Oil depot demolition: Auditor regrets conflicting advice
The oil depot in front of the bastions (top) and how the bastiosn will look after demolition of the building.
The Mepa auditor has found nothing irregular in the process followed by the Authority for the demolition of a British-built oil depot in Kalkara but has commented negatively on the conflicting expert advice given.
The government’s EU-funded project to demolish the building and restore the Vittoriosa bastions behind it was approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board in July, with Labour Party representative Roderick Galdes being the only one to vote against.
Subsequently, Mr Galdes had requested Mepa auditor Joe Falzon to investigate the application’s planning process.
The report, seen by this newspaper, found no indication of irregularity but said Mepa should insist on proper documentation when applications involving buildings of potential historical merit were assessed.
Without entering into the merits of the application itself, Mr Falzon reserved harsh words for the conflicting advice given by heritage experts.
In this case, the Superintendent of Fortifications and the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage were in favour of the application while the Environment Protection Department and the Heritage Planning Unit were against.
While lauding the credentials of the Superintendent of Fortifications, Mr Falzon said he got the impression the superintendent was acting as a “consultant of the applicant”.
“I still have to see a report commissioned by the applicant, which is not favourable to the proposals of the applicant,” he said, speaking in general.
Insisting he was not comfortable with the way expert advice was obtained in this case, Mr Falzon said it would have been appropriate had Mepa held a meeting for all parties together so that a common recommendation would have been presented.
As for the allegations by Mr Galdes that there may have been pressure on one or more of the experts to come up with a positive recommendation, the auditor said he could not find any indication this happened but would not categorically exclude it either.
The Heritage Advisory Committee had changed its opinion on the development after receiving a detailed report on the fortifications by the Superintendent of Fortifications, Stephen Spiteri.
When voting against the project Mr Galdes had insisted that while the bastions were of historic importance the oil depot also had historical value.
However, the Mepa board decided the building was unrelated to the historic fortifications and served mainly to obscure them from view.
The project will be co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is expected to cost about €46,000.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
11 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
michael fenech
Oct 10th 2009, 19:36
What about that eyesore or scandalous apartment building that is sandwiched right between the Bastions???????????????
Roderick Cutajar
Oct 10th 2009, 16:58
Why not dismantle the oil depot building and erect it somewhere else. That way no one is the loser and Malta would gain on both fronts. I'm sure its not a mammoth task!
Mark Casha
Oct 10th 2009, 16:19
I wonder on what basis are people deciding what is actually historical heritage and what is not...
Apparently we have many experts. If the various Superintendents of this and that really care about the fortifications then they should spend the money first in restoring the fortifications before its too late and stop worrying about demolishing other buildings which also have a historical value.
If they were really worried about the bastions being covered how about starting with all the excessive domestic building that is sprouting in Kalkara and covering the bastions behind them? I do not find the old Oil Depot ugly at all. Its a functional building built for a purpose and not to sit and look pretty - just like the fortifications behind it. The place can easily be converted into a Museum and be used to bring more people to Kalkara.
Once you demolish something you cannot bring it back - and we have a responsibility towards future generations not to selectively edit their history just because someone one day woke up and decided to demolish a building.
Lawrence Fenech Gonzaga
Oct 10th 2009, 15:56
I feel that all buildings and constructions blocking any part of our Bastions should be removed to give the Bastions the grandeur they deserve.
The biggest eyesore is the quantity of grass, shrubs and trees growing all over the Bastions around the Island.
A look from Ta'Xbiex towards Valletta Bastions is the perfect example.
I am also against the proposed plan for the National Theatre and Independence square as proposed by the expensive Renzo Piano.
J. tonna
Oct 10th 2009, 14:41
If those asking for investigations want to be taken seriously they should be asked to make a deposit (for the expenses incurred) which should then be lost if nothing is found irregular. The call for investitagions are very frequent nowadays.
Vince Ellul
Oct 10th 2009, 13:11
I if understand right, the auditor, Mr. Falzon, investigated this case because the PL representative was against and asked for an enquiry. Dose this mean that the auditor has the duty (and the power) to investigate ANY of the hundreds of applications that are regularly approved by the majority of the MEPA board if a single member of the said board says so? Or he investigated because it was Mr Galdes? No wonder things are getting out of hand, because it seems that whatever the government decides to do for the benefit of the 3 cities, people like Galdes, being from Qormi,dose not feel what the residents of the 3 cities want. I hope that John Boxall will continue to show his love for Birgu and will not let a Qormi PL MP put more spokes in the wheel. I hope that the oil depot will be DEMOLISHED immediately.
V. Formosa
Oct 10th 2009, 13:06
The Auditor said, and I quote: "he could not find any indication this happened but would not categorically exclude it either." This is truly hilarious if not tragic. A real case of the auditor sitting on the fence. After delving into other things that seemingly were not asked of him by Mr Galdes he comes out with a 'maybe yes-maybe no' verdict. Well done and time well spent!!
Charles Micallef
Oct 10th 2009, 11:52
The oil depot should be demolished as it is of no historical value whatsoever, and is obstructing the magnificent bastions and scenery hidden behind it……….period!
John Borg
Oct 10th 2009, 11:35
Mr Galdes commenting on the demolition of the oil depot ? Can't he just ask the opinion from one of the greatest lovers of Cottonera, its bastions and Birgu above all i.e. Birgu Mayor John Boxall. OIL DEPOT apart, congrats Mr Boxall for your great work in favour of BIRGU. Being a BORMLIZ, I can understand the feelings/satisfactions of the people from Cottonera that truly love their area. An area that definitely all MALTESE should be proud of.
Julian Zarb - Tourism Journalist
Oct 10th 2009, 11:07
We seem to spend hours, even years on useless campaigns and protests that are so obviously a waste of time! In the meatime, we ignore those areas of our heritage that really matter! An eyesore like a naval oil depot does not count as HERITAGE for God's sake! I wonder whether those people who dreamt this false sense of patriotism are really doing it genuinely or, perhaps, they may have some kind of hidden agenda. Let us use these blogs and these opportunities to comment SENSIBLY.
j busuttil
Oct 10th 2009, 10:15
Time consuming investigations which are not worth much. The oil depot was erected by the British when heritage counted nothing. Now this anti heritage eyesore will be demolished so that the Birgu bastions will appear again in their greatness. AND WHY THE PL WAS AGAINST SUCH DEMOLITION WHEN THAT DEPOT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT THERE? LABOUR IS ALWAYS NEGATIVE.