Need for ODZ Micro Enterprise Park questioned

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Environment Protection Directorate has expressed its concern on the proposed development of a micro-enterprise park in a disused quarry in Mgarr because this could open the floodgates of development in the surrounding countryside.

The proposed development foresees the development of a micro-enterprise park (SME park) within a quarry at Tal-Qormija, Mgarr, that covers an area of 8408 square metres. The proposed park consists of 33 units on two levels, which are designed for use by micro-enterprise businesses, which are active in manufacturing, vehicle repair, and cargo handling, together with a central building, which houses an administration office, a recreation room, a temporary waste storage facility, a security guard station, and a substation.

In a report issued this week, Environment Protection Directorate acknowledged that the site identified for the development is a disused quarry and is located in an area officially zoned for the construction and operation of a micro-enterprise park.

However, the Directorate expressed its concern that the proposal will introduce a free-standing industrial development within an area that is essentially open countryside, as the site is not contiguous to any committed development zone or industrial area.

The EPD also expressed concern that this development would require new access roads.

This is because it is not sufficiently clear that the existing access to the site is considered adequate, or whether the proposed industrial development will eventually necessitate any significant rerouting, upgrading or alteration of the access, thereby resulting in unacceptable environmental impacts.

According to the EPD the establishment of development commitments on the site may lead to eventual pressures for future expansion onto the surrounding land, unless adequate safeguards are put in place to ensure longer-term containment.

It also questioned the need for such a development arguing that several ad hoc permits have been issued in recent years for extensive garage industry complexes, both within and outside areas officially designated for this type of development.

The environmental assessment carried out for this development proposal also identified a number of other potential impacts on the environment, some of which are of high significance if not sufficiently mitigated.

But according to the EPD, the impacts in question can be addressed through stringent implementation of mitigation measures. These include wastes generated during the operational phase, which can be addressed through the requirement for a comprehensive operational permit covering the entire industrial park.

The site in question is one of the 15 ODZ sites in Malta and Gozo, which are officially designated for the construction and operation of Micro-Enterprise Parks in the final draft of the 'SMEs (Micro-Enterprises) Site Selection Exercise' (SSE), approved in January 2005.

The quarry was identified as a potential location for a micro-enterprise park in the first draft of a Subject Plan issued for public consultation in 2002. The plan was approved in 2005 by Minister George Pullicino.

The quarry owned by Ballut Blocks lies above the perched aquifer, which is a protected and has already been shot down by the Malta Resources Authority.

But the authors of an Environmental Planning Statement presented on behalf of the developers have shot down the MRA's objection insisting that the MRA was bound to respect the government's decision to identify this area for development.

The development will also take place on a perched aquifer - known as the Mgarr-Wardija water body. The EPS states that the water is high in nitrates but is otherwise very good for irrigation purposes.

The risk of ground water contamination is addressed through proposals for appropriate storage areas paints, thinners, oil, and other chemicals. But the Malta Resources Authority has already stated its objection to the development.

The operation of the Park could result in a significant amount of liquid waste that may be contaminated with leachates, soluble components and petroleum products. The EPS proposes an efficient surface water management system to ensure that all surface water from the Park is collected and filtered prior to its disposal in the public sewer. Another risk is posed by the disposal of asbestos related to Boat Building and Repair, Auto Electricians Garage and Mechanics Garage.

Although the project is deemed to have a visual impact, the EPS states that since the development will be embedded almost entirely into the existing quarry, it will not disturb long-distance views to be maintained.

According to the report, "impact of the proposed development on the landscape should be expected to be of high significance, principally because the type of structures that are proposed are out of character".

The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has expressed concern that the site of the proposed works is approximately 300 metres to the northeast of the Ghajn Tuffieha Roman Baths - indicating "archaeological potential".