Winegrower's plea to save Ta' Qali

Next Friday marks the closing date for preliminary submissions from the public on a proposed review of the 2001 Ta' Qali Action Plan with a view to accommodating a number of new developments such as trade fairs and an exhibition centre.

But Mark Miceli-Farrugia, managing director of Meridiana Wines, which has vineyards in Ta' Qali, yesterday claimed the proposal had hardly made any noise as its impact was dampened by the fact that it was simply published as an advert in newspapers last Tuesday, just 10 days before the closing date.

The adverts, by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, actually say that a six-week public consultation process on the proposed amendments will follow.

Mr Miceli-Farrugia has already voiced his opposition in the media against a proposed temporary mega structure to host large conferences and similar events right next to his vineyards. Covering just short of a hectare, he had complained, the structure would disturb the area's eco-system and negatively affect his company's vineyards by blocking sunlight and changing the wind flows, among other things.

A billboard put up on the site of the proposed structure on Saturday informs passers-by that the "Arena One Malta Convention Centre" will open soon.

But the issue now is not just about the vineyards anymore. The aim of the review of the Ta' Qali action plan include identifying different sites for a new convention and exhibition centre, for temporary fairs and for a diplomatic mission. The revision also includes the possible adjustment of Attard's development boundary.

The international trade fair at Naxxar is set to close down when its lease expires in August 2007, which means Malta needs another site to host such fairs.

The US has indicated it wants to build an embassy on the site of the election vote counting hall in Ta' Qali.

Mr Miceli-Farrugia however pointed out that the existing Ta' Qali plan declares the zone an agricultural and recreational area of high landscape value, arguing that the proposed developments would go totally against this description.

"Such developments would ruin one of Malta's last remaining 'lungs', not to mention a large part of the view from Mdina," he emphasised.

"Many consider the football stadia and other structures in the area as marring the Mdina skyline. Surely, such facilities could have been located in a less sensitive area such as Hal-Far, for example."

Mr Miceli-Farrugia queried why Mepa was calling for suggestions for both temporary and a permanent structures. "Is the temporary tent structure a ruse for conditioning us to yet more galling, permanent structures beneath Mdina?"

The issue now no longer affected him personally, he said, but anyone who cherishes Ta' Qali as a recreational open space. "I urge people to put pen to paper before Ta' Qali becomes no different to the bleak industrial landscape of Hal-Far!"