Construction waste dumped at L-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa was taken there purposely to be used to fix vandalised rubble walls, according to the local council.

The Sunday Times of Malta reported that last week a government truck dumped the construction waste close to the quaint chapel in a Natura 2000 site.

The newspaper also published photographs of the waste that mainly consisted of boulders from a demolished house.

In a statement yesterday, the Mellieħa local council and the Mellieħa Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists Association said the construction waste was transported on site to repair broken parts of rubble walls.

Many were ignoring the fact that camping in the area was not permitted, and vandals had destroyed parts of the walls, the council said.

Furthermore, the majority of some 100 trees planted in the area had been destroyed. The council planned to revise its by-laws to ensure better surveillance in the area through local wardens.