Mepa launches special unit after Dwejra fiasco

The planning authority has set up a special unit to deal with applications for special activities following the fiasco that saw Dwejra, Gozo’s prime tourist site, covered in construction sand for the shooting of a film.

Ian Stafrace, Malta Environment and Planning Authority CEO, said on Monday that Mepa had learnt its lessons from last year’s sand saga at Dwejra, after which the local production company was fined €86,500 and ordered to pay the cost of cleaning up the mess. The sub-contractor was blamed for the mess-up.

Various reports had been written and their conclusions were taken on board, said Mr Stafrace. This led to the creation of a specific unit to deal with applications for permits to hold activities, including films.

The filming of Game of Thrones in Malta lasted over six weeks, and over a dozen heritage and environmentally sensitive sites were used, including the Presidential palaces at Verdala and San Anton, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Angelo, Fort Manoel and several prominent houses, streets, squares and areas in Mdina, Valletta, Żebbuġ, Mtaħleb and Manikata.

In Dwejra, a substantial amount of sand was scattered on the rocks close to the Azure Window. This caused a public outcry, especially due to the fact that the production company had been given a permit to do so.

The company had enlisted a local supervised team of around 20 workers to undertake a clean-up of the area, in accordance with Mepa’s regulations. These requirements involved the manual removal of the sand, without the use of mechanical equipment.

The process took six weeks and cost the production of Game of Thrones over €50,000, according to Pellikola, the local agent.