By 2007, the fuel depot at Birzebbuga will be closed, and the land de-contaminated and fully developed to blend in with the residential surroundings, Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt announced yesterday.
At a press conference held to announce the development brief for the site, following the closure of the depot because it does not conform to EU directives, Dr Gatt, together with Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino, declared that the area is to be developed.
The re-designing of the 38,320 square metre piece of land should include houses, recreational areas, educational facilities, shops, restaurants, parking and landscaped open spaces, they said, explaining that the decision was taken following a meeting of the National Projects Cabinet Committee, of which Dr Gatt is chairman.
The ministers also announced that the fuel depot is due to be relocated to has-Saptan, where underground storage tanks, built by NATO, already exist. “This is the most cost-effective solution,” said Dr Gatt, since only above-ground day tanks to distribute the fuel will have to be constructed. He added that alternatives have not been ruled out, although these may prove to be too expensive, considering the relocation to has-Saptan will cost around Lm5 million.
When asked about the olive grove that will be destroyed to make room for the day tanks, Minister Gatt explained that there was not much else that can be done. “Unless people want to ride around on donkeys and horses, fuel must be distributed from somewhere and this is the most viable option,” he said. Mr Pullicino also pitched in and said that at present, there is definitely no lack of olive trees and therefore this decision should not raise too many eyebrows, especially considering that the trees in question are wild.
As it stands, the fuel depot at Birzebbuga is located in the centre of a residential area. This goes against EU directives and therefore in July 2004, Enemalta took the decision to close the plant.
The next six weeks are open for public consultation and now is the time for people to give their opinions on the development, said Mr Pullicino. Also on the cards is a public meeting with Birzebbuga residents before the submissions on content are made and the preparations for the final bill are drawn up.
Mr Pullicino explained that the development due to be made should consists of a “housing mix” including residences with various numbers of bedrooms, to cater for single parent families as well as larger ones.
Whoever eventually buys the site and oversees the redesign will be asked to draw up a construction management plan that must include a strategy to reduce the environmental impact as well as the impact on the residents of the area, the ministers concluded.