Environmental NGOs have called on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to uphold its commitment to the environment and stop an outdoor event being organised at the Buskett Roadhouse on Saturday.
The party, which will host foreign DJs in Buskett, will be equipped with extremely powerful lights and sound effects including; laser, LED, eye blinders effects and fireworks, they said.
BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, the Gaia Foundation, Nature Trust Malta and the Ramblers Association of Malta said Buskett Gardens was protected under national and international law, and was listed as a bird sanctuary, a special protection area and a special area of conservation.
"Buskett is particularly important during migration when large numbers of birds of prey and other species such as herons roost inside the SPA.
"Furthermore, during the summer, Buskett is important for several rare Maltese breeding bird species, including Turtle Dove, Chaffinch, Serin and Spotted Flycatcher. Moreover, the NGOs stress that Buskett is today a Natura 2000 site and so it deserves all the protection it can get from the national authorities, mainly Mepa," the organisations said.
They said that all these species were highly susceptible to human disturbance, such as the bright lights, loud noise and large gatherings that the proposed party would entail. As was specified under the Birds Directive, it was not permitted to carry out an activity inside an SPA that might negatively damage the bird species for which the site was designated.
Due to the importance of Buskett to both breeding and migratory birds, its biodiversity and high ecological value, the NGOs called on the authorities not to allow these kinds of parties and concerts within the boundaries of the Buskett Gardens. They said the Buskett Roadhouse should be utilising the unique advantage of being placed within the boundaries of this protected area and promote its business in a manner which was more in keeping with the site.
The effect of such parties was not limited to Buskett or to birds; as of this week and right through summer the noise and light pollution as well as traffic generated by such events would be affecting biodiversity in different sensitive protected areas. The NGOs drew the authorities’ attention to the impact on residents of certain areas who were deprived of sleep throughout summer due to frequent all-night parties in their localities.
The NGOs reminded all authorities involved in the issuing of party permits that the cost to the natural and human environment should be their primary consideration.