Qortin rehabilitation to be completed in two years

A project for the rehabilitation of the former landfill at Qortin, near Xaghra in Gozo, will be completed by 2012, the Mepa board was told this morning.

The board unanimously approved the project but a decision on turning the former dump into a recreational park will be subject to a different permit.

Officials from the Resources Ministry explained that gases from the disused dump are already in the process of being extracted from the site. The site would then be 'remoulded' and capped with limestone and material to encourage vegetation.

The site covers some 50,000 square metres, part of it overlooking Marsalforn.

The permit includes a number of conditions including a financial guarantee of €50,000. Any excavation below two metres of the bedrock level will have to be supervised by the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage.