Eyesore left unfinished for two years pending MEPA process
James Debono An ugly skeleton concrete structure still dominates the promontory of the Dwejra Natural Park nearly two years after MEPA stopped the construction of an interpretation park due to deviations from approved plans.
But MEPA is now at an advanced stage of processing a new planning application, which seeks to amend the original permit. The developers are now proposing a wooden canopy instead of a concrete structure to accommodate a restaurant set on top the interpretation park.
“This application primarily seeks to mitigate the visual impact of the interpretation centre as a whole and replace the upper tier of the existing concrete structure with a wooden structure,” a spokesperson for MEPA told MaltaToday.
The Dwejra saga Originally the Qawra Tower in Dwejra was earmarked as a visitors’ centre, avoiding the need to construct any other buildings within the site. However, this option was dismissed by MEPA as the tower was not accessible for the disabled.
Following this setback, the San Lawrenz council issued a public call for interested parties who could provide land for the construction of the interpretation centre.
The only interested party, Joe Cassar, offered to build the premises on condition that the visitors’ centre is placed downstairs whilst the upper area would be managed by himself.
MEPA had already turned down Cassar’s application for a restaurant on the same site on three separate occasions between 1998 and 2000.
But in March 2007, MEPA had no problem approving the catering establishment once it was incorporated into an interpretation centre.
Yet, after work started, MEPA cited possible deviations from approved plans to stop the works a few days after the March 2008 elections.
A new application seeking to amend the original permit and demolish part of the existing frame structure was presented by the owner in May 2009.
The new application still includes a dining area covered by a wooden canopy set on the upper level.
Commenting on the application in June 2009, MEPA’s natural heritage panel observed that the proposed amendments “relegate the Interpretation Centre to a small room which constitutes just 17% of the total floor area of the two levels”. But the same panel decreed that since the new proposal represents an improvement over the currently approved structure, the panel found no objection as long as a number of conditions were strictly adhered to.
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