Hunters have joined environmentalists in an appeal for Swieqi’s scenic valleys to be protected from development following several planning applications in recent weeks.
The hunters’ federation (FKNK) yesterday said further development in Wied il-Kbir would mean the destruction of another natural Maltese valley, covering an area of some 5,000 square metres.
“This valley leads to another valley, Wied Għomor, which has recently also been eyed by speculators for development,” the federation said. The development was stopped, at least for the time being, as a result of protests made by several nature conservation entities, which included the active participation of the federation, the hunters said.
“These valleys, both scheduled as Areas of Ecological Importance and Sites of Scientific Importance, are the last remaining outlets situated in the most built-up area of Malta – the north harbour district – where nearly a third of the Maltese population lives, are vital to both the physical and mental well-being of the residents.”
Loopholes allow rural structures to be developed into villas with pools, on land which should have a lower economic value
Last week, the Planning Authority refused an application for a sprawling villa on ODZ land overlooking the valley. The Environment and Resources Authority had objected to the proposed development, flagging up concerns over the intensification of development and adverse impacts on the character of the valley.
In a statement ahead of the verdict, environmental organisations warned that granting the permit would open the gates to many other developments and spell the ruin of another of Malta’s valleys.
“ODZ areas are being attacked through various loopholes or through the Rural Policy Guidelines,” the organisations said, “which allow even rural structures to be developed into villas with pools, on land which should not even be developed and so should have a lower economic value because of its limited use.”
In May, the PA turned down an application for an old people’s home in a disused quarry in Wied Għomor. Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat has since said the council was “inundated” with new development applications and was struggling to cope.
The two valleys, which are mostly agricultural but also support maquis environments with a large number of carob trees, originally discharged rainwater runoff into a saltmarsh before this was obliterated by development.