The environment NGOs BirdLife Malta, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, GAIA Foundation, MOAM, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association have highlighted the fact that the Authorities’ pledge to protect the countryside has once again been put into question by MEPA’s recommending the approval of a development project partially outside the development zone (ODZ) at Tal-Marga Valley, Qala, Gozo.

As in the recent Wied il-Ghasel case, the proposal to build apartments and underlying garages is unsuitable for a site that is mostly out of the building scheme. Even more seriously, the excavations will take place in the area where underground water from the aquifer flows out into the Tal-Marga Valley. Worryingly, the Case Officer Report makes no mention of a report submitted to MEPA by the Qala Local Council and drawn up by Ing. Marco Cremona, a qualified hydrologist, which states that “it is very likely that the excavations will affect the subsurface flow currently feeding the shallow wells dug in the blue clay lying immediately downstream of the site of the proposed development. This is cause for concern especially since the proposed development involves the excavation of rock (and probably clay – which is protected by law) to construct underlying garages.

Furthermore, the Gozo and Comino Local Plan designates the Tal-Marga valley as a ‘Category B’ valley where the only permitted structures are “wind-pumps, small stores, reservoirs and other limited facilities which are deemed necessary for the continuation of traditional agricultural practices and even these require mitigation measures so that the intervention blends well in the rural landscape. A strong presumption against the construction of new structures (including greenhouses) shall be also applicable to Category B valleys.” One wonders therefore how a block of flats can legally be approved by the MEPA Case Officer. The granting of this permit will have further implications for other permits for villas being requested nearby, similarly out of the development zone and in the watercourse.

The NGOs and Qala Local Council have reiterated Ing. Cremona’s December 2008 declaration to MEPA that the proposed development will intercept the subsurface water flow of the Il-Wileg, Tal-Harep and Ta’ Marga valley systems and negatively affect the yield of the shallow wells lying immediately downstream of the proposed development which the surrounding agricultural area depends on for its irrigation needs.

The NGOs also reminded the Authorities that the Nadur cemetery case has, as predicted, affected the quality of the natural spring water to the detriment of the farmers and agriculture in that area. One cannot understand how the opinion of an acknowledged expert in the field, who has carried out on-site studies, can be swept aside in recommending approval of this project which not only carries potential risks to the sustainability of the valley and acquifer, but also puts into jeopardy the livelihood of the 29 farmers who have already petitioned MEPA on this matter.

The approval of a large apartment complex and garages at Wied il-Ghasel, a villa at Bahrija right on the valley floor not two meters away from the running stream and many other structures passed off as stables, shows that contrary to all the promises that the August 2006 ODZ extensions (Rationalisation Scheme) would seal the development zones, such abusive developments have continued to be approved.