LANDSCAPES AND AGRICULTURESection 8

Section 8 : Landscapes becoming evermore vital: Farmers creating change

“For the first time in decades, there are remarkable examples of farms getting both, richer as an earningmodel and richer as an ecosystem”.

In the last decades we have been witnessing landscapes in decline. We know that climate change,the loss of biodiversity, the loss of soil fertility and the impacts of drought are some of the majorconcerns. Not only for the natural loss that they bring about but also for the decline in naturalproductivity. Without a lot of input nowadays in these systems it is hard to get a good yield.

Can we change the way we produce food while restoring natural ecosystems at the same time?

The answer is “Yes”.

Within these global concerns, there are a growing number of farmers looking for solutions withremarkable results. People like Joel Salatin and Mark Shephard are some of the farmers travellingthe world, being invited to tell their story of success. Their farm is, unlike most other farms, getting‘richer’, more vital, more bio diverse and even more productive time after time. Instead of growingjust grains, vegetables or livestock in a monoculture they have a polyculture and they work byimitating and optimizing native ecosystem processes. In order to produce food while at the sametime carbon is stored in the soil, the soil is getting richer, ground water is stored, and biodiversityincreases.

Figure 39 : New Forest Farm in the US - an example of how farming can actually enhance a landscape

Figure 40 : Agricultural Land in thearea

These farmers have won some awards and that is for a reason.Their practices are followed up by an increasing number offarmers worldwide. It is about a new understanding ofproductivity and efficiency, about a new understanding ofecosystems. These farmers made themselves ‘a useful species’so to say. By their action, their business, their ‘ecosystem’ isgetting richer. It is getting more productive and it is getting richerin biodiversity time after time. And not only that, it turns out thatthese farms annually attract thousands of visitors to see thedifference they create.

These principles can be practiced in the agricultural part of the

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San Anard, San Niklaw and Bidni Rural Landscape Area: with change, optimism and culture as aunique experience in agro-tourism. Here agriculture can be experienced as a recovery process.Here, with eco-tourism agriculture can become an improved earning model.

Polyface Inc - Joel Salatin – USAJoel Salatin developed his farm against all generally accepted theories about efficiency. His initiallyeroded land with bare belched places gradually became a remarkably diverse agro-ecosystem: apolyculture whose diverse living components became more productive time after time by imitatingand optimizing ecosystems. A model that even organic agriculture can still move its beacons upon.

Joel Salatin is hailed by the New York Times as "Virginia's most multifaceted agrarian since ThomasJefferson [and] the high priest of the pasture" and profiled in the Academy Award nominateddocumentary Food, Inc. and Michael Pollan’s bestselling book The Omnivore's Dilemma.

http://www.polyfacefarms.com

New Forest Farm - Mark Shephard, USAIn 1995 Mark Shepard and his family moved to the hills of Southwest Wisconsin to start a new kindof farm. New Forest Farm is now one of the most developed and productive herbaceous farms inNorth America - with crops and livestock in abundance. His book ‘Restoration Agriculture’ has won‘The Eric Hoffer’ award, has won the NIEA award, and is finalist in ‘The Da Vinci Eye’ for theopportunities he shows to change the way humans get their food while restoring naturalecosystems at the same time.

http://www.newforestfarm.net

Agroforestry Research Trust - Martin Crawford, UKThe Agroforestry Research Trust, is doing research on agroforestry in regions with a temperateclimate. These are vegetable crops and practices, with a focus on trees, shrubs and perennials.Meanwhile, they succeeded in creating a food-producing forest and to inspire many with verydiverse edible rarities.

http://www.agroforestry.co.uk

Eemlandhoeve – Jan Huijgen, the NetherlandsEver since the inception of the farm in the early 90s the Eemlandhoeve has been more than a farm.All the activities that have been developed over the years aim to promote the encounters betweenfarmer and citizen, countryside and city, and creator and creation. The farm offers several activitiesand events in agro-tourism and has a shop. In 2007 Jan Huijgen won the European Mansholt Prizefor innovations in the field of agriculture. The farm contains over 300 plant species and annuallyattracts 20,000 visitors.

http://eemlandhoeve.nl

Vehicles for transitionThese are vehicles that can be used to work towards sustainable land use and new earning models.The concept of Fringefarm contains a number of topics, each supporting the approach of eco-ef-fective entrepreneurship. Depending on the location and its conditions, any location can use one ormore of these topics in working towards sustainable land use.

These topics are:

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1 . Foodforest

2. Fodder-trees

Fodder-trees and fodder-shrubs are an interesting alternative to current life-stock fodder like barley.On land where barley is harvested, we do not see any vegetation during the summer months andhaving this bare land with full sun exposure in the summer months means the land is lacking oncrop productivity and positive climate contribution that fodder-trees can provide. Barley needsfertilizing, as these annuals are shallow rooted, whilst trees can take the nutrients that are naturallyavailable as they are perennial and deep rooted. For the Maltese climate, green-lands like these canhave interesting potentials. Fodder-trees feed livestock, build soil, and can optimise conditions forthe environment at the same time.

3. Wild-food-plants

Malta and Gozo are fortunate to have some perennial wild plants like Sea purslane (Halimioneportulacoides) and Buck’s horn plantain (Plantago coronopus) that grow in very dry conditions in thecostal zones. Something that almost no-one seems to know is that these species can also be used asvegetables and are very delicious indeed. Instead of trying to grow annual species in these coastalareas which are in constant need of water and fertiliser, it might be worth considering to grow thesewild plants as vegetable instead, to save the input and develop an extraordinary local cuisine.

Figure 41 : An example of a food-forest concept

Foodforests are not just food producing forests. Instead ofannual monocultures that are most often polluting theenvironment and needing a lot of input like fertilizer and oil,foodforest is a low-maintenance sustainable plant-basedfood production system based on woodland and perennialecosystems. These are making use of companion planting,intermixed to grow in a succession of layers, to build awoodland habitat. Foodforests increase productivity andreduce inputs, build soil and resilience to drought, producefruits, nuts, vegetables and herbs and can optimiseconditions for the total environment at the same time.

Figure 42: The Carob Tree (Ħarruba) - an example of a fodder tree used for such a purpose in the past

Figure 43 : Sea Purslane (Halimioneportulacoides) - found growingcommonly along the Maltese coast

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4 Optimized impacts in nature-resorts

With the delicate ecosystems of Malta and Gozo, regulations have been made to ‘minimize thehuman impact’ with nature. We prefer to optimize the impact. In eco-tourism, man shouldcontribute to nature as much as possible. The ecological value of many valleys and nature areas arestill on the decline. With the active creation of favourable conditions in succession, dynamics and byoptimizing food-chains, wild life benefits off the actions taken in eco-tourism. The interventionsprovide an environmental enrichment for wildlife and an interesting landscape with delicious foodand tourism in splendid isolation.

5 Eco-lodges

The Eco-lodges are not just sustainable. Of course, they are built with Cradle-to-Cradle principles,without toxics and fully recyclable in either the technological or the biological cycle. But that is just astart. By making the Eco-lodges, and the people who use them, part of the local eco-system, theyare changed from objects which have an ecological footprint that is as small as possible, to objectsthat create ecological value and thus having a big positive footprint. The eco-lodge in reality is anorganism in an ecosystem and contributes to the site and all its inhabitants. They clean water,enhance biodiversity, creates earnings for the farmer and other rural entrepreneurs, feed the soil,make people happy and make the landscape more beautiful. The goal is to get more of everything.By making the eco-lodges mobile they can move with the natural succession and with the farmersconditions-creating planning.

Figure 44 : Relais Torre Marabino - An example of an eco-hotel in Sicily

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SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO COASTAL AND MARINE MANAGEMENT

Section 9

Section 9 : Sustainable EcosystemApproach to Coastal and MarineManagementThe Mediterranean Sea is a fragile ecosystem that is under immense pressure from humanpopulations – notably the greatest sources of pressure on marine resources are construction sitesand dump sites in the vicinity of beaches, as well as use of sea craft, tourism and fishing industryactivities. Experts have estimated that there are about 250 billion bits of plastic floating in theMediterranean Sea, posing a threat to marine biodiversity, and eventually ending up in the humanfood chain. In certain places the volume of micro plastic in the water exceeds that of plankton.

