In a press conference, which began two-and-a-half hours late, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the government had decided to drop the idea following the results of detailed studies on the quality of the rock at Ghallis.
He explained that, originally, the government had resorted to the idea of using two unused quarries in the vicinity of the Mnajdra Temples as temporary engineered landfills. This decision had been taken, according to Dr Gonzi, because the government had been told that the quality of the rock at Ghallis was superior to any other rock and could be used for other purposes, such as road foundations.
This, Dr Gonzi admitted, was “a wrong assumption”. According to the government’s original plans, it would have taken around three years to excavate the site as planned, including digging to a depth of 35 to 40 metres.
“Now we have detailed studies, which were audited by UK company Harrisons and Harrisons, that the quality of the rock at Ghallis is not of extraordinary quality and can only be used for rubble. In February, six boreholes were dug in order to evaluate the quality of the rock there. Initial tests showed that it was of poor quality so the government gave instructions for another six boreholes to be dug and for more tests to be conducted because it wanted to base its decision on facts,” he said.
And, to be extra sure that the tests are carried out in the best manner possible, the government also audited the results of the studies. The audits and the report cost the government around Lm30,000.
The conclusion, Dr Gonzi explained, was that the quality of the rock at Ghallis was below that expected and so the government has to change the original plans which involved extensive excavation of the Ghallis site, which would have been “uneconomical”.
He said the government was “taken by surprise” by the information it received.
Speaking about timeframes, Dr Gonzi said that the site known as Ta’ Zwejra, which is currently being used as a storage place for domestic waste, will continue to be used. It is estimated that this will not be able to be used beyond November 2005 so government has until November next year to get the Ghallis site prepared to host an engineered landfill. This site can be used for more or less 20 years.
Speaking about what happens next, Dr Gonzi said that the Environmental Impact Assessment is expected to be completed by March next year.
This will give the government eight months to excavate the site at Ghallis and prepare it for an engineered landfill.
When asked whether the quarries being mentioned in the vicinity of the Mnajdra Temples would be rehabilitated, Dr Gonzi said this was not being ruled out. It was also mentioned that an average-sized quarry is filled with construction waste within three months because around 500 truckloads of construction waste is being generated per day in Malta.