The full development permit for the Sant’Antnin recycling plant in the outskirts of Marsascala was approved unanimously yesterday by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board following a very heated public hearing.
The objectors’ front was made up of the Marsascala, Zabbar, Zejtun, Gudja, Fgura, Tarxien and Ghaxaq local councils, Grupp Indipendenti Marsaskala (GIM), Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Front Kontra l-Impjant Ghar-Riciklagg Propost (FKIGRP) and the three Labour MPs elected from the third district.
The hearing started off on a wrong footing as a number of people who wanted to take part were barred from entering the Mepa board room as it cannot hold a large number of people.
The opposing alliance, Dr Toni Abela in particular, made it very clear that the board should adjourn since not all objectors could be present for the hearing.
Dr Abela, who is also FKIGRP’s legal counsel, said the board is breaching a number of laws and regulations. The board, claimed Dr Abela, decided to convene just before the Christmas holidays in order to have as few people opposing it as possible.
He added that the front last week met European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who was well informed about the case and promised that he will carry out his own investigation. He pointed out that the only other person in history who has passed a judgment during a festive season was Pontius Pilate. The comment eased a bit the tension in the room.
Dr Abela stated that the Site Selection Process cannot be taken seriously as it was tailor-made for Sant’Antnin to be chosen, while certain terms of reference imposed by Mepa were ignored. In fact, added the front’s technical advisor architect Lino Bianco, Mepa had a number of alternative sites from where it could choose, one of which in Benghisa. However, when the proposed site was enlarged to 47,500 square metres from the original 18,000 square metres, the alternative sites remained unchanged. This meant, said Mr Bianco, that there is no interest in providing alternative sites as Sant’Antnin had long been earmarked for the development. The politicians among the spectators here shouted out that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Environment Minister George Pullicino had already stated that the plant will be built only at Marsascala.
Dr Abela also objected that the same board that decided on the development sites and the outline development of the project should be the same one to take a decision on the application. He said on Wednesday the front filed a judicial protest against Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja for placing the front at a disadvantage since it only learnt on Monday that the hearing was to be held yesterday. He added that the front had filed an appeal before the Mepa appeals board, which was dissolved on the date of the hearing and its members were never reappointed. The case has been postponed sine die.
Architect Bianco accused the authority of denying him access to certain files and he was only shown the final plans of the development the day before the hearing. He claimed that normally objectors are given 30 days to present their case. These practices, said Mr Bianco, are in breach of the Aarhus Convention that grants the public rights and imposes obligations on parties and public authorities regarding access to information and public participation and access to justice.
Labour MP George Vella asked Mr Calleja whether the other board members could take a vote on the postponement of the hearing, to which Mr Calleja said the agenda was issued on Saturday. Dr Abela cried out that the front members were in Brussels meeting Mr Dimas. The chairman agreed on taking a vote, which unanimously slammed the postponement proposal. At this point the people starting shouting that the Mepa auditor was right in saying the authority lacked transparency. Mr Calleja replied that the board should be sued if it is thought that it is breaking the law.
When things calmed down, the case officer started explaining the plan. This led to an uproar which warranted the intervention of eight policemen to calm down the situation. Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja was asked to leave the room, however he was later permitted to stay.
Zejtun mayor Joe Attard said his council was not consulted even if the plant is located near the village’s borders. He added the Zejtun council was consulted over the Maghtab landfill. He added that tal-Ghallis was not targeted for similar development because of “its lizards, fauna and nearby hotel”.
Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja added that the plant has already taken its toll over the village’s population. “Three-month old babies are developing asthma, property value has diminished by Lm10,000 and the tourism industry is suffering.”
Architect Bianco asked the Mepa officer whether the plans he saw before the hearing were the same as those presented to the board. The officer replied that there are “almost the same” and the difference does not warrant a new consultation. This prompted the objectors to vent their protests and while they were busily shouting, board chairman Calleja called for a vote to be taken. The plans were approved unanimously.
In a press statement, the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry said yesterday’s approval is the culmination of a long period of consultation. It said that the country’s small size and population density makes it more difficult to find a site were no one is effected. The statement said the development will give the country a waste management plan with European standards. The statement added that EURO 17 million of the total cost of EURO 25 million will be covered by the EU.