Aquatic ecosystems; including streams, lakes and inland seas, floodplains, coastal lagoons andestuaries, coastal shelves, caves, rocks and sand, reefs and open sea, cover a large part of theXgħajra / Marsaskala zone. Among other amenities, goods and services, they sustain the productionof fisheries and aquaculture. Fisheries and aquaculture; from algae, ascidians and sea-cucumbers tomolluscs, crustaceans, fish and marine mammals, exploit a large diversity of organisms.

In Malta aquaculture of Gilthead Sea Bream and Sea Bass, as well as Tuna penning, depend on goodquality water, free of all pollutants and disturbances.

Fisheries ecosystems unavoidably suffer from the environmental impacts of coastal activities thatimply a selective removal of part of the natural productivity for human subsistence anddevelopment. Undesirable shore development and fishing practices such as overfishing, orovercapacity, are unduly affecting these precious ecosystems, calling for urgent corrective actionand stopping all further damaging development.

Reefs in the areaAt Żonqor Point and S.Anard/Swali coast, two fertile reefs jut out a couple of kilometers, over thedepths. These rocky shallows, surrounded by deeper waters, present the ideal environment for ahost of marine organisms that inhabit the area. The large underwater rocks and crannies provideshelter to hundreds, if not

thousands, of smaller marine species like crustaceans, molluscs, ascidians as well as numerousmicroscopic organisms. Large territorial fish, like the grouper, sea bream and eels, reside in lairs toambush their prey, and are at risk of extinction.

Figure 45 : Żonqor Reef - a fertile reef rich in biodiversity

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Free swimming smaller fish, like bogues, damsel fish and saddled bream, swim in midwatersagainst the ever present underwater currents to collect food particles. Larger predator fish, likebarracudas, jacks and bonito, hunt down the smaller fish voraciously and are themselves anessential part of the Mediterranean marine foodchain.

Further out at sea, other predators like dolphin fish, marlins and swordfish show up seasonally andare the basis of particular Mediterranean diets. Besides fish, pods of dolphins often show up justbeyond the reefs and marine turtles occasionally appear as well.

The deeper waters around the reefs have mostly rocky bottoms, with sandy patches here andthere, and are extremely rich in biodiversity. Some areas are covered in posidonia meadows, wherea myriad of small organisms seek shelter and larger fish lay their eggs for the progeny. Shrimps,nudibrancs, sea shells, crabs and octopi inhabit both the rocky zones and the sandy patches andmany different species of colourful seaweeds enrich these ecosystems.

A kilometer or two off the reefs, there are the wrecks of two ships often frequented by expertdivers. These are the French liner/troopship, Le Polynesien, and the British warship HMSSouthwold. These ships were both sunk by enemyaction during WWI and WWII respectively. LePolynesien was originally a cruise liner, nicknamed'The Titanic of the Mediterranean', which then carriedBritish troops during WWI. It was torpedoed on the10th.August 1918 by the German U-boat, UC22, andmany sailors and troops lost their lives. The destroyerHMS Southwold was a fast, well-armed warship. Onthe 23rd.March 1992 it hit a floating mine whileassisting another ship, The Breckonshire. An officerand four sailors lost their lives in the explosion, butmore than a hundred men were saved by thedestroyer HMS Dalverton.

Reducing Threats to Marine Ecosystems

Except in the high seas, marine ecosystems are often usually used for other purposes such asconservation (e.g. wetlands), forestry (e.g. cane beds), agriculture (e.g. floodplains) and humansettlements (e.g. coastal urban areas). Unfortunately, they are also, very frequently, the ultimaterecipients of the pollution produced by human settlements and industrial activities, inland, on thecoastal area as well as at sea. Even the most remote areas (e.g. deep ocean and polar seas) are nowaffected, seriously putting in question the sustainability of present practices and the presentecosystems resources to future generations.

Environmental NGOs have been particularly active in drawing attention to ecosystem issues byraising awareness of governments and society and have proposed a number of basic principles forecosystem conservation. All key international agreements adopted over the last two decades,including the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, stress the need to generalizethe adoption of ecosystem-based management approaches. Atthe Conference of the Plenipotentiaries on the IntegratedCoastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocol that took place on20–21 January 2008 in Madrid, the ICZM Protocol was signed.Under the presidency of the Minister of Environment of Spain,H.E. Ms. Cristina Narbona Ruiz, fourteen Contracting Parties ofthe Barcelona Convention signed the Protocol. These are thefollowing: Algeria, Croatia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta,Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria andTunisia. All other Parties announced to do so in the very nearfuture. All the parties are convinced that this Protocol is acrucial milestone in the history of the Mediterranean ActionPlan of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP/MAP). It will allow the countries to better manage theircoastal zones, as well as to deal with the emerging coastalenvironmental challenges, such as the climate change andoverdevelopment.

Figure 46 : Le Polynesien - a popular wreck dive off thecoast of Marsaskala

Figure 47 : Mare Nostrum, a result of theICZM protocol signed in 2008, an example ofCross-border cooperation

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The European Parliament and the European Council adopted a recommendation in 2002 onIntegrated Coastal Zone Management which defines the principles of sound coastal planning andmanagement. These include the need to base planning on sound and shared knowledge, the needto take a long-term and cross-sector perspective, to pro-actively involve stakeholders and the needto take into account both the terrestrial and the marine components of the coastal zone.

In Malta and most if not all countries, much progress in ecosystem research and institutionaldevelopment are still needed before the implications of the approach are fully understood andcredible management strategies can be adopted and effectively implemented.

The overarching principles of ecosystem-based management of coasts and fisheries are anextension of the conventional principles for sustainable development to cover the ecosystem as awhole. They aim to ensure that, despite variability, uncertainty and likely natural changes in theecosystem, the capacity of the aquatic ecosystems to produce fish food, revenues, employmentand, more generally, other essential services and livelihood, is maintained indefinitely for thebenefit of the present and future generations.

The main implication is the need to cater both for human as well as ecosystem well-being. Thisimplies conservation of ecosystem structures, processes and interactions through sustainable use.This means considering a range of frequently conflicting objectives where the needed consensusmay not be achievable without equitable distribution of benefits.

Various management concepts and approaches have been proposed during the last fifty years as abasis for some sort of "ecosystem management":

• Integrated Coastal Areas Management (ICAM);• Integrated Watershed Management (IWM)• Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA)• Integrated Irrigation-Aquaculture (IIA)• Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM)

While all of these represent advances over pure single-species fisheries management, none hasincluded all the ingredients that may be required to implement a successful system of ecosystem-based management. Based on experience gained during sixty years of fisheries management, onthe set of principles and points of operational guidance for ecosystem management recommendedby the 5th Conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and on other instrumentsdealing with the subject, the following elements emerge as the foundations and components of anecosystem management approach to fisheries and aquaculture:

• Recognizing that management objectives are a matter of societal choice;• Involving all stakeholders in knowledge-sharing, decision-making and management partnership;• Decentralising decision and action at the lowest appropriate level (subsidiary);• Avoiding irreversible ecosystem impacts from fisheries;• Reducing reversible impacts to the minimum possible (e.g. bycatch and discards);• Considering trans-boundary impacts of fisheries on adjacent or other ecosystems;• Lobbying to reduce negative impacts of non-fishery activities on aquatic ecosystems;• Understanding of ecosystems in an economic context;• Introducing ecological accounting into fisheries management;• Conserving ecosystem biodiversity, structure and functioning;• Adopting the concept of Protected Areas (e.g. Marine Protected Areas - MPAs);• Matching fisheries management system boundaries with ecosystems boundaries;• Improving collaboration between environmental and fishery management organizations;• Undertaking action at the appropriate scale;• Setting management objectives both for the short- and long term;• Ensuring balance between conservation and responsible use;• Recognizing that ecosystem variability and changes are inevitable;• Taking account of both scientific and traditional knowledge;• Improving knowledge on ecosystem impacts and their reversibility;• Adopting participatory and rapid appraisal research methods;• Mobilizing all scientific disciplines;• Ensuring quality and independence of scientific advice;• Recognizing the pervasive uncertainty and, as a consequence;• Applying widely the precautionary approach; and• Adopting adaptive management strategies;• Ensuring equitable allocation of benefits, as a condition for compliance;• Establishing indicators of sustainable ecosystem use to monitor management performance;• Ensuring transparency, public awareness, and consensus building;• Establishing effective conflict resolution and enforcement mechanisms;• Ensuring that the 100m distance from storm wave reaches is observed;

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• Enforcing all rules and laws sensibly and effectively;• Establishing explicit and enforceable rights to ecosystems resources.

