Malta Arch is asking members of the public to e-mail the Planning Authority at representations@pa.org.mt by Friday and object to the destruction of the Tal-Wej area, in Naxxar. (The e-mail must have the subject heading PA/09387/17.)

Tal-Wej is a Class A area of archaeological importance and is of major environmental significance. There is an application for the removal of the topsoil there, an act of profound environmental and archaeological destruction.

The application states that the removal of soil is for “archaeological study”. However, this action obliterates archaeological information. It also threatens a rare rock pool habitat – an area containing critically-threatened species such as the tadpole shrimp and endemic species, including the painted frog.

Malta Arch (a community group that advocates for the protection of Maltese archaeology) fears that this “archaeological study” is merely a pretext for future development, such as we have seen with the recent destruction of the site at Tal-Qares, Mosta.

The Archaeological Society Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa have already expressed “disappointment that this application should even be under consideration”. Upon this site are Punic tombs and cart ruts. The surrounding soil contains information that can be used to date these features. Removing the soil under the pretext of an archaeological investigation is “unwarranted, methodologically flawed and damaging”.

Any development whatsoever needs to be banned. This region must be protected for scientific and archaeological study as well as for the enjoyment of future generations.

On behalf of Malta Arch, we thank you for taking action to preserve and protect Malta’s archaeology and environment.