Mepa’s assessment report says only 1% of cultivated land at Zonqor
The preliminary assessment report conducted by Mepa on the proposed land for the new university clearly states that the site cannot be located in a protected area, included areas of high landscape value. In addition, a classification table states that only 1% of land is cultivated, and 24% of land has no annual activity.
An assessment report tabled by the Prime Minister in parliament yesterday, following a request by Nationalist MP Ryan Callus, states that the four criteria adopted are that:
1. Site has to be in the south of the island of Malta;
2. Half of the site has to be in Government ownership;
3. Site cannot be located in a protected area;
4. Site had to be well serviced by existing infrastructure including roads, drainage, water and electricity.
Other criteria state that the site can’t be located in a protected area, and that the site should not have an unacceptable adverse impact on Special Areas of Conservation (SACS), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Scheduled areas and Scheduled Areas of High Landscape Value.
The report says that 43% of the area is bare land with rocky outcrops, 24% is land with no annual activity and 30% is agricultural land (grasses).
The report also states that the area presents a continuation of the rock shoreline that extends up to Xghajra. However it is dominated by different floral assemblages, although maritime species still dominate. Further northwards towards I-Ilsien, anthropogenic influence on the natural vegetation is more pronounced.
The report states that similar to the Fort San Leonardu area, although not formally designated, the rocky foreshore section of the site is proposed for scheduling under local legislation for its ecological importance. The area does not qualify as an SAC, SPA or designated watercourse or valley system.