PA denies claims of illegal works at Gozo quarry

The Planning Authority has denied claims that unauthorised works are taking place to build holding walls for the illegal dumping of construction waste at the Ta’ Muxi quarry near Qala, Gozo.

Environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar had flagged the issue last week, warning that the PA’s lack of response to the illegalities was fostering an assumption that they were protecting law-breakers.

However, the PA said in a statement that ongoing works around the quarry are being carried out in accordance with an approved restoration method statement for the entire site area.

It recounted how the PA had in 2010 issued an enforcement notice after a large area in the quarry was significantly disturbed with the illegal duping of inert material.

“Over the past two years, the PA put pressure on the landowners to reinstate the site back to its original state including bringing the terrain levels up to what they had been in 1993,” it said.  “In fact, to date, most of the material that had been dumped has been removed from the site and has been placed in the nearby quarry. 

“A large number of rubble walls that had been demolished during the dumping of material have been reconstructed as per approved method statement and using traditional practices. Some of the restored fields have already started being used for agriculture purposes.”

The PA added that no further dumping has taken place on site over the past weeks and months and that no soil was imported so as to cover this illegal dumped material. Ongoing trenching works that are currently taking place at the top end of the site are part of the terracing and levelling of the site where rubble walls will be constructed.