MEPA orders Dwejra clean up to be done by hand

Once the manual clearance operation is completed, the Authority will then assess the environmental impact that the initial mechanical clean up works might have had on the site.

Following this assessment, the Authority will use the €15,000 bank guarantee imposed in the permit and/or hold the film producer liable for any further environmental damage.

In its statement, MEPA said that “environment monitors from the Authority today were on site to ensure that the removal of the sand from the site was carried out without causing any damage to the rock surface.”

The bank guarantee, the Authority said, was one of a number of conditions it imposed on the film production agency for  any  eventual  shortcomings,  degradation  of  the  historical and natural  environment  resulting  from wilful or accidental  damage and  the complete  removal and  reinstatement of  the site  to the satisfaction of MEPA.  

This permit also covered filming to be carried out in eight additional natural and cultural sites, namely Mdina, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St. Elmo, San Anton Palace and Gardens, Verdala Palace, Fort St. Angelo, Fort Manoel, Cittadella and Rdum id-Delli.

Filming at Rdum id-Delli was later substituted by a request to film in Mtahleb. However, this was refused by Mepa.

The producer immediately submitted another application for filming to be carried out in the informal carpark in Mtahleb, but the Authority is still to consider the request.

According to the Authority, no damage has been reported at all the other sites.

“It is important to highlight that while Mepa issues a number of permits for filming to be carried out in cultural and natural sites, the Authority always imposes stringent conditions in such permits to prevent any foreseeable damage to these sites,” it said.

 “In this case the relevant conditions were not fully observed and the Authority will be holding the film producer responsible for any damages that might have occurred,” it stated.

In the meantime, six environmental NGOs have showed their concern and said they were shocked that MEPA had given permission for the filming to take place at the Natura 2000 site in Dwejra.

“This activity was allowed to happen on a site that is of geological, geomorphological, botanical, ornithological importance and on an area rich in Scutella fossil beds and fossilised burrows which forms part of the core zone, protected by both national and international legislation,” the NGOs said.