President of the Malta Chamber of Geologists Peter Gatt has long called for the establishment of a National Geological Service, a call which the Nationalist Party is also making.

When speaking to The Malta Independent about Ghar Lapsi, the damage that was caused by Storm Harry and the government's intentions to restore the area, he stressed the need for proper geological assessments of Malta's coastal areas to take place before engineering interventions are made.

He said that "If we are going to look at the effects of climate change, we are in a vulnerable position, and the government has to act. This cannot be piecemeal action, just an intervention to cover up a few areas here and there possibly with concrete. That is not going to last very long."

Now Infrastructure Minister Chris Bonett had said early in February that studies on the rock at Għar Lapsi are taking place. But this does not diminish the need for a National Geological Service to be set up. Gatt asks: "who is conducting these studies? Are they geologists? This is a country where geologists aren't even recognised as a profession, contrary to Italy, where geologists have been recognised through a warrant since 1963. We are at a disadvantage compared to our European partners," he said, advocating for the setting up of a National Geological Service.

Such a service would lead to better informed decisions, and not just on this particular case either, but it would be beneficial for the future also. Gatt's call for geologists to be officially recognised is also a piece of advice that should be followed.

The recent events in Santa Venera led the PN to stress the need for a National Geological Service. The party said that the Santa Venera incident once again highlights the importance of strengthening prevention and scientific knowledge about what is happening beneath our feet, and reiterated the need for the service to be set up that would be responsible for collecting and maintaining national geological data, creating a centralised subsoil database, analysing risks linked to excavation and foundations, providing technical guidance to authorities and professionals, and contributing to safer and more sustainable planning and construction.

The setting up of such a service makes sense.

Construction is not just about concrete and the structure itself. It is also about the ground which lies below. With the intensity of development taking place, it would make sense to study the collective impact it may be having on the ground.

The setting up of a national service to better understand the geology of Malta, what can and cannot be built where and what best interventions are suited in what place is worth doing. When it comes to any future planned metro or underground rail system, having a geological service in place to better guide and advise would also be beneficial.

It's about time the government starts seriously considering setting one up.