Planning authority enforcement officers removed more than 23 large truckloads of illegally dumped material and scrap from Il-Ponta ta' Delimara, where, over the years multiple illegalities were carried out compromising the sensitivity of the site.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said this morning the dumped material was removed in direct action from close to the historic Delimara Lighthouse and from an area which accommodated a series of very large trapping facilities that had been illegally formed by dumping over the natural terrain.

Three rooms, used mainly for bird-trapping and hunting and which were in this part of the site, were also demolished.

The area of 30,000 square meters spans from next to the Delimara Lighthouse down towards the tip of the Delimara peninsula. It lies within an area of high landscape value and ecological importance for coastal and cliff communities.

In the past, the British military had also used it as an anti-aircraft installation and old photos show a number of AA gun positions within this area.

Enforcement action had already been taken at the same site had already been taken in May 2002, when illegally dumped and scrap material, as well as a number of vehicles had been removed. The occupant, however, persisted in his illegal activities and built a residential unit on site.

Back in 2002, the costs of the direct action operation were billed to the Lands Department as the land owner but this time, following amendments to the law, the occupant of the site will be made to cover the costs.

The action was taken on Thursday morning and in the early evening when the action for the day had terminated, the authority was notified that a prohibitory injunction had been presented to the Courts to stop any further direct action.

MEPA’s enforcement personnel were assisted by the police from the administrative law enforcement, headed by Insp. Ramon Mercieca.

More actions are planned for the coming days.