The Rural Affairs and the Environment Ministry launched an international competition yesterday for a long-term master plan to rehabilitate the Maghtab waste management complex.

The master plan should be implemented over a number of years and in certain places (close to the Coast Road), work can begin before other areas where the material is still active.

Speaking at a press conference, Minister George Pullicino said that after the publication of the Scott Wilson Report, a number of recommendations, including preliminary interventions, had been suggested to immediately reduce the amount of emissions.

Other suggestions made included the following: Strengthening the dump to create access; installation and operation of systems to control emissions and other gases; development of a restoration cover to continue assisting emissions; and the development of recreation areas where the dump has begun to be

neutralised.

To establish the target profile of Maghtab, around 1.1 million cubic metres of material has to be removed. Up to April of this year, 300,000 cubic metres of material – which is the equivalent of 15,000 truck-loads – had already been removed. Around 3.9 million litres of secondary water has also been sprayed onto the site to reduce dust emission.

Minister Pullicino said that the best submission will be given a prize of e30,000.

The offer will be chosen by an expert panel including Mepa personnel and others from the Parks Division at the ministry, together with three foreign experts.

Consolation prizes will also be given.

The tender refers to the following points:

Visual impact, creativity and a sense of vision, the artistic aspect of the site, the link between cultural and natural aspects, the use of recycled material, renewable energy, accessibility and the educational aspect.

Registration opens today and closes on 29 August. The closing date for competition submissions is 30 October. Further details can be obtained from the ministry’s website on www.mrae.gov.mt or by fax on 2295-2225.