Residents of Bahrija and Mtahleb are being led to believe by the authorities that the proposed wind farm in Wied Rini, limits of Bahrija, will cause little or no impact. Certain sections of the public are still not aware of the true consequences of the sugar coated announcements and presentations the government has made.

In reality, it is apparent that the authorities have totally disregarded the huge negative impact on the health and well being of nearby residents, on the livelihood of many farmers, and also the great aesthetic impact it will have on the entire area. It seems that the only considerations in site selection have been economic and financial ones. Proof of this is in the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs’ (MRRA) 85-page Project Description Statement submitted to Mepa, in which one small paragraph has been accorded to crucial health issues such as noise impact, shadow flicker and visual impact. No mention was made of local farmers, while the actual design of the wind farm, such as the choice of colour of the turbines, was accorded 27 pages. Throughout the report and other MRRA documentation, it is repeatedly stated that wind energy is the least costly renewable energy source and that onshore wind farms are much less expensive than offshore installations. One would expect that the well being of our citizens would be a much greater priority, well before financial and, more so, design considerations. However, this is obviously not the case.

There are countless cases around the world of people suffering from serious health problems as a direct consequence of nearby wind turbines, including people having to be hospitalised. This has led to the terms ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’ and ‘Vibroacoustic Disease’, which result in many serious symptoms such as headaches, migraines, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety and depression. For this reason, wind farms abroad are now being built at least two kilometres away from the closest residences – some of the Wied Rini turbines will be within 300 metres of households. According to MRRA officials however, these same health disorders mentioned – albeit fleetingly in their own Ministry’s report, are non-existent and imaginary. Residents and farmers have been told that they should simply try to ignore the noise and all will be fine. I really cannot see how anyone can ignore 12 rotors measuring up to 58 metres in diameter that produce 100 decibels of noise each at source. For comparison’s sake, a subway train passing 10 feet away, or a petrol powered lawnmower three feet away, produce 100 decibels, while the music in a discotheque is usually in the region of 110 decibels.

It is also very worrying that although this site has been selected based on its wind profile, no detailed studies have been commissioned to determine the harmful effects that might be caused to the health of neighbouring residents. I was personally told by MRRA officials that if I deemed this necessary then I or anyone else from the public could commission such a study ourselves!

We all know that the EU has imposed the generation of 10 per cent of our energy consumption through renewable sources by 2020. This, by no extent of the imagination, should ever translate in the devastation of the lives of several hundreds of people who either live in the immediate vicinity or who depend on an economic activity at this very site. There are always other less harmful options at hand and, no matter what these might cost, human hardship and suffering are simply not a tradable option. The very motive behind these regulations is the improvement of our lives and not their destruction.

When put in its proper perspective, the Wied Rini wind farm is expected to generate no more than 0.86 per cent of the nation’s consumption when it is finished, and the absurdity of the whole project fully comes to light. How can we seriously compromise the well being of so many people and ruin what is one of the last remaining natural landscapes, which is also frequented by thousands of people on weekends, for so very little? Have we asked ourselves where the Maltese people will now go to relax? Are we so intent on spoiling the last remnants of our countryside considered by all to be Malta’s only sizeable natural landscape left? Is the Bahrija-Mtahleb-Kuncizzjoni area now also to be destroyed?

We are talking about what is considered to be the best countryside Malta has to offer; the traditional region thousands visit on weekends and public holidays for picnics, walks and drives that will be dominated by huge industrial steel and concrete contraptions.

Should the EU, which is always so conscious in safeguarding its citizens against emissions, noise levels, smoking in public and countless other matters to improve our quality of life, now ironically lead to such human suffering and the destruction of Malta’s remaining countryside?

We are not in a state of national emergency or at war, where a number of innocent and law-abiding citizens are expected to sacrifice their lives and livelihoods for the greater good. The people of Wied Rini, Landriet and Bahrija are no lesser citizens than anyone else. They too have an equal right to live comfortably. We have very little left to protect in our minute country. Excessive development has already destroyed places such as the Sliema front, Xemxija, Bugibba, Qawra and many other areas. If we are not even capable of protecting the only significant area of countryside left, and possibly the most significant one at that – then I suppose we will get what we deserve.

Alexander Bonello

Bahrija