Sustainable shore and sea uses at Xghajra and MarsaskalaCoastline• Increase lodgings/restaurants/bars/shops in already built up areas along the shoreline at Xgħajraor Marsaskala. Both at Xgħajra and Marsaskala there are several such facilities that can beupgraded and more can be added at these seaside villages.

• Increase accessibility to the coast for the public by a path/cycle lane and appropriate parkingareas. At present there is a rough pathway from Xgħajra to Żonqor Point, which can be upgradedto allow easier access to the rocky beach by Maltese and tourists alike.

• Landscape attractively the fertile terrain further up the beach. The fields along the shoreline canbe worked and rubble walls repaired. Endemic trees can be planted along the pathway to provideshade and improve aesthetics.

• Provide camping/caravan sites in already disturbed zones further up from the beach. There areseveral fallow fields, with flat ground, that can be used for summer camps by the public andinstitutions like the Scouts and Summer Schools.

• Improve sunbathing/swimming facilities on the beach using removable wooden platforms. Large,flat, wooden platforms can be put along the rocky beach to accommodate bathers in summer. Theycan be dismantled during the other seasons so that they can be reused year after year.

• Improve already established roads/slipways for easy launching/hauling of boats at Xgħajra andMarsaskala, together with ample parking facilities for boat trailers. Some good roads already existand slipways in Xgħajra and Marsaskala are being repaired; however more slipways are required toaccommodate the intense boat trailer traffic during the summer months.

• Encourage sustainable marine activities/sports/entertainment like sailing/diving/fishing. There is aDiving Club at Żonqor Point and a Fishing Club at Marsaskala. A sailing club may be established atXgħajra. Light winds are ideal for practising sailing along the coast; maybe to Grand Harbour orMarsaskala Bay. Diving expeditions can be carried out at the three reefs (S.Anard, Żonqor, Munxar)as well as at the wrecks of Le Polynesien and HMS Southwold. Fishing trips can be organised topractice catch and release of bottom fish or big game fishing.

• Encourage boat trips to caves/bays/fishfarms. Boat trips along the shore can provide animpressive seaward view of the various towers/pillboxes/lookout posts, as well as the series ofcaves known as Is-Swali. Trips can also be extended as far as Grand Harbour and Sliema, or, in theopposite direction, to Marsaskala, St.Thomas Bay, Il-Ħofriet, Delimara, Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġia,and maybe even as far as Filfla and the Blue Grotto. Boat trips to the fish farms are alwaysinteresting to observe the goings on, especially when there are dolphins swimming about andsplashing out of the water.

• Provide information about towers, lookout posts, the knot landmarks, saltpans, reefs, underwatercurrents, winds and waves, marine biota, fish farms, fishing, bunkering, Hurd’s Bank, wrecks,sewage disposal, underwater turbines and more.

Presentations and placards can provide interesting information about all the historical and culturalrichness of the area and be utilised by teachers in educational programmes. A Marine ResearchCentre at Smart City and Fishing Implements Museum at Żonqor would be added attractions.

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Figure 48 : Blue Grotto - a successful boat trip tourism enterprise that can be appliedalong the Xgħajra - Marsaskala coastline

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Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)The coast is protected by both local and international regulations. This section will describe theprovisions emanating from the Barcelona Convention and from the Structure Plan.

The Barcelona Convention: the Integrated Coastal Zone Protocol of 2008

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol of the Barcelona Convention of 2008 is the firstsupra-State legal instrument aimed specifically at coastal zone management. As Mediterraneancoastal zones have been on an unsustainable development path for the last few decades this newlegal tool is of vital importance for the future of the Mediterranean basin.

Malta has signed the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol of the Barcelona Conventionbut never ratified it in Parliament.

General Principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management - Article 6

The ecosystems approach to coastal planning and management;.

Appropriate governance allowing adequate and timely participation in a transparent decision-making process by local populations and stakeholders in civil society;

Cross-sectorally organized institutional coordination;

The formulation of land use strategies, plans … so as not to exceed the carrying capacity of thecoastal zone;

General Principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management - Article 8

Shall establish in coastal zones, as from the highest winter waterline, a zone where construction isnot allowed. This zone may not be less than 100 meters in width.

Malta has not established the setback zone of 100 metres. The red band is 100m setback measuredfrom the highest winter waterline as applies to the Xgħajra-Marsascala coastline.

Why is a setback zone of 100 metres important?

• helps to slow down the natural erosion of coastal systems• helps to maintain the recreational open spaces, by preventing excessive coastal artificialisation, itresponds to the permanent and seasonal populations’ “desire for nature”.• proving to be a useful tool for the adaptation of coastal zones to climate change, by protectingpopulations against the risks of submersion and erosion and … by reducing pressure on biodiversityand ecosystem services that are already under considerable threat.• clearly contributes to biodiversity protection to an extremely fragile environment.

Figure 49 : 100 metre setback (marked in red)

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The Parties to the Convention shall also endeavour to ensure that their national legal instrumentsinclude:

identifying… open areas in which urban development and other activities are restricted or …prohibited;

limiting the linear extension of urban development &… new transport infrastructure along thecoast;

providing for freedom of access by the public to the sea and along the shore;

restricting or, … prohibiting the movement & parking of land vehicles, … anchoring of marinevessels, in fragile natural areas on land or at sea, including beaches and dunes.

The Structure Plan

The Structure Plan has a number of references towards Coastal Zone Management.

Coastal Zone Management 15.47: The United Nations Blue Plan for the Mediterranean Basin,summarised in Report of Survey Appendix 3,  concludes that the general environment butparticularly the coastal zone environment is likely to deteriorate considerably without vigorousaction to prevent it. Report of Survey, Part L Coastal Environment, includes the main findings of thecoastal land use survey and analysis, and its recommendations, and also preliminary underwaterhabitat surveys. These studies need to be extended, and an integrated coastal zone managementplan and practices developed.

Coastal Zone Management 15.48: Facilities for enjoyment by the public shall include suitably sitedswimming and shore diving, diving rafts, car parks, toilets, first aid posts, restaurants, shops,temporary boat moorings, water sports, sunbathing areas, showers, picnic areas, refuse disposal,promenades, nature trails, inland boat storage, boat launching and retrieval, shore fishing, removalof unsightly features, footpaths, bridleways, signage and other information, and safety measures.

Policy CZM 1: A professionally staffed and adequately resourced coastal zone management unit willbe established as a matter of high priority.

Policy CZM 2: A Subject Plan will be prepared for coastal zone management, to include bothconservation of this important resource, and improved facilities for its enjoyment by the public.

Policy CZM 3: Public access around the coastline immediately adjacent to the sea or at the top ofcliffs (including in bays, harbours and creeks) will be secured. This will include taking shorelandsinto public ownership, Government acquisition of illegal developments and encroachments, andsuitable construction works. In the few cases where this is not practical (for example wheresecurity considerations are paramount), nearby detours will be established. The entire coastlinewill be brought into public ownership within a specified period.  

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DESIRABLE USES OF THE AREASection 10

Section 10 : Desirable Uses - ConceptsThe previous section outlined a number of areas and sites that are opportunities for activitiescompatible with the sustainable enjoyment of the cultural landscape of the South. This section listsa number of desirable uses for the sites mentioned that need further evaluation as to theirfeasibility.

