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NO for Maltese wind farm

By: Lewis Holdsworth 25/02/2015 Malta Enviroment & Planning Authority

General

An outline development application for the proposed development of a wind farm at an offshore location known as is-Sikka l-Bajda, limits of Mellieha, was, this afternoon, given the thumbs down by the MEPA Board.

The Board agreed with the Planning Directorate’s recommendation that the detrimental consequential effects on the environmental protection, in particular the avifauna and marine ecology, of the surrounding area over ride the benefits achieved through the generation of renewable energy from the proposed wind farm.

The proposal included the installation of 19 wind turbines, over an area of 11km2. Is-Sikka l-Bajda which forms part of the Natura 2000 network and is a marine protected area is located approximately 1.5km from il-Ponta ta’ l-Ahrax, in Mellieha and is a reef composed of an outcrop of globigerina. The reef and the surrounding area is mainly characterized by Posidonia oceanica with a high bed density and with small, isolated patches of sand and coarse sediment. The cliffs of L-Irdum tal-Madonna, which are 1.5 km away from the reef is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) principally for its internationally important colony of Yelkouan Shearwaters.

Both the Appropriate Assessment (AA) study and the draft Environment Impact Statement (EIS) clearly concluded that effective mitigation measure are not possible to address the major adverse impact that this project will have on the land and sea uses, the avifauna, the geological and geomorphologic heritage and the visual and landscape amenity.

The Board also refused planning permission for the proposed rehabilitation of a disused quarry as a temporary storage for bulky refuse and the parking of related collection vehicles. The quarry situated in an area known as Tat-Tomna limits of Mellieha consists of a stretch of excavated land located on a gently slope within a protected Area of High Landscape Value (AHLV), an Area of Ecology Importance (AEI) and a Site of Scientific Importance (SSI).

The Board cited that although such a proposed activity in itself may be considered as a positive means of recycling bulky refuse, other sites which are appropriate or designated to cater for such an activity should be sought.

Relocation of “an aquaculture farm” might be seen as a plus by Buġibba people, who have to put up with episodes of fish-farm muck drifting ashore.

Back on October 4th 2014, it was reported that the wind farm carried out a following two years of wind speed measurements as well as a long look by Mepa at the wind farms potential.

After Mepa carried out studies for the site, Mepa reported “it would have significant multiple impacts on the environment” thus resulting in speculation for the wind farms future.

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NO for Maltese wind farm

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