A government project to convert a disused fireworks factory into a pyrotechnics storage depot in Dingli’s scheduled countryside has been shot down by an army of objectors.
Filed by the Justice Ministry, the project had proposed demolish the building and replace it with 36 stories, a nine-storey water reservoir holding more than 250,000 litres, and the uprooting of trees on site.
However, the application was rejected by the Environment and Planning Commission after several directorates disagreed with the project.
Located in an area known as Il-Qaws, limits of Dingli, the site is surrounded by countryside and accessed through a country lane.
The planning authority’s officer on the case failed to recommend it for approval, saying the area was of high landscape value.
“The proposed development could contribute to the degradation of the ecology and the site’s value and would have a significant negative impact with the possible intensification of land use”.
The project was highly contested by the Dingli local council, which argued the area was listed as a special area of conservation and Natura 2000 site for its ecological and scientific value.
The site would also “create a continuous hazard” to residents and nearby farmers. No environmental study was carried out and no details were given about the route to be used by trucks, the council added.
The project also gained the disapproval of the environment directorate and natural heritage advisory committee because of “possible negative environmental impacts”.
A number of clarifications were requested by the environment directorate about whether the depot would store chemicals or ready-made fireworks, details about the site operator, and whether access would be controlled, among others. However, this information was not provided.
The project did not even win clearance from the explosives committee because of the possible danger to farmers. The layout failed to allow enough space between the stores and “if one store explodes, it would create an excessive blast effect,” it said.
Enemalta also objected because of the nearby electricity supply.