Manure disposal site appears to start operations

Julian Bonnici The manure disposal site in Munxar appears to have begun operating in spite of the fact that the project was still in the planning process, after photos provided to The Malta Independent on Sunday show trucks using the facilities at the site.

Sources have said that a petition in the community has started gaining traction over the last couple of days.

On 12 August, the newsroom had reported that residents were outraged because the plant, which will be used for the management and storage of manure, would begin operating despite the detrimental effect it could have on the surrounding community, as the only road to the site passes through Munxar's centre.

Sources also said that no planning application had yet been filed for a change of use of the area, formerly a cattle farm in Triq Zgħawri, to start functioning as a manure processing plant.

The Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Gozo have insisted that “naturally, every project of this type needs to go through an independent planning process and this is why it is obvious that the project has not started since it has not even been processed by the concerned authorities”.

Contacted yesterday evening, a government spokesperson said that the previous statements still hold, explaining: “Any proposal from the private sector, to address the environmental challenges created by the amount of generated slurry, must go through the independent planning processes and technical studies.

“Therefore no private project may commence to operate without the appropriate permits. This week Government also reassured the Munxar and Sannat local councils of this clear position. Any contrasting reports will be verified by the relevant enforcement authorities.”

However, in a Local Council meeting, a local councillor confirmed that a private operator had in fact informed residents and the councillor that he intended to begin operating without the necessary permits after the Santa Marija feast on 15 August.

The Local Councils of Munxar and Sannat have formally objected to the project in separate letters addressed to the Planning Authority, Minister for Gozo Justyne Caruana, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change Jose Herrera, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and the Property Market Chris Agius and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Clint Camilleri.