AgritourismAs explained above, Agriculture and farmland areas are an asset to the country and to thecommunities. They provide jobs, niche products, food products for export and consumption, greenareas for recreation, exercise and leisure and an opportunity for children to come in contact withnature. The fields and farms of the proposed park area are of good quality and have been tilled forgenerations. They are the core and heart of all that is described in this proposal. Current initiativessuch as Leader projects using Rural Development Funds and Co-operative projects would giveadded value to the area’s projects. In so doing agri-tourism can be promoted as a tourism nicheand as a means to improve both the earning model of the farmers and peasants and theecosystem.

Marine ReserveOverfishing is a recognised issue in the Mediterranean Sea, leading to the unsustainable depletionof marine life and associated human activities. Defining areas of the sea and its seabed as marinereserves allows fish to breed, thus maintaining the sustainability of the fishing industry, itstraditional skills, the jobs of the fishermen, the livelihood of their families and the continuity offishing communities in the area (Xgħajra and Wied il-Għajn). Marine Reserves are ideal for divingenthusiasts to discover the richness of our seas and to contribute as a niche tourism industry.

The Swali Caves

As described above, the area has long been mentioned for amagnificent network of caverns that line the coastal edge of thearea. They serve as a landmark for fishermen in the area. Thecaves and the surrounding marine areas can be promoted as a sitefor touring by boat similar to the successful Blue Grotto tours. Acooperative can be set up to cover this economic activity.

Community Archaeology Projects

Along Żonqor coast a circular feature has been noted, possibly a cistern. This feature will beexplored by the Superintendence of Heritage Culture in due course. Further exploration of thewhole area might also help to place this feature into context, especially given the numerous militaryarchitectural structures in the vicinity, including a partly-constructed wall started during the periodof the Order of St John, along with other natural and man-made features which definitely need tobe included into the assessment in order to appreciate the splendid landscape of this part of theMaltese Islands.

Given the limited archaeological exploration in the area, one may observe the huge potential forcommunity archaeology projects here. Exercises in the area can be carried out without disruptingthe activities of the nearest residents and there is the opportunity to be creative in interpretation.

Community archaeology projects are for the most part unknown in Malta. In spite of this, theirbenefits by far outweigh the difficulties in setting them up. Community archaeology projects help to

Figure 50 : One of the inlets along is-Swali

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create (or increase) the attachment of local communities to their tangible (and often even intangible)heritage as well as turning them into active participants in conservation and interpretationprocesses related to said heritage. The diverse experiences and knowledge of community membersallow the converging of different interests and perspectives, leading to a research agenda which isalive and, ultimately, to a richer interpretation. Additionally, community archaeology projects are anadd-on to other projects carried out by professionals, often offering research opportunities and datawhich would otherwise not be obtained due to professional researchers’ lack of resources and time.A further benefit is that archaeology and related fields are brought closer to non-archaeologists,thus increasing their exposure and, hopefully, enlisting support from community members in theirrespect.

Community archaeology projects need not necessarily entail excavations or other intrusivetechniques. Surveying is a good non-intrusive exercise which produces material to help theinterpretation of the area, as are photography sessions. One of the pill-boxes along the coast mayalso be turned into an activity space related to such projects, where the small group of participantsmay gather to discuss progress of project as well as a location for artefact handling sessions (e.g.pottery). Farmers and fishermen of the area may be involved to offer a basis of agriculture and thefishing industry. These can then be combined with more specific workshops on the historic aspect ofsuch industries, workshops which can also be held outdoors. Divers can also be a part of this,integrating their main activity with underwater archaeology and marine investigations. The swali,along with other features, would surely make such an experience unforgettable.

The planning, execution and feedback discussions pertaining to such small-scale communityprojects may be the ideal spark for successive larger initiatives as well as providing a good platformfor public outreach and conflict mediation between different sectors of society. The setting up of ashort-term project of this sort involving locals and migrants might be a good precursor to themulticultural/intercultural centre mentioned further on in this document, providing not only a goodpicture of the challenges but also getting the persons involved closer to the concept (before actuallyembarking permanently into a fully-fledged project).

Military and historical re-enactmentsThe geo-strategical characteristics of the locality, due to its crucial positioning between the harboursof Valletta and Marsaxlokk, and the shallow nature of the waters along the Xgħajra coast, which hasbeen thought as an ideal landing place for an enemy who wished to land there, have dictated themilitary and historical infrastructure created by the Knights of St. John and later the British. Thislength of time spanning centuries of prosperity house many opportunities for military and historicalre-enactments.

Fishing MuseumA proposal for a fishing museum has been forwarded to successive administrations but it has notmaterialized yet. The person involved is ready to donate all the material at his disposal. Thematerial consists of old implements used in the past for fishing (these include implements used bothby amateur and professional fishermen), models of fishing boats with an explanation on theirconstruction), implements used for marketing of fish, hundreds of photos of fish and on fishingmethods, stands explaining various aspects on the history of fishing in Malta, fishing methods,marketing of fish, legal aspects and the decrease of fish population.

Figure 51 : A military entrenchment line built during the timeof the Knights, found in the area

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Salt industryA cooperative or a social corporate enterprise can be set up to cover economic activity from saltpans and supported to serve the surrounding business enterprises. Authentic, traditionallyharvested salt has considerable appeal and added value to the restaurant and delicatessen market,and the process itself has great didactic potential for school groups and other visitors eager to learnabout the sustainable interaction between humans and their environments.

Conferencing PotentialThe suggested rural landscape area may offer a perfect opportunity not only for the foreigners whoare visiting our Island for leisure, but also for small teams of researchers and academics working onecological or marine themes.

In the past ten years conference-tourism in Malta has exploded, and reasonably so. Our Islandsoffer the perfect climate, especially from April to June and from October to November, to organizeacademic activities, international conferences and research seminars. The mild temperatures andpleasant weather allow conference participants to enjoy the best locations during after-conferencehours as well as for the conference organizers to set up outdoor sessions. From work practice,conference participants do wish to have practical solutions during their stay (most of them would,after all, be travelling for work purposes only), but the element of experience is very important forthem too. Their time is often so taken up by the conference that they would not have time to visitother places except for the locality where the conference venue is situated. Thus most conferenceorganizers choose Valletta, which is indeed the perfect location.

However this is leading to an over-crowding of the capital city as never before. On the other hand,many participants who attend a package conference with accommodation and meetings in thesame hotel (mostly Sliema or St Julian’s) often feel that they have not seen Malta at all. Worse thanthat, some may even think that Sliema and St Julian’s represent the rest of the Maltese Islands,which is definitely not the case. What better area than the one which is being proposed to ensurethat the experience of conference participants is a truly Maltese one?

Indeed there are a number of limitations of the area, especially when it comes to the size of theconference groups. This is especially significant if we are to ensure as little change in infrastructureas possible. However there is great potential for conferences, seminars and research groups ontopics related to the features one finds within the delineated space (military architecture, history,agriculture, marine topics, etc). Such groups tend to be limited ones, usually ranging from 25 to 50participants. Such a seminar room with a catering space for coffee breaks and an office space forthe organizers may be created within one of the forts in the vicinity.

A chosen smaller existing structure within the park delineation may also be turned into a smallresearch centre, to be hired by teams of researchers for their workshops/researchseminars/fieldwork activities. This centre could comprise a meeting room and work-area/laboratorywhere research teams focusing on the natural/marine properties of the area can discuss findings oftheir fieldwork as well as compiling their reports. A bathroom, a basic kitchen and a small dormitorymay also be ideal in order to avoid transportation issues, especially since many researchers of thiskind carry specific (often heavy) equipment. Otherwise contacts with any guesthouses/boutiquehotels which are being proposed within the park precinct may offer the right kind ofaccommodation the researchers may need.

Figure 52 : Part of the extensive salt pans found inMarsaskala towards Żonqor Point

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As all conference centres, these two initiatives may, with enough promotion, be self-sufficient,sustaining themselves thanks to hiring fees. If a large enough existing structure is identified for thepurpose they may even be integrated into one, thus saving on staff costs.

Such an initiative does not simply bring to the area the kind of quality tourism which does not harmthe natural environment and historic sites, but also encourages further research of thesurroundings, marking the park on the international map and adding knowledge which might bevery difficult to acquire otherwise.

