Qala valley development application rejected

The Mepa Development Control Commission this morning turned down an application for the building of apartments at Ta' Marga valley in Qala.

Several Environmental NGOs, particularly the The Ramblers' Association, Friends of the Earth and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, had expressed concern that approval of the development would have ruined the valley.

The application was turned down after the DCC chairman pointed out that all three expert reports had raised concerns and none of them gave an approval to the projects.

One of the experts, Marco Cremona said the project would impede rainwater flow and impact the water storage capacity of the farmers.

The DCC was also presented with a petition by 30 farming families who said the projects would impact on the agricultural potential of this fertile valley and their livelihood.

Alan Deidun said said this area held one of the last surviving example virgi, a form of cane and disturbance of the waterflow would endanger it.

The hyrologist's report said the change in the water course could cause flooding in the area and future residents might have rights to sue the government for damage.

Astrid Vella, speaking for the NGOs, said that shortage of water was Malta's most pressing problem especially as the UN had placed Malta in the eight worse position after a study of 180 countries. She insisted that projects which negatively affected natural water sources should be rejected.

DCC Chairman Elizabeth Ellul said that although the site only marginally spilled into the ODZ area, with most of the proposed building within the permitted development boundary, holistically the DCC felt that this development was going to negatively affect the environment, especially the watercourse of the Qala valley.

"Our priority, when deciding development applications is to ensure that sustainable development principles are followed,” she said.