MEPA comes clean on Ramla reinstatement works

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) said the recent reinstatement works carried out in Ramla il-Hamra Bay were approved after it was satisfied with the detailed method statement that was submitted by the Ministry for Gozo.

"As in previous years, works commenced in the very early hours of Friday morning so as to leave the bay open and not create any inconvenience for visiting tourist and the public," the authority said.

MEPA explained that the reinstatement works were carried out using a backhoe loader and a tractor shovel, under the supervision of an engineer and two Gaia Foundation representatives as has been the case over the past 13 years.

The authority also confirmed that it was impossible for the large accumulation of pebbles to be shifted by hand, as had been pointed out by marine biologist and former PN candidate Alan Deidun on the social media. The accumulated pebbles were spread along a length of 30 feet by 10 feet, at an approximate depth of 4 feet.

"The pebbles, located on the beach, were carefully shifted by the tractor shovel and gathered into a pile such that time to transport pebbles with the backhoe loader was kept minimal."

Additionally, the large number of pebbles which were accumulated on the sand dunes were all removed manually by beach cleaners under the supervision of Gaia representatives, MEPA noted.  

The Roman Villa remains, as instructed by Heritage Malta, were covered again with sand following which pebbles were cushioned manually to ensure that they remain protected.

"The works carried out, as confirmed by Gaia Foundation, did not affect the ecological integrity of the site but restored the normal state of the beach that was disturbed by the denuding of sand beneath the Belancourt Battery and the presence of the said stones, extraneous to the natural elements of the beach," MEPA said.

Gaia Foundation, an environment NGO, responsible for the management of this site confirmed that absolutely no intervention took place on the sand dunes.

The NGO said the stones extraneous to the site were removed while excess amount of pebbles were placed along the water course, to remain within the natural eco system.

"The works carried out did not effect the ecological integrity of the site, but restored the normal state of the beach that was disturbed by the denuding of sand beneath the Belancourt battery and the presence of the said stones extraneous to the natural elements of the beach," the NGO said.