Fishermen, farmers and divers may also be involved, organizing trips to their fields or selective boattrips to the interested researchers which will definitely make good use of the locals’ knowledge andexperience. The attitude of academic tourists (especially those carrying out fieldwork) tends to bevery inquisitive and respectful of the local community, and so contact with such visitors would helpto alleviate any doubts or suspicions any locals might have with regards to the presence of researchteams in the vicinity of their homes and work places.

The teams in question are also generally small groups which lessen the damage that their needsmay leave on the natural resources of the area, such as infrastructural needs. By way of example,they would not come in large coaches. Apart from that, due to their research topics, they would besensitive to environmental concerns and thus would not organize any activities that can harm thesurroundings, such as barbecues, illegal waste disposal, etc.

Premises of Co-operativesA rural landscape area that is managed for different clienteles with varying activities necessitates alot of maintenance, upgrading and servicing works, various educational, guiding and touring servicesand an amount of administrative work for employees and managers of the project. Some of theconstructions already present can be restored and used as premises of cooperatives formed bygraduated students of traditional skills which involve themselves in preserving and enhancing thefacilities of the area.

An Intercultural CentreMarsaskala with 11,000 residents is enriched with multiple ethnicities. Marsaskala Primary Schoolhas classes of students with 9 different languages. The positive intercultural experience of primaryeducation can be sustained into teenage and adulthood by means of an intercultural centre thatpromotes the rich and diverse community of Marsaskala. The intercultural centre can be a placewhere members of different ethnicities meet, share ideas and do common projects.

Niche Culinary RestaurantA restaurant with cafeteria that behaves and acts as a business entity with social corporate andenvironmental responsibility is possible within the remit of a rural landscape area. The entity canpromotes traditional food and wines and niche culinary products, feeding itself from thesurrounding agricultural land. It would thus benefit from the area and itself help to sustain the area.Similar concepts have been set up, to great acclaim, in Dingli in the West of Malta – why not in theSoutheast?

Figure 53 : Dar tal-Barunessa - a potential sitefor a culinary Restaurant and Conference

centre?

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Religious TourismWayside and Countryside chapels, with the much sought ex-voto stories, are a source of religioustourism, another tourism niche. The San Anard, San Niklaw and Bidni rural landscape areadescribed houses the wayside Shrine of 3 Crosses, the Kappella tal-Madonna tad-Dawl, theKappella ta’ Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova and the Kappella ta’ San Nikola (Marsaskala).

Organ and Choir concertsWayside and Countryside chapels in pristine surroundings can serve as a prime site for organ andchoir concerts as part of our national cultural calendar of activities. The San Anard, San Niklaw andBidni rural landscape area described houses the wayside Shrine of 3 Crosses, the Kappella tal-Madonna tad-Dawl, the Kappella ta’ Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova and the Kappella ta’ San Nikola(Marsaskala). They are sparingly used for services.

Sports and exercise areaThe Żonqor Point ex-national swimming pool is in use by Marsaskala’s waterpolo club. Adjacent toit is a diving club. The water sports mentality of the area can be augmented by promoting otherwater-related activities, e.g. a yachting/sailing club. Existing pathways in the area between theSwimming Pool and the Stormwater outlet can, with minor improvements, become ideal fortrekking, cycling and walking. This would give residents of the nearby communities, and visitorsfrom beyond, a safe site where to exercise, going forward in national efforts to increase the lowpercentage of people doing exercise and to decrease the high percentage of obese and overweightcitizens.

Boutique HotelA boutique hotel can service the agricultural and farmland park and the natural park areas withclients that value the farmland and the rural area and their produce. Such clients would value thebeauty of the rustic one-lane country roads, thus not necessitating big changes in transportinfrastructure except for upgrading of the service roads. The boutique hotel can be serviced byproduce from the surrounding fields and farms, boosting the agriculture’s economy.

Buffer zoneThe best possible technology for operation and mitigation should be used to mitigate noise andsmells from Ta’ Barkat Treatment Plant. But since no industrial plant is totally free from noise andchemical pollution, a buffer zone is suggested between the plant and the present confine of urbansprawl, and between the plant and the Ta Swali caves. Xgħajra residents, amongst them asignificant proportion of socio-economic classes IV and V, should have preferential utility tariffs. Asimilar concept of compensation was given to Marsaskala’s Bellavista residents living in the vicinityof the Sant’Antnin Composting and Recycling Facility. The compensation for Marsaskala residentsincluded a Family Park.

AccessibilityAccessibility of the landscape area is also to be given due consideration. The following sites markedon this map, focusing on the stretch outlined by the 2006 Local Plan as a Park as an example, showpotential junction accessibility sites that can be improved. It is important that by “access for all” weare not suggesting a paved road in the way it is often understood in Malta, where cars are seen asthe primary means of accessing the area. Rather, we are recommending that most areas would beaccessible as footpaths, or cycling routes. This would fit in well with the recommendations ofSection 4, where we need to foster a culture of outdoor activities, exercise and recreation withoutthe need to make the entire site accessible to cars. This would also avoid unnecessary noisepollution and preserve the quiet characteristics of the area.

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As the above images demonstrate, this could be an opportune moment to introduce moreeffectively a culture of quiet recreation in the south of Malta, while preserving the characteristics ofrustic country lanes and enjoying the breathtaking views of the area. Such an improvement wouldnot be of detriment to the agricultural activities in the area, but taken in conjunction with abovesuggestions, would could indeed enhance not only the agricultural qualities of the area, but theeconomic prospects of farmers.

Figure 54 : Suggested accessibility improvements, without recurring to building additionalroads and traditional

Figure 55: Photo montage showing country lanes as they currently appear (left), and with improvedaccessibility (right)

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This improvement in accessibility could also serve as an opportune moment to improve waterdrainage in the site. A system of water culverts introduced by the side of footpaths could be madein such a way so as to facilitate improved water drainage from nearby fields and the road itself,while directing the water to already existing reservoirs and cisterns in the area.

Figure 56 : Photo montage showing an example of improved accessibility towards the St. Nicholas Chapel.Note the restored rubble walls in the picture to the left, and the water culverts along the footpaths for

improved

Figure 57: Similar footpath improvements towards the Dar tal-Barunessa, with information signposts.

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The above photo montages placed here are a demonstration as to the potential that this site, whereif upheld, sustainable development principles can lead to an effective improvement to all residentsin Malta, and improve prospects for farmers in the area. It could also prove to be a successfultourist attraction, especially from an ecotourism perspective.

Figure 58: Rubble wall improvements would greatly enhance the visual characteristics of the site, besides restoring its original character.

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EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RURAL

LANDSCAPE AREASection 11

Section 11 :Education for SustainableDevelopment in the Rural LandscapeArea

IntroductionEffective Environmental Education is one of the main instruments to implement environmentalprotection. Lack of effective environmental education and thus lack of information, awareness,knowledge and value development may lead to vast problems in natural areas due to lack ofunderstanding, awareness and belonging. This is especially relevant in small islands like Maltawhich tend to be very vulnerable to environmental degradation as people strive for a better qualityof life by focusing on improving their social and economic conditions and accordingly sometimesdisregard the environment, which is not seen to have tangible economic impact.

Environmental Education or Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the park will consist ofa Centre which will be housed in an already existing structure (that can welcome visitors, studentsand children and be used as a learning space) and outreach activities to other stakeholders andmembers of the community and society in general.

The main vision of the Environmental Education Centre and the outreach activities, will be to ensurethat quality of life and quality of the environment are strongly interlinked, and that this iscommunicated to the students, stakeholders and the general public in order to foster a sense ofbelonging to the park.

