Wied Għomor, a valley nestled between San Ġwann and Ibraġġ/Swieqi, last Thursday made it to the headlines because of the public hearing at the Planning Authority over an application to rehabilitate a quarry.
The crux of the uproar was that this restoration was appended to the building of a retirement home. This had two implications: that the development was, in fact, in an Outside Development Zone, and secondly, contrary to the recommendation of the Social Facilities and Community Care Topic Paper, it is not close to or within a town or village centre.
The developer was portrayed as a ‘hero’ by submitting such a socially-minded application. Environmental NGOs and residents from the affected localities know better. This valley system is the last large open space left within the North Harbour District. And this district is the most populated one in Malta – home to 29 per cent of the population according to the Demographic Review (NSO 2015). The next largest district is the Southern Harbour with nearly half this amount (18.7 per cent).
The same report shows that the highest numbers of deaths in Malta are related to circulatory system diseases (40 per cent) and respiratory diseases (10 per cent)...both attributed to lack of excercise and poor air quality.
The strong message sent by residents last Thursday showed how exasperated they were with the incessant development, especially in Swieqi, and the consequences this is having on the declining air quality, besides having a negative visual impact.
On the eve of the hearing, Health Minister Chris Fearne was reported by the media as saying that 41 per cent of schoolchildren in Malta have been classified as obese, with a higher incidence in boys than in girls.
The government is trying to educate people about diet. However, equal importance must be given to burning calories through exercise. The lack of open spaces and other distractions, such as computers, are cutting society off from the outdoors and encouraging a detached and sedentary lifestyle.
How about turning these eyesores into natural parks by applying ecological restoration techniques?
The valley system, which includes Wied il-Kbir, was scheduled by the then Malta Environment and Planning Authority as an Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance, in 1999.
The valley, being composed of lower coralline limestone, is very important in allowing the replenishment of the mean sea level aquifer as it is very permeable. The valley slopes are described as having a significant aesthetic value and are of scientific importance in terms of hydrogeology and geomorphology.
The PA website describes the valley thus: “Although mostly agricultural, the area supports maquis communities, composed predominantly of carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua). Important species within this valley system include cage thistle (Atractylis cancellata), evergreen rose (Rosa sempervirens), Maltese spider orchid (Ophrys sphegodes subsp. melitensis), club-moss (Selaginella denticulata), Sicilian squill (Scilla sicula) and Mediterranean meadow brome (Bromus commutatus subsp. neglectus).”
Research by Nature Trust, through various experts, has revealed that other species here include the Iris, Iris sicula, the Hawthorne tree, the Pheasants’ Eye (a rare flower), Adonis microcarpa, and the rare ferns Anogramma leptophylla and Ranunculus ficaria.
The Friends of the Earth Bee Project, conducted recently (February 2016), discovered at least 16 bee species – a large variety compared to two other sites investigated. Bees are important pollinators, which ultimately provide food.
The ticket used by the developers and their architects was the ‘eyesore’ factor. It is incredible how this mentality – of replacing an eyesore with another development – is still pervasive nowadays and is leading to a mushrooming of applications in ODZ.
In fact, a mere 570 metres away is another ‘eyesore’ – a disused cow shed whose owner “will be making another proposal which does not go beyond the footprint of the existing abandoned livestock farm”, after he retracted the proposal for a tourist village.
Another application is that of a villa in Wied il-Kbir, which would, if accepted, incorporate two vernacular rural rooms in a space of 5,000 m2. So the threat continues.
On a tiny island of just 320 km2, can we honestly continue abusing of our ODZ? How about turning these eyesores into natural parks by applying ecological restoration techniques?
The government should take the opportunity to use ‘eyesore’ ODZ areas as opportunities to help owners of such land transform them into outdoor leisure and exercise zones which would encourage the population to be more active.
The long-term health benefits of such a pathway should not be underestimated. This would be the ultimate win-win, long-term, sustainable solution for an overpopulated island with an obese population and a land owner with ‘dead space’.
Spent coralline limestone quarries have the unique natural rugged look of cliffs, once nature takes over. The rehabilitation possibilities and potential uses are endless. Using quarries for industrial areas is just as wasteful as dumping treated sewage water in the sea.
info@naturetrustmalta.org