Peter Gatt is 'not competent' to determine whether a civil engineering intervention is adequate for its purpose, the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers has said.

Peter Gatt, a geologist, on Friday commented about the recent collapse of a section of road that runs parallel to the Chadwick lakes watercourse. Works had been carried out in the area in 2019. Gatt had said that "a lack of geological and integrity studies were among the reasons that led to the collapse of a road at Chadwick Lakes." Among other things, Gatt also said that the Perit had failed to do his work as a Civil Engineer, which include the assessment of the integrity of existing built structures, namely the dam and the retaining wall over which the road along the 'lake' is located.

In reaction, the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers said: "Dr Gatt is not a civil engineer, and is not competent to determine whether a civil engineering intervention is adequate or otherwise for its purpose, be it an embankment, a foundation or a geotechnical engineering intervention. It is pertinent to point out that while civil engineers require a warrant to practise, given the great responsibility they carry for ensuring public safety, geologists do not carry any liability and therefore do not require a warrant."

"What the country needs is greater investment in specialisations within the civil engineering side of our profession. This is an area the Kamra is working strongly in, and will be in a position to elaborate further in the coming months."