Plans announced seven years ago for the former Maghtab site to be turned into a recreational area may be shelved.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Ministry said when contacted that while the government was going ahead with longstanding plans to landscape the Maghtab dump, no decisions had been taken over the future use of the area.
Replying to questions after reports that plans to set up a family park have been abandoned, the spokeswoman said various options for site rehabilitation were being considered at an inter-ministerial level.
She pointed out, however that “the Magħtab landfill, though capped, contains gas which is still being extracted and treated” and that the adjacent Ghallis landfill is still fully functional and it is an inherently dangerous area.
“Whilst pointing out that no tenders had ever been issued to turn the area into a family park, according to a Government statement of March 2007 wherein it had even promised a perfumed wall at Magħtab, any such plans were meant to run till 2027 and over,” the spokeswoman said.
“As always, environmental health will remain of primary concern for this government.”
In June 2012 the former government had announced it was applying for Mepa permits for the recreational park at Maghtab, in the hope that families would be able to start enjoying it in 2014.
Speaking during a visit to the landfill, then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had said the park was expected to cost €15 million of EU funds to complete in addition to €9m already used to remove gas and for rehabilitation.
PN REACTION
PN environment spokesman Charlo Bonnici criticised the government's decision, saying this was evidence of how the government lacked vision and was intent on stopping projects initiated by the former government.
He said this had been a long-term project but Wastserv had been well on the way to rehabilitate the site.