The Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday approved the application for a civic amenity site at Tal-Kus in Xewkija, Gozo.

The approval was met with disappointment by the Xewkija local councillors who were present at the meeting and had vehemently opposed the building of the amenity site.

The civic amenity site will be a facility where the public can dispose of a variety of household waste and also bulky waste such as tyres, refrigerators, electronic products and garden waste.

A WasteServ official insisted that with its maximum height of 900mm, the civic amenity site will not be very conspicuous in the existing disused quarry in which it has been located. He said it will have a minimal intrusion on the environmemt, while at the same time contributing to a cleaner environment.

Xewkija local council consultant Lino Bianco said the amenity site is in the middle of the Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park, and that it encroaches on sites of archaeological and ecological importance.

He said the amenity site application runs counter to numerous structure plan policies and local plan policies. He implied that the decision to locate the amenity site at tal-Kus was taken behind closed doors. Mr Bianco added that during the Environmental Impact Assessment, the Superintendence for the Cultural Heritage was not informed about the proceedings, as proved by a letter sent by the superintendence to Mepa dated 8 November 2006. Mr Bianco, quoting the letter, said the superintendence objects to all development which may jeopardise historical remains.

Xewkija mayor Monica Vella noted that only the local council objected to the amenity site being built at tal-Kus, implying that other entities were not informed. She said the council is in possession of a Mepa permit which grades the ecological importance of the site on a grade from 1 to 3. She added that Nature Trust International recommends that Mgarr ix-Xini, the only untouched area in Gozo, should be safeguarded.

Dr Vella said the council has for the last three years taken part in a EU programme which led to the creation of Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park, one of only 10 currently existing in the union. She questioned whether the development should be carried out, even when scientists and archaeological experts say that the site is not suitable and should be preserved.

Councillor Donald Pace said Xewkija currently houses an industrial estate close to a housing estate, a huge Maltacom antenna, two abattoirs and plans are under way for an airstrip.

Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja said that development cannot be stopped for every complaint or disagreement presented to the board. At this point, the Labour-appointed board member Joe Brincat voiced his disapproval of this approach and called it unlawful. Consequently, Mr Calleja called for a close session of the board meeting, in which it sought legal advice.

After the meeting was re-opened to the public, the board voted in favour of the project. Dr Brincat voted against it and requested that his disapproval be noted in the minutes.

Dr Vella said the council will appeal against the decision.