News | Sunday, 30 August 2009

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Government applies for ODZ caravan site in Marsascala

James Debono
While Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has solemnly promised zero-tolerance on outside development zones (ODZs), the government wants to develop a caravan site in the ODZ of iz-Zonqor, in the vicinity of the Marsaskala national pool.
This newspaper has learnt that part of the area earmarked for the caravan site is heavily degraded. Back in March, MEPA issued an enforcement order against various derelict vehicles which have been dumped on the site.
But the area also includes agricultural land, which forms part of a rural conservation area where development is normally not allowed.
Back in 1995, a proposal to build a reverse osmosis plant on the same site was dropped, following objections by the Planning Directorate.
The government has also applied to develop another caravan site at il-Prajjiet, opposite Popeye Village in Mellieha. This particular area is designated as a Special Area of Conversation and protected by the Habitats Directive.
Part of this site is also degraded, and MEPA had issued an enforcement order against the deposit of construction material on this site back in June 2008. To this day, however, no action has been taken to remove the rubble.
MEPA is currently considering eight applications for caravan sites, four of which are located in Mellieha, two in Bahar ic-Caghaq and one in Marsaskala and Marsalforn respectively.

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