A Development Control Application to allow a development in an area adjacent to the Ta Kandja pumping station and galleries in Siggiewi has been approved

The application to build a brick factory was submitted many years ago. The original submission of plans to build the factory were denied in 2004. One of the main reasons for the original rejection was because the site stood within the Groundwater Protection Zone, and overlaid the Siggiewi Heading Gallery from Ta’ Kandja Pumping Station and also since the site is also located within a quarry, and it is in an area with an extremely high vulnerability to pollution due to reduced thickness of the unsaturated zone. The then proposed development would have therefore had a negative impact on the groundwater resource.

Speaking with this paper, a MEPA representative explained that the above reason, as well as others, had been solved by the architect, having moved the location from being directly over the water galleries to another location within the disused quarry.

The actual structure, as passed by the MEPA Board, will not be placed directly over the water galleries.

The report states that “Fresh drawings were submitted indicating a new position of site on the site plan”.

A part of the disused quarry will also be turned into agricultural land.

Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar had, in 2008 when the plan was still to build over the galleries,  said that where national drinking water supplies are concerned, nothing short of proof beyond all doubt of the effectiveness of mitigation measures can be accepted. It had maintained that there were no fail-safe guarantees that cracks or fissures would not develop in the waterproofing membrane that had been recommended as a precautionary measure.

The current site will have a layer of concrete as well as a thick water membrane built underneath the structure to prevent any problems. During discussions, certain MEPA Board members, as well as the architect himself expressed concern that all care must be provided, regardless of the fact that the plant will not be built over the galleries. In addition, fuel oil tanks will be provided with sufficient containers to hold any abnormal leak or spill of fluids.

Speaking with The Malta Independent FAA Coordinator Astrid Vella said; “The Ta’ Kandja pumping station is the most important groundwater production source for public drinking water".

In the report, the applicant contends that the main concern with the application was that the location of the brick factory was going to be built directly on top of the Siggiewi Heading Gallery. For this reason they proposed the relocation of the factory to another area of the quarry.

No environment impact report was produced as the project was exempt, however the environment directorate imposed a number of detailed recommendations

“With regards to infiltration of pollutants into the aquifer, the brick making process does not directly produce these pollutants,” the applicant said in the report.