The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) yesterday approved the application for a civic amenity site at Tal-Kus in Xewkija, Gozo.

The approval was met with disappointment by the Xewkija local councillors who were present at the meeting and had vehemently opposed the building of the amenity site.

A civic amenity site is a facility where the public can bring and discard a variety of household waste such as paper, plastic, metal and glass and bulky waste including tyres, refrigerators, electronic products, waste from DIY activities and garden waste.

However, a WasteServ official insisted that with its maximum height of 900mm, the civic amenity site will not be very conspicuous in the existing disused quarry in which it has been located. He said it will have a minimum intrusion on the site, while at the same time contributing to a cleaner environment.

Xewkija local council consultant Lino Bianco said the amenity site is in the middle of the Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park, and that it encroaches on sites of archaeological and ecological importance.

He said the amenity site application runs counter to numerous structure plan policies and local plan policies. He implied that the decision to locate the amenity site at tal-Kus was taken behind closed doors. Mr Bianco added that during the Environmental Impact Assessment, the Superintendence for the Cultural Heritage was not informed about the proceedings, as proved by a letter sent by the superintendence to Mepa dated 8 November 2006. Mr Bianco, quoting the letter, said the superintendence objects to all development which may jeopardise historical remains.

Xewkija mayor Monica Vella noted that only the local council objected to the amenity site being built at tal-Kus, implying that other entities were not informed. She said the council is in possession of a Mepa permit which grades the ecological importance of the site on a grade from 1 to 3. She added that Nature Trust International recommends that Mgarr ix-Xini, the only untouched area in Gozo, should be safeguarded.

Dr Vella said the council has for the last three years taken part in a EU programme which led to the creation of Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park, one of only 10 currently existing in the union. She asked whether the development should be carried out, even if scientists and archaeological experts say that the site is not suitable and should be preserved.

Councillor Donald Pace said Xewkija currently houses an industrial estate close to a housing estate, a huge Maltacom antenna, two abattoirs and plans are under way for an airstrip.

Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja said that development cannot be stopped for every complaint or disagreement presented to the board. At this point, the Labour-appointed board member Joe Brincat voiced his disapproval of this approach and called it unlawful. Consequently, Mr Calleja called for a close session of the board meeting, in which it sought legal advice.

After the meeting was re-opened to the public, the board voted in favour of the project. Dr Brincat voted against it and requested that his disapproval be noted in the minutes.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Dr Vella said the council will appeal against the decision.

More parking at Cirkewwa terminal

During the same meeting, the Mepa board also approved the revision of the Cirkewwa car park, marshalling area and terminal building design. The permit provides for a 46-bay increase in car park capacity, as well as increasing the coach parking volume by an additional 14 for a total of 31 coaches. The new design also increases minibus capacity by 11, and car marshalling by 17 spaces.

The board also approved a new flat roof, incorporating overhangs as shading devices and a solid tower instead of the previously planned curved roof and glazed tower, which housed a circular stairway.