The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) board yesterday approved the construction of a sewage tunnel from Rinella to Ta’ Barkat as well as the construction of an urban wastewater treatment plant at Ta’ Barkat, Xghajra.
The construction of a new road from Zammit Clapp Street in St Julian’s to Reggie Miller Street in Gzira was also approved during the same hearing.
The construction of a sewage tunnel from Rinella (Saint Peter) to Barkat and the sewage pumping station in Xghajra will contribute to the implementation of the sewage master plan which is necessary for Malta to be in line with the Waste Water Directive 91/271/EC and the Barcelona Convention, which requires the elimination of raw sewage deposits into the sea.
This development permission would lead to the construction of the largest sewage treatment plant (STP). It is calculated that nearly 80 per cent of the total sewage produced by the Maltese Islands will flow through the gallery and new STP.
The proposed site for the sewage treatment plant has a footprint of approximately 41,000 square metres and the area is mostly characterised by terraced agricultural land of which a proportion has been abandoned or used for bird hunting and trapping purposes.
The tunnel covers a stretch of land of 1.7km. It connects to the existing sewage tunnel at
Ricasoli and finishes off at the proposed pumping station at Ta’ Barkat. The depth of the tunnel varies according to the sections proposed.
The Ta’ Barkat area was identified by Water Services Corporation as the best option in terms of cost, technical and social impacts and due to the close proximity to the previously identified site at Wied Ghammieq. The site was chosen as access to it was considered restrictive. Illegal development adjacent to the site would be demolished to improve access to the site.
Meanwhile, Id-Dar tal-Barunessa or as it is better known id-Dar tas-Soru will be safeguarded while the development is taking place. Mepa also required bank guarantees to ensure that no damage occurs to the site.
The permit was approved by a unanimous vote after a broad consultation exercise was carried out within the process of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
The plant is expected to be in operation within 18 months from the issue of the development permit.
It is envisaged that the STP will restore bathing quality to the 4km of coastline between Ricasoli and Marsascala, eliminate all raw sewage discharge to the sea; eliminate all bad odour emissions; increase the recreational and tourist value of the south-east coastal area; and generate treated sewage effluent.
The Planning Directorate together with the Environment Protection Directorate proposed a number of conditions to ensure that the impact of the development is mitigated as much as possible.
The Mepa board yesterday also approved the building of a new road which was proposed to eliminate the existing dangerous junction with the arterial road Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street. The proposed new road will provide an adequate and safe vehicular access in the Birkirkara Road, Mikiel Anton Vassalli Road and Zammit Clapp Hospital area. This should also relieve the residential traffic from Birkirkara Road which provides access to Sliema and St Julian’s.