advisory Committee has already decreed against the development of a dilapidated building in il-Busbejsa in Mosta because it lies in an archeological zone.
Il-Busbejsa is also designated as an area of high landscape value and lies in the vicinity of the Victoria Lines.
Illegalities in Wied il-Qoton in Ghaxaq site were only legalised by MEPA eight years ago, despite a negative recommendation by its own planning directorate in view of the site’s designation as a protected archeological zone.
Now MEPA is faced with a new application for three additional rooms on the same site.
And an application to sanction a number of illegally built rooms in the St Catherine factory in Zurrieq was also presented a few months ago.
MEPA is also faced with an appeal against conditions imposed on an approved factory in Gharb, Gozo, located in the vicinity of the San Dimitri chapel. The applicants were asked to insure the nearby chapel against the eventuality of damage caused by a possible explosion.
Back in 2007 MEPA auditor Joe Falzon blasted the approval of this fireworks factory. “If there is no danger to the Chapel of San Dimitri, why insist on an insurance policy? If, on the other hand, there is a danger, no amount of insurance money can replace a historical monument,” Falzon claimed.
He criticised the case officer for saying that no studies on the impact of a potential explosion were required simply because the chapel had incurred no damage in an explosion in August 2005. “How did he know that this was the most massive explosion possible? Is it not possible that a repeat of the accident can take place, but of more massive proportions which will cause damage to the chapel and other archaeological remains in the vicinity?”

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