AD, E-NGOs, residents and local council members expressed their strong sentiment against the development in Wied Ghomor today.
The Wied Għomor quarry is already an eyesore but residents are annoyed by the plans, submitted by the quarry's owners, to 'rehabilitate' it and build a retirement home. The 133-room complex would occupy eight per cent of the quarry but the structure would rise two storeys above the hole. In 2011, the Mepa board said that any development on the site could not occupy more than five per cent of the quarry but the developers argue that the extent of the developable floor space is "extremely important for the viability of the rehabilitation of the valley."
Alternattiva Demokratika, E-NGOs Front Harsien ODZ and Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, residents from Swieqi, St Julian's and San Gwann as well as some local council representatives came together in front of the Planning Authority offices, calling on the Planning Authority Board to reject the application for the construction of an elderly residential home in Wied Ghomor.
Front spokeswoman Monique Agius said that the application is set to be discussed before the Board this Thursday at 2pm. She urged the Prime Minister to keep his word and that no further ODZ development would take place. "disused quarries should not be used for further development, but rather changed into places for public recreation or used for agriculture, she said.
Front spokesman Michael Briguglio said that the Prime Minister, to hold his promise, must make the government representatives on the Board vote against the application.
Sandy Galea, a San Gwann resident said that the area is a rural conservation area outside the development zone. "It is the last green lung in the area". She highlighted that this application goes against Planning Authority Regulations. "Quarries should be rehabilitated back to its original state, not built up".
"Let make sure we safeguard the countryside for the next generations".
Other residents said that should this development go through, then undoubtedly more will follow. She stressed that there is agricultural land in the area, there are a number of species of bees and there is also the water bed to consider."If this application is allowed, roads and infrastructure would need to b built and we could end up with a situation similar to Valley Road in Birkirkara with all the flooding".
Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat was also present. He said that his council met with residents, NGOs and the developer, adding that NGOs and locals do not want this development.
He said his local council, along with the St Julian's council and San Gwann Council organised a seminar where NGOs and residents discussed the project. While they had different views the end result was for the development not to occur.
He said his locality has been ravaged by development which doesn't make sense, and that the locality's infrastructure barely copes with today's residents, let alone with the increase of resident that can occur in the coming years. "We have asked for more open spaces which we need, and have been rejected. This is the only green lung in the area and thus we are strongly against this development"..
He mentioned that this construction could set a precedent and could end up being like other built up valleys.
FAA Coordinator Astrid Vella, for her part, also said that the application goes against policies relating to elderly care The policy, she said, speaks about community integration, yet this project would place these residents in isolation. "We cannot accept that elderly care policy be dictated by developers instead of the medical community".