Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) strongly objects to the inclusion of the Tal-Papa farm in the Birzebbugia development scheme as this is a prime site of great agricultural and heritage value.
An FAA spokesperson said that the farm is a unique site which had been laboriously quarried by hand, applying ancient techniques of grooving and wedge splitting to hew out stone for neighbouring houses. Re-laying the soil created a sunken field sheltered from wind and scorching sun, perfect for its 150 mature fruit trees. To this day, much of the farming is still carried out using traditional methods and an impressive water collection system. Run-off rain water streams down the sides of the quarry and is caught by stone gutters carved into the rock walls to channel the water into the shelters. Thanks to its large main reservoir and shelters which have been converted for extra water storage, the ‘Qalgha tal-Papa’ is assured a constant supply of water which permits a year-round harvest of vegetables and fruit.
The tal-Papa farm is also a haven of bio-diversity, hosting protected trees such as olive, carob, pomegranate, chaste berry (sigret il-vireg), hawthorn (anzalora), laurel, and Sandarac Tree (sigra ta’ l-Gharghar) which are protected under Legal Notice 12, 2001. These trees are flourishing in their present site in a way that the ‘replacement or compensatory planting’ mentioned in the Development Brief cannot guarantee. Besides different species of birds and reptiles, the shelters are home to endemic painted frogs and rare bats, both of which are protected under the EC Habitats Directive (1992), for which reason this case, Petition No. 450/2007, is being studied closely by the EU Environment Commission.
The six WWII shelters carved into the rock-face of the field are also protected by our Cultural Heritage Act, and give an insight into Malta’s wartime history. On the subject of the Rationalisation regulations, the FAA spokesperson maintained: “This site cannot be considered a pocket area as it is flanked by fields on three sides and a road on the fourth.
It is to be noted that Birzebbugia has over 1,000 vacant dwellings and other empty sites which can be used for residential development.
The tal-Papa farm not only offers a unique insight to our agricultural heritage and history, but is also a testimony to the resourcefulness of our ancestors and their attention to sustainability. Given its great potential, this site should never be built up but preserved as an agro-tourism project, and in fact preparations for an EU-funded project on this farm have already commenced.”
FAA argues that the building up of this site, a unique showcase of agricultural heritage and history, contradicts the Development Brief’s stated objective:
– To encourage, where relevant, upgrading of cultural assets and infrastructure with valorisation of cultural features present in the area.”
– Environment and infrastructural improvements and heritage protection. FAA also objects to the following facts :
– The land is owned by the Joint Office and as such can only be used for social purposes. Its zoning as a ‘Residential Area’ does not fulfil this requirement.
– This site was included within the Development Zones through the Marsaxlokk Bay Local Plan and the Rationalisation process however both of these fail to conform to EU norms on public consultation or adherence to the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive. Both processes are under investigation by the EU Environment Commission and are the subject of an ongoing court case. Any steps leading to the development of this land would be a breach of these processes. The building up of this farm would violate MEPA’s very own mission statement that: “We should carefully plan so that our heritage, this gem which we treasure, will not fade away”. It would also contravene our agricultural policy, rendering us more dependent on imported foodstuffs, and would be contrary to Malta’s environmental, heritage and tourism policies and therefore should not be considered on any account.
FAA urges members of the public to submit their objections to the destruction of this unique site by sending their own objection or copying the above to: ghirghien@mepa.org.mt or writing to:
Director of Planning
(Il-Ghirghien Development Brief)
Malta Environment and Planning Authority
St. Francis Ravellin,
Floriana CMR 01