The Four Pillars of Sustainable DevelopmentThe Environmental Education framework utilised will be one based on the four pillar approach to

sustainability: cultural vitality, economic health,environmental responsibility and social equity. Whilethe economic, environmental, and social pillars havebeen well defined and documented in communitysustainability planning, inclusion of the cultural pillaris a relatively new phenomenon in sustainabledevelopment. The cultural pillar is an integral part ofsustainability and recognizes that a community'squality of life is closely related  to the quality of itscultural engagement, expression, dialogue, andcelebration. The arts are now being used as a tool tofoster social inclusion, cultural diversity, ruralrevitalization, health, ecological preservation, andsustainable development. Sustainable developmentincreasingly involves creating cultural frameworksthat operate at the same level as do economic, social,and environmental models.  It is the integration

Figure 59 : The four pillars of Sustainable Development between the four pillars that will drive sustainability need to be applied to all projects in the Maltese Islands and highlight opportunities for innovation.

EE/ESD Guiding Values for the AreaWithin each dimension there will be various different activities that may include environmentaleducation objectives. Some examples include:

• Raise public awareness of the park, its species, sustainability, biodiversity and relatedenvironmental issues.

• Carry out advisory and training activities in conjunction with the local councils in support of thepark, biodiversity awareness and conservation.

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• Facilitate interdisciplinary work and the exchange of expertise on biodiversity both within the localcommunity, and by means of outreach to the touristic community, nationally and internationally.

• Produce educational materials specific to the Park (fact sheets, information packets, booklets,videos, slide shows, and educational games).

• Engage primary and secondary school students through existing EEprogrammes such as Ekoskola, Young Reporters for the Environmentand Dinja Waħda.

• In collaboration with other entities, including the EducationDepartment, The Faculty of Education, MCAST and ITS develop anddeliver awareness courses for teachers, Learning support assistants,Head of schools, and the school management teams.

• Expand and produce a collection of resources and a resource libraryon the park, Maltese ecosystems, local biodiversity and environmentalissues.

• Run programmes (discussion groups, workshops, seminars, andlectures) for specific target groups (teachers, decision-makers,technical personnel, and environmental managers) and the generalpublic.

• In collaboration with other entities, including MTA and ITS, developand deliver courses for ecological-guides and park rangers, andincrease the marketing potential of the site with tourists.

For the formal/informal education, the following sectors have been identified:

• Primary schools (will include all, state, private and independent schools - focusing on those thatare closest to the park)

• Secondary schools (will include all, state, private and independent schools - focusing on those thatare closest to the park)

• Post secondary schools (will include all, state, private and independent schools)

• MCAST (all the colleges that fall within the remit of this educational institution)

• ITS (the Institute of Tourism studies)• University of Malta (all faculties to be targeted, but special emphasis will be placed on studentteachers)

• NGOs

Figure 60 : Ekoskola - an environmental educational

program that has been applied in Maltese Schools over the last

decade

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FINANCIAL OPTIONSSection 12

Section 12: Financial OptionsThis section will examine possible funding venues for such a project, in the event of itsimplementation.

Malta’s EU Programming Period 2014 – 2020The overarching framework for the implementation of the EU 2014-2020 funding allocated to Malta,including the main sectors for investment, is set out in the Partnership Agreement of Malta. In linewith the strategic thrust of this agreement, two Operational Programmes have been drafted as partof the EU Funds programming process. The interventions to be funded under the different ESI Fundsare listed in two Operational Programmes.

Measures supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund(CF) are outlined in Operational Programme I, whilst measures supported by the European SocialFund (ESF) are outlined in Operational Programme II. The Operational Programmes set out theinvestment plan that Government will undertake in the 2014-2020 programming period wherebyinvestments will be directed towards a number of key areas in line with Malta’s priorities as well asthe Europe 2020 targets.

For the scope of this exercise Operational Programme I is the most relevant. This Programme aimsto Foster a competitive and sustainable economy by increasing economic development, improvingenvironment sustainability, and investing in a more social inclusive society. As such, the OperationalProgramme focuses on 11 thematic priorities. Of particular relevance to the subject underdiscussion are Priority Axes 5 and 6 summarised as follows:

Priority Axis 5: Protecting our environment - investing innatural and cultural assetsThe preservation of Malta’s natural and cultural assets is one of the objectives contributing towardsthe amelioration of the Maltese environment which also contributes towards the Europe 2020Strategy for sustainable growth. Interventions aiming to address the national challenges ofbiodiversity loss and conservation of species in natural sites including the conservation of Natura2000 sites as well as actions in line with Malta’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2020 will be supported. Moreover, in an effort to conserve, p rotect and further develop Malta’snational assets, Government will also support investments in cultural heritage in with a view tosustain business development and solidify Malta’s tourism industry which is one of the main pillarsof the Maltese economy. Within this context, the preservation of cultural assets and the creation ofcultural hubs will enable the further development of Malta’s niche cultural tourism sector which inreturn will leverage an injection of investments from the private sector in the Maltese economy.Investments under this priority axis will be complemented with capacity building interventionsfinanced through the ESF Operational Programme with a view to strengthen the knowledge andskills within this sector and to foster the creation of green jobs. The indicative total funding for thisPriority Axis amounts to € 72 million.

Priority Axis 6: Sustainable Urban DevelopmentThrough this Axis, the Operational Programme will adopt an integrated approach to addresseconomic, environmental, climate, demographic and social challenges affecting targeted urbanareas. Malta’s size presents challenges that are unique due to its population density and sprawlingurbanisation. This together with economic development places considerable pressure on securing abalanced sustainable urban development. The Harbour area is the most densely populated areawith the highest rate of persons at risk of poverty, high unemployment rates, particularly amongyouths, and high rates of truancy, crime and vandalism. Therefore this area has been identified asthe urban area where integrated actions for sustainable urban development are most needed.Through an integrated approach, actions will be implemented to bring about the required social,cultural, environmental and educational change in this area. Moreover, investment in the social andphysical regeneration of deprived neighbourhoods is also supported. The indicative total funding forthis Priority Axis amounts to € 24 million.

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Funding the proposalAs outlined in previous sections, we are proposing a concept that will have positive results in termsof regeneration and economic development without loss of the island’s natural heritage. Theproposal identified the current programming period as an ideal timeframe for such a project. Asexplained above, the new Structural Funds Programme 2014-2020 has directed funds to areas ofenhancing the island’s natural and cultural heritage as well as sustainable urban development.

The reality of such a project is therefore strengthened by the availability of structural funding underthe programming period. The project could be considered under possibly both Priority Axes 5 and 6since the rehabilitation of the Xgħajra - Marasaskala Coastline Stretch and the surrounding area willboth rehabilitate an area of natural heritage as well as help improve sustainable urbandevelopment in the southern region of the island. On one hand, Priority Axis 5 directs funding toprojects that revalorize natural heritage with the intent of creating a tourism attraction and whichultimately enhances the tourism product. Independent tourists increasingly request attractions thatexploit Malta’s natural assets. As such, this is a tourism product that has yet to be fully tapped, ashas already been argued in Section 4 of this document. It is also the type of tourism product thatwill help extend the tourism season enhancing tourism seasonality. On the other, Priority Axis 6aims to develop and enhance the urban fabric of the island, giving particular focus to the south ofMalta. The development of a natural recreational area in the Xgħajra - Marasaskala CoastlineStretch and the surrounding area will enhance the quality of life in the citizens living in thesurrounding localities.

The overreaching goal of the project is to protect and safeguard the Xgħajra - Marasaskala CoastlineStretch and the surrounding area. The area is untouched land that could be rehabilitated andretained in its natural state. Protecting this stretch of land from development will ensure thecreation of a natural recreational site that would enhance both the quality of life and the nationaltourism product.

The current administration has increased the effort in identifying the need for further focus on thesouth of the island. Previous projects including the rehabilitation of the Birgu waterfront, therestoration and revalorization of Dock 1 and the enactment of the Smart City project all aimed atenhancing the quality of life to citizens in the south of the island by rehabilitating sites of historicand cultural value, enhancing the beauty of the various localities and creating projects that wouldenhance the economic development of the country.

Project management set-upThe Consultative Council for the South of Malta, established by the current administration, isfocusing on overseeing and developing proposals and initiatives that help in developing the south.The Xgħajra - Marasaskala Coastline Stretch and the surrounding areaoffers the potential for the creation of an initiative led by this Council thatputs into practice its objectives and ideals and truly delivers.

