Guiding principles for positive action on Malta's tailfin

If Malta were a fish, Marfa Ridge would be its tail. Cut a rough line from Anchor Bay across to Ghadira and you have the southern boundary of the Marfa Action Plan. A favourite for public recreation because of its scenic beauty and open spaces, the rural area boasts some of Malta's finest beaches. The land is Government-owned with some of it leased out as hotels and kiosks and in some cases scheduled buildings. The plan suggests that the latter could be made available and opened to the public on special occasions.

Environmental issues have been ignored in past times when the aim was maximum exploitation of the area and environmental costs were overlooked. The pattern of land use has changed in recent times as some windswept fields on higher ground were abandoned while some areas of garrigue were turned over to agriculture. Tree planting and off-roading on garrigue areas will no longer be permitted. The plan also claims a strategy to protect irrigated land in support of a sustainable agriculture policy.

The relatively wild and undisturbed garrigue dipping and rising from Torri l-Ahmar to Paradise Bay is graded in the plan as an "outstanding landscape" with only minor detracting features and some patches of cultivation. Most of the coast along the ridge, mainly cliffs and scree is similarly graded. Much of the elevated stretch overlying Mellieha Bay is a level two area of ecological importance. Together these features help define the greater part of the ridge as a rural conservation area.

Areas of high landscape value as well as those of ecological importance deserve additional protection under the structure plan which sets a blanket prohibition on urban development in a Rural Conservation Area.

Policies related to beaches, valleys and erosion control protect sand dunes such as the remnant dune system at White Tower Bay from damage by development. Camping, vehicular trampling, removal of sand or vegetation or indiscriminate beach 'enhancement' works are all forbidden.

Recreation

A caravan site with some space allocated for tents will meet the need identified in the structure plan for overnight or short stay mobile caravan campers. No permanently stationed caravans will be permitted. To reduce the visual impact a 1.5 metre rubble boundary wall is required for screening the site complemented by approved indigenous trees and shrubs planted in groups as laid down by the plan.

Two camping sites will be permitted on the eastern half of the ridge where each site may have a one storey reception office and shower facilities. Development permission has already been granted for an area near the White Tower behind the existing illegal development. The other site is located on the Mellieha Bay side south of the shooting range.

There is a growing demand for clay pigeon and target shooting but the two sports pose considerably different impacts. The Department of Agriculture and Water Services Corporation would be consulted regarding the impact of lead shot fall-out on soil and ground water. Noise annoyance is another impact to be considered with campers and beach users at close hand.

Ferry terminal operations have claimed much of Cirkewwa. The adjacent sandy beach may suffer some impact of projected port development here. Structure plan policy MCZ4 identifies the building of quays as causing an increase in the rate of beach erosion by sea action. MEPA is ready to consider beach nourishment by topping up with material brought in.

One instance where this might seem appropriate is the extension of the private beach at Ramla Bay Hotel for the enjoyment of the public who is left with the poorer portion of the bay. In the event of any beach nourishment proposal environment NGOs specialising in marine conservation should be the first to be consulted over the issue.

In a move to balance the intense port and tourism activity on one side of the Cirkewwa peninsula, the coastline facing open sea is to be granted status as a marine conservation area. Existing structure plan policies on protecting and managing coastal areas determine that harmful development which may result in damage or loss of habitats must be prevented.

The way this policy is worded gives weight to the application of the precautionary principle where it does not have to be proven, but only suspected that damage would occur for development in a sensitive area to be prevented.

The plan states that diving activities in certain parts of the Marine Conservation Area at Cirkewwa and in the sea adjacent to the Rural Conservation Area (which includes Paradise Bay and the northern shore of Mellieha Bay) "may also be regulated according to site-specific management plans". The action plan's implementation policy leaves it up to the private sector to draw up and execute any such regulation. A ban on spearfishing should certainly be on the list of any marine management plan related to the conservation areas.

Those who value natural heritage will appreciate the efforts being made to preserve the scientifically important sand dune at White Tower Bay graded level one. Illegal development has blocked the valley lying behind the sandy beach reducing the input of sediment which enables the beach and its dunes to remain dynamic.

Further policies on marine conservation zones are to be implemented to secure public access to the coast by monitoring current beach concession agreements to ensure operators do not encroach beyond the agreed area. While it has been the Planning Authority's duty to needle the Lands Department into performing the monitoring of encroachments along the coast, this might be given more urgent attention if the task were handed over to the new batch of environmental inspectors and officers about to be appointed by MEPA.

An area has been set aside for a shore-based facility providing small boat sailors and canoeists with space to build a club house and parking area for cars and trailers. A slipway is proposed and limited pontoon facilities for temporary berthing of sea craft will be permitted.

(To be concluded)