ODZ quarry proposal ‘unjustified, would create bad precedent’ - MDA

● Developers’ lobby objects to proposed Marsascala development

The Malta Developers Association is opposing the development of a large commercial complex at a disused ODZ quarry in Marsascala.

The outline development application covers the development of a basement car park and a restaurant and drive-through.

An application for the development was first submitted in October last year but was later withdrawn by the developer. The application was then resubmitted in June and was published by the PA for public consultation last week.

The Environment and Resources Authjority has also objected to the plans, saying that the development would introduce further commercial and urban development in a quarry “which should preferably be reinstated back to agriculture use, considering its location along an urban fringe.”

In a statement yesterday, the Malta Developers Association said: “Although the rehabilitation of disused quarries is positive, since an abandoned quarry is considered a lesion in every topographical setup, it should not serve as a trampoline for one to obtain approval of developments that are incongruent in ODZ areas.”

MDA said all development, with particular emphasis on ODZ sites, should be in line with existing policies “and therefore MDA feels that commercial developments, such as the one being proposed, should not be allowed to be depicted as a rehabilitation of a disused quarry. This proposal is unjustified and would create a dangerous precedent since disused quarries should only be rehabilitated, with the end result being an added environmental benefit after they are used as infill sites for inert material.”

It also pointed out that the current demand for space for the disposal of construction material can only be satisfied if good use is made of existing disused quarries for such a purpose. Issuing a permit for the so-called rehabilitation of a disused quarry with a commercial development will create a very bad precedent, with other quarry owners attempting to do the same in the future.

“Quarry owners, who are also MDA members, understand and support MDA in this regard, more so since the refusal of similar permits in future would lead to justified complaints of discrimination. MDA always insists on having a level playing field and strongly feels that it would be wrong if one particular quarry owner is given a permit that subsequently cannot be given to all others in similar circumstances,” MDA said.