The Planning Authority has launched direct enforcement action to remove large quantities of illegally dumped material from a Ta' Qali field after years of alleged non-compliance and repeated breaches by the landowner, with penalties linked to the case amounting to €100,000.

In a statement, the PA said that the operation began on a large field along Vjal l-Istadium Nazzjonali, opposite the Ta' Qali National Park, after weeks of unsuccessful discussions with the contravener and the continued accumulation of illegally dumped material on agricultural land outside the development zone (ODZ).

The Planning Authority said the site has been subject to enforcement proceedings for almost a decade.

An enforcement notice was first issued in 2016, prompting the authority to intervene and remove illegally deposited material. A second enforcement notice followed in 2020, with the PA carrying out a partial direct action in July 2021 while allowing the contravener to remove the remaining material and restore the land to agricultural use.

The site before the illegal dumping:

However, the authority said that instead of complying with its instructions, the contravener continued depositing substantial quantities of inert material on the arable land.

This resulted in further action by the PA in January 2024 to intervene and remove the illegally deposited material, at the expense of the contravener.

Over the past months, the PA noted renewed illegal activity resulting in the visible accumulation of illegally dumped material on the same land.

The contravener was again given instructions to comply with the enforcement notice and remove the illegal dumping.

However, in spite of continuous communication from the PA's end, the contravener was uncooperative.

The Authority resumed action on Thursday to cart away the illegally dumped material.

Given that the site has an area of over 13,000m², and given the substantial works required to return the land to agricultural use, the operation is expected to continue over the coming days, the statement said.

The site is subject to an enforcement notice and a breach of enforcement notice carrying daily penalties which amount to €100,000.

Apart from these penalties, the contravener is also required to pay the PA for the full expenses incurred in its action to remove the illegally dumped material.

The direct action is being carried out by the Planning Authority with the assistance of the police, the statement said.