The Council could lead the project defining the project objectives, goalsand milestones. This would require certain assurances that the requiredproject set up is in place. Joined management of the project together withthe MTA, MTI and local councils could be considered so as to ensure thatthe required project management set up is in place. The project offers asound potential for the creation of collaborative set-up among thesedifferent bodies to ensure that maintenance and upkeep following projectcompletion is maintained.

The project offers sound economic advantages as well as social andenvironmental ones, and therefore falls squarely within the ideals ofsustainable development - The area outlined for this project runs along anumber of southern localities that stand to gain by way of enhanced thequality of the life of citizens living in the area. However, in additional tothe preservation of a natural recreational area, the project will also attract

1

1 Some aspects of this proposal may also benefit from funds under the Rural Development Programme through theLeader Funds Programmes. Leader Funds Programmes aimed at increasing awareness and introducing innovativesystems, landscape management and biodiversity protection, promoting innovative technologies and ideas for efficientuse of resources and adaptation to climate change, and promoting social inclusion and economic development in ruralareas.Other aspects may also be eligible for EU Direct Funding under the various LIFE projects.

Figure 61: SIBIT - an example of a tourist attraction that can be included in the area

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a number of independent tourists that visit our islands, particularly those that come into the lowseason. To date the southern coastline, despite its natural beauty, features little in the nationaltourism product. However, the south is becoming more sought after as a possible tourismdestination as a result of projects like Malta Goes Rural; that promotes a number of walks andbiking tours throughout Malta’s rural areas. Projects like SIBIT promote biking tourism in variousMediterranean destinations including Malta and the MTA’s plans of revamping a number ofbeaches in the south of the island will bring more tourists to the south of Malta.

a number of independent tourists that visit our islands, particularly those that come into the lowseason. To date the southern coastline, despite its natural beauty, features little in the nationaltourism product. However, the south is becoming more sought after as a possible tourismdestination as a result of projects like Malta Goes Rural; that promotes a number of walks andbiking tours throughout Malta’s rural areas. Projects like SIBIT promote biking tourism in variousMediterranean destinations including Malta and the MTA’s plans of revamping a number ofbeaches in the south of the island will bring more tourists to the south of Malta.

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CONCLUSIONSection 13

Section 13 : Concluding RemarksThis proposal by members of civil society has been made in a spirit of public engagement in thestewardship of our landscape, which is considered a collective responsibility.

Government is being called upon to honour its responsibilities to safeguard the landscape, in thespirit articulated in Article 9 of the Constitution of Malta, and to deliver on its commitments asstated in the South Malta Local Plan to protect and upgrade the area of San Anard, San Niklaw andBidni, by establishing a National and natural Park.

The present proposal is founded on the belief that sustainable stewardship of non-renewableresources may work hand-in-hand with the principles of creativity, entrepreneurship, and a belief inand respect for people, their work and their attachment to place, to provide a win-win situation forall.  

NIFS urges Government to embrace and take ownership of this vision, and to embark on aconsultation process with all stakeholders, as the first essential step to transform this vision into areality.

Let us give the next generation a legacy we can be proud of.

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N I F S

Addendum: Alternative Sites proposal for anew University Campus

A discussion document outlining some possible alternative sites that may be suitable for a new university campus.

National Independent Forumfor Sustainability

June 2015

Contributors

Veronica Barbara Archeology, Heritage

Jason Bonnici Family Doctor

George Cassar Tourism

John Paul Cauchi Environmental Health

Michela Fenech Law

Reuben Grima Cultural Landscapes

Edwin Lanfranco Botany

Mark Mifsud Environmental Education

Edward Said Architecture and Conservation

Rio Sammut Marine Biology, Fishing

Marie-Louise Schembri Sustainable Development

Joerg Sicot Graphics and Design

Anna Spiteri Environmental Conservation

Jos Willemsen Fringe Farming and Ecological Farming

Anna Zammit Sociology

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Rationale

NIFS (National Independent Forum for Sustainability) is a think-tank formed of

individuals from a range of professions and walks of life, acting on a voluntary basis

and in their private capacity, who share a strong commitment to promoting more

responsible approaches to the sustainable enjoyment of non-renewable resources.

We believe that the proposal to create a new university campus, with the right

safeguards and by following due process, could lead to an improvement in the

quality of life of residents in the region, and could lead to a much-needed injection of

investment and activity in areas that have suffered decades of neglect.

Following the recent proposal to build a new university campus on an Outside

Development Zone within the very area designated for the National Park between

Żonqor and Xgħajra, NIFS discussed the potential impacts of such a development on

local communities and the surrounding area. This has led us to write this addendum

outlining some possible alternative sites that may be more suitable for such a

project. We believe that these alternatives are viable, and if undertaken with a

greater sense of vision and responsibility that has been shown to date, could

contribute to an improvement in the quality of life to the communities in the area, to

our students’ guests, and to our heritage, without negatively impacting the

environment and taking up of scant land resources in Malta. This document will not

go into the merits of the institution itself, or of how it will be operated, nor will it

express any opinion on how the contractor was selected, or on other issues of

transparency or due process. This document will confine itself to proposing some

alternative sites, which should make it abundantly clear that it is unnecessary and

capricious to touch any ODZ area for this purpose.

This document is most certainly not a Strategic Environment Assessment, nor should

it in any way be misconstrued to replace a Strategic Environment Assessment, but is

merely highlighting some of the possible alternatives that could and should be taken

into consideration when a Strategic Environment Assessment is undertaken.

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Outside Development Zone (ODZ) and Planning policy

The current public outcry against proposals to build on Outside Development Zone

(ODZ) areas, has clearly shown that civil society expects ODZ areas to be respected

and safeguarded, and is deeply concerned that Government is not giving adequate

reassurances that it will meet these expectations. NIFS considers that it is time

Government rises to its responsibilities, as defined in the Constitution, and reassures

the public with cast-iron guarantees that ODZ areas will be treated with the respect

that this dwindling and non-renewable resource deserves. The inalienable public

right of present and future generations to enjoy their landscape and coastline stems

from the Constitution of Malta. More specifically, the safeguarding of the landscape

and coastline between Xgħajra and Marsaskala is embedded in the current planning

policy framework.

The proposal to build a university campus, in whole or in part, within this coastal area

is a direct contradiction of these principles and policy objectives, and a travesty of

the State’s responsibilities under Article 9 the Constitution.

Constitution of Malta

‘The State shall safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of

the Nation.’

(Article 9, Constitution of Malta)

The countryside and coastline between Xgħajra and Marsaskala is safeguarded by a

number of policies in the planning policy framework that is presently in force. Most of

the area under discussion is not simply in an Outside Development Zone, but is, in

addition, covered by specific policies in the South Malta Local Plan, some of the

more salient of which are listed below:

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SMIA 13 National Park

The Policy states:

“This local plan designates the area known as L-Għassa tal-Munxar (Marsascala)

and the coastal stretch between Il-Ponta taz-Żonqor (Marsascala) and Blata l-Bajda

(Xgħajra), as indicated in Policy Maps MS1, MS2, XA1 and ZA1, as National Parks

primarily for informal recreation (e.g. walking, cycling) and the appreciation of the

ecological, geological, archaeological as well as cultural-historical features of these

areas. Within these parks priority will be given to the conservation, protection and

improvement of the natural and cultural-historical heritage…”

Further, the Policy also states:

“These two stretches of coast are important ecological, geological and cultural areas

due to the variety of features an elements present in these areas ranging from salt

pans to fortifications to a number of important ecological habitats. This policy seeks

to maximize the recreational use of the site whilst protecting and providing for the

appreciation of the rich heritage of these areas.”

SMCO 03: Protection of Areas of Ecological Importance (AEIs) & Sites

of Scientific Importance (SSIs)

This AEIs and SSIs identified in this policy include the coastal stretch between

Xgħajra, Zabbar and Żonqor Point.

The Policy states:

“In these protected areas/sites there will be a general presumption against

development that would create negative impacts on these areas/ sites and the

MEPA will endeavour to safeguard and protect AEIs and SSIs listed within this Local

Plan.”

