The Planning Authority (PA) moved in this morning to remove large quantities of illegally dumped material on land between Mdina and Mtarfa, the PA said in a statement.

The site, within a scheduled Area of High Landscape Value protecting Mdina, covers an area of approximately 7,000m².

The extent and the considerable depth of the illegally dumped material remodelled the profile of this part of the valley, causing a negative impact on the sensitivity of the area. Although dumping at this site had ceased for several years, it restarted again following a transfer of land ownership. At this point, the PA was compelled to issue further enforcement notices, subjected to daily fines, instructing the contravener to remove the illegally dumped material.

The PA also took direct action to seal off the accesses to the site. In the meantime, the contravener had submitted a sanctioning application, seeking to obtain permission to retain the illegally dumped material on site. However, this application was refused by the Planning Authority, and an appeal from the refusal was dismissed by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal.

Late in 2022, the contravener approached the PA expressing the intention to address the enforcement notices issued on the site. The PA agreed to a step-by-step process which ensured that the excessive illegal dumping is removed from the site by the contravener. However, instead of removing the material as agreed, over the past two weeks the contravener dumped further material on site.

Since the contravener ignored the Authority’s enforcement notices and warnings, the PA moved in to take direct action to remove the illegal dumping, at the full expense of the contravener. Truckloads of dumped material were carted away to licenced waste management sites. Good soil on site was transported to replenish existing agricultural land. Prior to the operation, the PA liaised with the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA) to ensure the proper disposal of the material. The PA’s Direct Action Team is being assisted by members of the Police Force.