Dwejra damage: environmentalists concerned at repeat of Mgarr ix-Xini incident

Yesterday, production company Fire and Blood Productions apologised for the incident, explaining that the damage had been caused by its subcontractor who “did not adhere to certain conditions of the clean-up procedure”, as detailed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

It has meanwhile been confirmed that the substance used to create the effect of a sandy beach was in fact con construction waste lifted from hardstone quarries: known from previous experience to be extremely hazardous to marine environments.

Also known as ‘ramel’ (sand) in Maltese, crushed hardstone aggregate is rich in lime, a natural disinfectant which sterilises water and kills micro-organisms, with disastrous effects on sea life.

Previously, six environmentalist NGOs had expressed shock and dismay that MEPA had agreed to grant a filming permit at Dwejra – a national park of immense ecological importance, as well as a Natura 2000 site.

“This activity was allowed to happen on a site that is of geological, geomorphological, botanical, ornithological importance and on an area rich in Scutella fossil beds and fossilised burrows which forms part of the core zone, protected by both national and international legislation,” the NGOs said.

Now, they are concerned that apart from causing damage to the fossil-rich rock surface, some of the ‘sand’ may end up in the sea where it can cause untold damage to what is otherwise a pristine marine environment, much sought after by local and foreign diving enthusiasts on account of its unique topographical features, the clarity of its water, and the diversity of its marine life.

The problem first materialised when the ‘sand’, deposited onto plastic sheets, hardened upon exposure to rain: a recognisable property of crushed hardstone aggregate.

Martin Galea deGiovanni, of the NGO Friends of the Earth, told MaltaToday that the Dwejra damage calls to mind an analogous use of ‘ramel’ in Gozo in 2001: when a large quantity of crushed hardstone aggregate was dumped into the picturesque bay of Mgarr ix-Xini, in a bid to create an artificial ‘sandy beach’.

Much of the aggregate however dissolved upon contact with seawater – discolouring the bay a shade of milky-white – while the rest hardened on the seabed, coating the benthic environment and causing extensive damage to the bay’s natural ecosystem.

Among the ‘casualties’ of the 2001 Mgarr ix-Xini disaster was a local colony of seahorses, which is understood to have declined dramatically as a result.

Clean-up underway

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) this week ordered that the clean-up operation at Dwejra must continue without any mechanical equipment.

Once the manual clearance operation is completed, the Authority will then assess the environmental impact that the initial mechanical clean up works might have had on the site.

Following this assessment, the Authority will use the €15,000 bank guarantee imposed in the permit and/or hold the film producer liable for any further environmental damage.

In its statement, MEPA said that “environment monitors from the Authority today were on site to ensure that the removal of the sand from the site was carried out without causing any damage to the rock surface.”

The bank guarantee, the Authority said, was one of a number of conditions it imposed on the film production agency for any  eventual  shortcomings,  degradation  of  the  historical and natural  environment  resulting  from wilful or accidental  damage and  the complete  removal and  reinstatement of  the site  to the satisfaction of MEPA.  

This permit also covered filming to be carried out in eight additional natural and cultural sites, namely Mdina, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St. Elmo, San Anton Palace and Gardens, Verdala Palace, Fort St. Angelo, Fort Manoel, Cittadella and Rdum id-Delli.

Filming at Rdum id-Delli was later substituted by a request to film in Mtahleb. However, this was refused by Mepa.

The producer immediately submitted another application for filming to be carried out in the informal carpark in Mtahleb, but the Authority is still to consider the request.

According to the Authority, no damage has been reported at all the other sites.

“It is important to highlight that while MEPA issues a number of permits for filming to be carried out in cultural and natural sites, the Authority always imposes stringent conditions in such permits to prevent any foreseeable damage to these sites,” it said.

“In this case the relevant conditions were not fully observed and the Authority will be holding the film producer responsible for any damages that might have occurred,” it stated.