MEPA suspends Burmarrad road project

The project, which envisions the widening of the Coast Road from the current two to four lanes, also includes a road passing right in the middle of agricultural land in Burmarrad.

But a Transport Authority spokesperson confirmed that the project has not been dropped. “The suspension is purely a procedural matter and not a refusal or closure of the application”.

Transport Malta is still in continuous discussion with MEPA on the necessary documentation and studies which are still to be submitted for this project.

Amongst other things, Transport Malta is undertaking the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) requested by MEPA and has engaged an EIA Coordinator who has commenced work on the baseline studies requested by MEPA.

These studies are expected to be finalised by the end of 2011 when Transport Malta will be in a position to supply MEPA with the requested information.

Transport Malta has also submitted an application to MEPA to extend the deadline for the submission of this information.

Controversial project

The proposal is to shift an existing road which splits the Kennedy Grove recreational park to an agricultural area which hosts a number of protected trees and provides a livelihood to a number of full time farmers who own most of the land.

The area also includes legally protected white poplar trees (sigar tal-luq) and the rare Denb iz-Ziemel (branched horse tail) which grows on marshlands and is renowned for its medical properties.

Farmers are concerned that the new road would flood their fields, which receive an abundance of water from other localities. The land includes vine and  olive cultivations. It is also one of the few places where artichokes are grown. The land is particularly fertile due to  the fact that ground water is found less than two metres under the soil.

In July, 149 farmers  signed a petition presented to MEPA by Carmel Hili, who represents the Labour Party representative on the Burmarrad administrative council, during an information meeting organised by MEPA. The road development in Burmarrad forms part of a larger project to transform the coast road from its current two lanes to a full-blown four lane motor way.

Transport Malta justifies the project on the basis of safety consideration, citing statistics showing that between 2002 and 2008 more than 300 accidents – six of which were fatal – occurred in the 7km stretch of coast road.

At that time, both MEPA and Transport Malta insisted that a decision on the proposed road will only be taken following full public consultation and environmental studies.