Case officer shoots down 30,000sq.m obstacle course in Ta’ Qali

The development of an obstacle course on agricultural land in Ta’ Qali is set for refusal after a case officer concluded it breaches the zone’s action plan.

The agricultural plot measuring 29,830sq.m was eyed by its owners for an afforested obstacle racecourse. The project is the brainchild of Mad Fitness Limited, a company which is co-owned by developer Darren Desira and Michael Bugeja of the Bilom Group.

MaltaToday is informed that the area is still being tilled by farmers who have been offered money to vacate the land.

The developers are proposing the planting of 836 trees, including 154 Cypress trees and 114 Sandara Gums, with underground reservoirs to water them.

More than 7,400sq.m were to be covered by beaten earth for the obstacle course, and a further 3,100sq.m for the outside gym and fitness centre, and 418sq.m of hard paving for the entrance. Changing rooms and showers, sanitary facilities and an information centre with outside tables near the entrance are included in the project.

But the Ta’ Qali Action Plan designates this site for agriculture and horticulture were only buildings, structures and uses essential to the needs of agriculture can be permitted and only if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority that such development will not adversely affect water supply, the soil, and the surrounding area of high landscape value.

The case officer also contends that the proposed development runs counter to the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development because the proposal is not considered as necessary within the rural area, does not sustain agriculture and results in a negative impact on the area.

The Planning Authority has received more than 400 objections to the development including one from Moviment Graffitti which objected to the take up of agricultural land.  A final decision is expected on 28 April.

Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) is a sports activity where athletes run through a variety of different obstacles, in races inspired by military training methods to test physical and mental endurance. Courses may also include climbing over walls or up ropes, monkey bars, carrying heavy objects, and traversing bodies of water or mud, or crawling under wire or netting.