Environment and Resources Authority ignored on Kalanka development

The Planning Authority has approved an application to remove bird traps, “to reinstate land for agricultural use” and convert illegally developed structures previously used by trappers into an agricultural store.

The application was presented by Kenneth Abela, a registered farmer and owner of a billboard company, who has also applied to re-open a hotel in the area.

Interviewed by MaltaToday last year Abela had justified his interventions in the area as a way to eradicate illegalities on the site.

But in a memo sent to the Planning Authority, the Environment and Resources Authority denounced that garigue in the area had already been covered by soil. This was confirmed in a site inspection carried out by ERA on February 2.

“It has been observed that deposition of soil and site levelling have recently taken place on site to reclaim the garigue despite the status of this application which is still pending decision and no permit has yet been issued”. 

ERA has informed the Enforcement Section of the Planning Authority for any further investigations that may be necessary and reiterated its objection to the proposal. 

The case officer had also originally made it clear that the reinstatement of the site for agricultural use is not acceptable since the site is karstic landscape and was never used for agricultural purposes. 

In a previous report ERA noted that over the years, the site has been systematically altered with apparent land scarring as a result of bird trapping activity. This was carried out before Abela took over the land in question and decided to stop these activities.

But ERA also pointed out that “the present application is seeking to reclaim the remaining karstland through further soil deposition” to be used as a leverage to obtain permission for the sanctioning of the existing structures on site (bird hides) and the construction of new ancillary facilities. 

The agricultural store which has been legalised was constructed before 1988 and consisted of a 30m2 structure. An additional 5m2 was added by 2008. Another 13m2 structure has also been regularised.

The case officer argued that the proposed reservoirs, pump room and wind turbine are not acceptable since the site consists of karstland and not agriculture as confirmed by ERA. 

But during the EPC meeting the applicant provided proof that the land described as karstland by the both the ERA and the Planning Directorate was “registered agricultural land”.

The development is located within the scheduled coastal cliffs, and is afforded a Level 2 degree of protection as an Area of Ecological Importance. The ERA has warned that approval of this proposal would also set a precedent for similar proposals in the area which cumulatively would result in further adverse impacts on the overall natural state of the area and the natural landscape. 

The ERA had proposed the removal of the existing structures “to allow the area to regenerate to its natural state”. 

The Environment and Resources Authority is also objecting to the proposed erection of a 1.8 metre high wall around the derelict Kalanka hotel also owned by Abela, which is now being proposed for re-development, but the PA has ordered the case officer who opposed the development to submit conditions for approval.