FAA criticises approval of chicken farm in nature site

Environment NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar has criticised Mepa for its approval of a massive industrial chicken broiler unit producing 14,400 chickens annually without proper investigation. It said the structure was built abusively in the Wardija Natura 2000 site.  

"The proviso that landscaping is to be provided is risible when this huge eyesore can be seen from all the surrounding hills," FAA said.

"What is the point of giving a Natura 2000 designation, the highest degree of ODZ protection, to this area of great natural beauty and ecological importance if it is not accompanied by the equivalent protection? Why is the Natural Heritage Advisory Committee not being consulted on any of these applications?

FAA said it welcomed recent Mepa initiatives to stop stop development at al-Marga valley in Qala, Gozo and Wied il-Ghasel, Mosta, but asked  how much longer MEPA and NGO resources were to be wasted processing abusive applications.

It also criticised the application for the building of a  supermarket in a valley near Xewkija.

It recalled that in 2007 it had opposed  a similar application just four fields further down in this same valley.

"This is now the site of an ECO-Gozo valley project to clean the valley and create a water catchment area as a spring surfaces there and supports local indigenous flora. When FAA objected to the first project on the grounds of water catchment the DCC board had dismissed this argument.  Recently an illegal road has been laid across this valley to give better access to the supermarket project. What steps are being taken to remove this road, return the land to its original state and levy heavy penalties on the abuser? the NGO asked.

http://www.faa.org.mt/odz_still_under_threat