Despite residents’ opposition Gharghur council gives blessing to fireworks factory extension

The Gharghur local council has no plans to appeal a permit that will see a fireworks factory in the middle of the Madliena Valley double in size, despite environmental concerns flagged by several residents. 

Gharghur, Madliena and Swieqi residents have been left surprised by the permit to the Ghaqda Tan-Nar San Bartilmew, which although refused back in 2014 was granted a day before the general election earlier this month. 

MaltaToday is informed that numerous residents are concerned but are afraid to voice them with their local council, due to the conflict of interest that has arisen due to the permit’s applicant being the mayor’s uncle. Some have also received threatening messages, although they are unable to confirm the source of the anonymous messages. 

Residents who spoke to MaltaToday on condition of anonymity said that their criticism is based off the fact that the extension will see the factory inch closer towards residences, and that it will cause significant environmental damage to the valley which many use as a recreational safe space.

The local council convened for a meeting on Monday, during which the councillors decided to commission an architect to analyse the technical details of the permit, but unanimously declared themselves in favour of it in principle. 

PN mayor Giljan Aquilina told MaltaToday that while the council sympathises with the residents’ concerns, it also understands the need to expand and modernise the current factory. 

“The fireworks materials are currently concentrated in a very small area, which gives rise to health and safety concerns,” he said. “I sympathise with the environmental concerns, but – unlike residential buildings – there is no other option for fireworks factories than to be built on ODZ land.

“What would the other option be? Cutting out fireworks entirely, when it’s part of our tradition?” 

He denied that his stance was in any way influenced by the fact that his uncle – Isaac Aquilina – had represented the fireworks factory in its planning application.

“My uncle is a volunteer with the group and doesn’t stand to gain financially. Moreover, I had flagged my conflict of interest myself during yesterday’s council meeting.”

The fireworks society had originally filed for a permit to expand and modernise the factory following an explosion back in 2010, but the authority had rejected it in 2013 for environmental reasons. 

The Environment Protection Directorate, the precursor of the Environment and Resources Authority, had objected to the proposed extension because it would have meant the uprooting of rich, maquis vegetation – in particular mature carob trees – on a site that had been proposed for scheduling as a Level 2 Area of Ecological Importance. 

However, the same permit was approved this year on the basis of a 2014 fireworks policy, which was drafted by a committee chaired by current social policy minister Michael Falzon, himself a lawyer of the pyrotechnic organisation. 

ERA board member pushing for formal objection 

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has not yet decided whether to appeal against the decision or not, but its board member Alan Deidun – a biologist who represents green NGOs on the board – has pledged to do his utmost to get it to do so.

“The development will take place in an ecologically sensitive area and an unspoiled and relatively unspoiled and undeveloped landscape, and will involve the uprooting of trees,” he told MaltaToday. “I have formally requested ERA to lodge an appeal before the 1 July deadline, and I am ready to kick up a storm to ensure it objects it. Should the fireworks policy trump environmental concerns? I don’t agree…” 

Deidun questioned why the permit was not granted by the Planning Board but by the Planning Commission, a three-person body within the PA entrusted with vetting small-scale development applications. 

“We’re not talking about extending a farmers’ room here, but about extending a fireworks factory to twice its current size,” he said. “This decision will set a precedent to all other pending fireworks factory applications, most of which are also sited in ecologically sensitive areas.” 

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