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James Debono
The Sliema cave beneath the Ghar id-Dud promenade, known as Ghar il-Lembi, risks being eliminated if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has its way.
The Ghar il-Lembi cave stretches for 33 metres beneath the promenade and Tower Road alongside other caves in the area, and is considered to be a site of special scientific interest, experts say.
The elimination of Ghar il-Lembi and possibly another smaller cave will pave the way for the development of a car park in the area between the northern part of the Chalet and the corner to Qui-Si-Sana.
By limiting development to this area, MEPA will be fully safeguarding Ghar id-Dud cave, which had originally been endangered by plans submitted by the car park developer, C&F Contractors.
Last week the MEPA board decided to defer its decision on an application to develop a car park and other commercial development in the area. One of the main obstacles against the Chalet development was the effect of excavations and construction in the area on the structural stability of the caves.
MEPA has given the developers another month to revise their plans and abide with MEPA’s recommendation to save Ghar id-Dud and eliminate Ghar il-Lembi.
C&F’s architect Claude Mangion told Maltatoday that following guidance forwarded by MEPA, in the developer’s new proposals which will be submitted to MEPA, the car park will be developed 100 metres away from the Ghar id-Dud caves: “Ghar id-Dud cave will not be affected by our proposed development.”
But while MEPA and the developers are now guaranteeing the survival of Ghar id-Dud, the days for Ghar il-Lembi are counted despite the recommendations made in various scientific reports.
A hydro-geological study carried out by the applicant’s own consultants states that “the caves, namely Ghar id-Dud first cave, Ghar id-Dud second cave and Ghar il-Lembi should be entirely preserved as these are to be considered as sites of scientific importance.”
It also states that the cave habitats should be protected in accordance with the EU Habitats Directive. A report commissioned by MEPA and conducted by Integrated Resource Management Ltd states that the site’s value as a site of special scientific interest has to be taken as “a whole coastal site rather than the individual caves of Ghar id-Dud and Ghar il-Lembi on their own.”
The report also states that the whole site, including both caves, can “definitely be considered fragile and in need of protection from man made interference.”
The Environment Protection Directorate did not distinguish between Ghar il-Lembi and Ghar id-Dud when it recommended that “these caves should be proposed as marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC).”
But MEPA is justifying its decision by claiming that Ghar il-Lembi has a “very weak” internal stability and could collapse in the “short term” even if no development is allowed in the area.
On the other hand, MEPA claims the internal stability of Ghar id-Dud is “weak” but not as weak as that of Ghar il-Lembi, making its collapse less imminent.
MEPA insists that Ghar il-Lembi is already doomed, as the very natural process of the cave formation itself will naturally lead to their eventual collapse. The identification of Ghar il-Lembi as “very weak” is found in the Integrated Resources Management report.
But despite describing the site as very weak, the report still identifies the cave as one of special scientific importance, calling for the protection of both caves.
MEPA’s spokesperson said that even works on the promenade or the Chalet could lead to the collapse of Ghar il-Lembi in the short term. The authority is willing to approve the elimination of Ghar il-Lembi as long as the remaining caves are safeguarded and retained as “a representative sample of the habitat.”
If the development is approved, the applicant will be required to submit a method statement for the safeguarding of Ghar id-Dud during any works conducted on site.
The MEPA board recommendations are also aimed at safeguarding two other caves next to Ghar id-Dud.
But apart from Ghar il-Lembi, MEPA is acknowledging that another cave known as Cave 3 may be affected by the development since “it is directly next to the Chalet.”
Sliema Council rallies behind caves
The call to save the caves has served to re-unite a deeply divided Sliema local council, which will be writing to MEPA to call on the authority to abide by the recommendations of its own studies to protect both Ghar id-Dud and Ghar il-Lembi.
The matter was raised by Sliema AD councillor Michael Briguglio during last Wednesday’s meeting after the council was given full access to MEPA’s reports on the caves.
In its letter to MEPA the Sliema council is insisting that as a member of the European Union, Malta is duty bound to protect the caves which are protected by the EU’s habitat directive. Mayor Albert Bonello De Puis declared that the promenade should be simply embellished and the car park shelved.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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