The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has issued permits PA 7491/03 and PA 4299/06 for the Waste Transfer Station and the Civic Amenity Site respectively in Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park without consulting the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the Xewkija local council has claimed, despite the fact that the site is of significant cultural importance.

During the sittings of the MEPA Board, the Xewkija local council had drawn the attention of the Board to the fact that the Superintendence had not been consulted both during the environment impact assessment process and also during the processing of both planning applications.

When a member of the MEPA Board asked whether the Superintendence had been consulted, the Planning Directorate stated that it did. This claim is denied categorically in correspondence sent recently by the Superintendence to MEPA.

The Superintendence clearly stated that both MEPA and Wasteserv ignored it during planning applications for the Waste Transfer Station and the Civic Amenity Site and also during the EIA process.

This notwithstanding that archaeological investigations by the Superintendence and the University of Malta, together with the local councils of Xewkija and Sannat, had been going on since 2004 at the sites covered by these applications.

When attention of the Superintendence was drawn by the Action Committee of Mgarr Ix-Xini Regional Park, it had written to MEPA recommending that both applications for the Waste Transfer Station and the Civic Amenity Site be refused.

The correspondence recently sent to MEPA concludes that “failure by MEPA to consult the Superintendence on both applications, including the EIA process, and its failure to endorse the position of the Superintendence is a matter of concern. As you are aware, the legal functions of the Superintendence as defined by the Cultural Heritage Act, include the advising and coordinating with MEPA to safeguard cultural heritage when considering planning applications related to developments impacting cultural heritage sites and landscapes, as in the case of Mgarr ix-Xini, including the area affected by PA 7491/03 and PA 4299/06”.

Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park is listed in COST A27 as a cultural park together with other parks in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Iceland. The list of parks includes the Pingvellir National Park, a World Heritage listed park in Iceland and the Archaeological Park of Fregellae, an ancient Roman town in Italy.