James Debono
The government has applied to develop a caravan site on an area designated as a Special Area of Conversation and protected by the Habitats Directive, at il-Prajjiet in Mellieha, opposite the Popeye Village.
The site also falls within the boundaries of the Majjistral Park.
According to the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, the government wants to set up a professional and organised caravan site which should be privately managed to ensure proper standards.
The project will host space for 75 caravans and will abide by “international standards,” the ministry says.
The site was identified following studies by MEPA on possible locations for caravan sites.
MaltaToday asked the ministry whether the new caravan site will be used to relocate caravans from Ghadira Bay in Mellieha, but no answer was forthcoming. The government will have to vacate the Ghadira caravan site if a new road passing behind the Danish village and Ghadira bird sanctuary is eventually approved.
The ministry claims the area is “mostly disturbed land” due to dumping from rock-cutting from the construction of the Anchor Bay quay and the road leading to it.
MEPA had issued an enforcement order against the deposit of construction material on this site back in June 2008 but no action was taken to remove the rubble.
MaltaToday can also confirm that part of the area also includes garigue and agricultural land.
A similar application to develop this land as a water-park and a caravan site had been presented by a private developer in 2006. The application is still pending.
The ministry insists there is no connection between the two applications.
When contacted, Mellieha mayor Robert Cutajar said that he had requested more information from the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs before pronouncing himself on this issue.
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