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SMCO 06: Areas of High Landscape Value (AHLVs)

The AHLVs identified in this policy include the area between Żonqor Point

(Marsascala) and Blata l-Bajda (Xgħajra), including the entire area of the Żonqor

location under discussion as a site for a new university campus.

The Policy states:

“MEPA designates the areas identified on the respective Policy Maps as Areas of

High Landscape Value (AHLV) as per Section 46 of the Development Planning Act,

1992 and Structure Plan policy RCO There shall be a strong presumption against the

creation of new built structures (including cultivation and animal husbandry related

structures) in AHLVs.”

The Policy also states:

“These areas are essential as local recreational venues for the local populations as

well as distinctive local open space lungs which help to impart a feeling of

remoteness from the urban atmosphere which is so prevalent in the south of Malta.”

Contiguous Protection Areas

In addition to the Policies referred to above, there are a number of complementary

policies, which protect areas that are contiguous to the area designated as a

National Park in Policy SMIA 13. These include SMC 07: Valley Protection Zones;

SMC 04: Archaeologically Sensitive Areas. This creates an opportunity to further

integrate and consolidate these various protection measures, by safeguarding

contiguous areas around the National Park, extending across tal-Bidni to the

Marsaskala road, to act as buffer zones for the Park itself. There are also Policy

POLICY SOC 12: Use of existing buildings

The guidleines for community and social facilities show that priority is always given

to existing or empty buildings. Policy SOC 12 example states :

Particular consideration will be given to the conversion of underused or empty

building, and to the inclusion of student residential facilities, which could be used

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during college holidays for the accommodation of conference participants.

Therefore consideration for the sites described below is an obligation of the

government, especially when it comes to educational facilities.

Visual Integrity

Visual integrity of the landscape is an important asset for our quality of life, and that

of our visitors. The Maltese cultural landscape is one of Malta’s most valuable and

irreplaceable assets. It must not only be safeguarded from direct physical impacts,

but also from impacts on its visual integrity. The configuration of the area of the

National Park (SMIA 13) between Xgħajra, Żonqor, and Fort San Leonardo forms a

visual envelope which is almost entirely free of visual intrusions caused by

urbanisation. No new constructions outside existing Development Zone boundaries

should be contemplated within this viewshed. Stricter height limitation policies, based

on visual impact studies, should be introduced to regulate development within the

existing Development Zones at Xgħajra and Żonqor.

The concept of visual integrity is highlighted under Structure Plan POLICY RCO 4,

which states that The Planning Authority will not permit the development of any

structure or activity, which in the view of the Authority would adversely affect scenic

value because it would:

1. Break a presently undisturbed skyline

2. Visually dominate or disrupt its surroundings because of its mass or location

3. Obstruct a pleasant and particularly a panoramic view

4. Adversely affect any element of the visual composition - for example, cause

the destruction or deterioration of traditional random stone walls

5. Adversely affect existing trees or shrubs

6. Introduce alien forms, materials, textures, or colours

The proposal to attempt to integrate a university campus, in whole or in part, within

the area designated as a National Park in Policy SMIA 13 is a direct contradiction of

this principle of visual integrity, and a travesty of the very purpose of the Park. One

should also question as to why the natural park being proposed is actually smaller

than that already outlined under the 2006 Local Plan.

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Figure 62: The Local Plan of 2006, outlining the area proposed for the campus as a Park

Figure 63: An image overlay, showing proposed campus area and proposed Natural Park, superimposed on Local Plan 2006 park area

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The Local Plan

A Local Plan deals mainly with land-use planning and development issues, and

indicates where development can take place, what type and the criteria against

which development proposals will be assessed by the Malta Environment and

Planning Authority (MEPA). Its main function is to guide development by seeking a

sustainable balance between economic and social needs of the public (e.g homes,

shops, employment, transport, recreation and community facility requirements) and

the need to protect and improve the existing urban and natural environment and to

meet future demand in a sustainable manner. The primary thrust of this Plan is to

afford protection and secure enhancement of all the assets the area contains, to

achieve a more sustainable quality of life and efficient use of land for all sectors.

Functions of the South Malta local plans

The points below are taken from the South Malta local plan, and serve to highlight

some important features.

• To highlight all areas that require protection from development for social and

environmental and other planning reasons.

• The rural character of the area is an important feature, which warrants a

careful approach to development, particularly since specific infrastructure

(Sant’ Antnin Plant) and quarrying operations have created adverse impacts

on the rural environment.

• With regard to the rural and coastal environment the strategy seeks to

facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded rural landscapes and the protection

and safeguarding of the limited coastal stretch for the provision of recreational

facilities.

The above points therefore illustrate that rural character must be preserved, and that

opting for ODZ is most undesirable. The second point above highlights quarrying

operations, which are discussed as a third alternative option below.

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Alternative sites proposed – a spread campus As a group, we believe that the idea of a spread campus and accommodation within

the south and the reuse of currently abandoned and/or dilapidated areas in the south

would inject economic life across the whole area and not limit it to Marsascala, and

could lead to positive social changes across the communities in between if managed

properly. Adopting a spread-campus strategy would avoid the need to resort to

outside development zone as a campus site, and therefore safeguard the

environment and guarantee open spaces for the public to enjoy. If the proposal of an

agricultural-ecology park we are suggesting is realised, it would provide even more

economic benefit to the communities in the area as both community members and

students would have an area of park to enjoy both for recreation and rural landscape

enjoyment.

Utilising existing Fortifications

We propose that one of the alternatives that is given serious consideration is that the

proposed campus would be spread out across three fortifications in the area around

Kalkara, namely Fort Ricasoli, Fort Saint Rocco and Fort San Salvatore. Here below

is a map showing the proximity of these sites, and the usable areas within as

provided by Architect Edward Said who is part of our think-thank.

Figure 64: Map showing three viable fortifications in the Kalkara area

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Compatibility of re-use

Adapting a historic site to a new use poses a range of complex challenges, but that

is not a reason to shy away from this possibility. The vast military infrastructure that

Malta has inherited may only be sustainably maintained if new, and compatible uses

are found for these spaces. The reuse of these buildings must be conservation-led,

with robust safeguards in place to ensure that not only is the original fabric carefully

preserved, but also, that the authenticity, legibility, and sense of place of the whole

and its context is fully respected. A thorough and professional Conservation Plan

would be required for each of the historic buildings under consideration, which would

ensure that their values would be safeguarded. Such a Conservation Plan would

therefore need to be undertaken prior to any detailed feasibility or design studies, in

order to inform those studies.

Ownership and Public Access

Ownership of any of the historic sites under consideration must, on principle, never

be transferred to private interests. A lease agreement that expires after a definite

period, such as 49 years, would need to be defined and negotiated.

Public access to and enjoyment of key areas of the historic sites in question, on the

same lines as Fort Saint Elmo, is a principle that would need to be built into the

concept and any agreements, and must be guaranteed as an inviolable right

throughout the period of use of the said sites.

Fort Ricasoli – usable area 43, 500 sqm

Fort Ricasoli is the largest fort in the Maltese

Islands, built in the 17th and 18th centuries on

top of the peninsula at the entrance of the

Grand Harbour opposite Valletta. It follows

Figure 66: Fort Ricasoli 133

the outline of the peninsula, and as such as an irregular fort.

Over the centuries it has faced considerable deterioration due to erosion, especially

due to its outward flanks being so exposed to rough seas. Its maintenance has not

been seriously taken up in decades, and at current rates there is a real danger of its

total collapse in the coming decades.

Fort Ricasoli is currently being used as a storage space

and filming area by the film industry in Malta for over 200

days in a year. Its inner flank is also used as a tank

cleaning facility for port activities. However little is being

done to maintain its structural integrity by any of the

current users. Additionally, the Fort itself is rented out at

a rate of €40/ day, which is an extremely low rate for an

area of this size, and a fort with such potential.

We therefore feel that a fort with an area of this size can

be reused for a better purpose as a campus site.

Efforts can be made to find alternative sites for the film industry for storage of their

film sets, and an agreement can be reached with the University campus so that

certain parts of the campus can be used temporarily for filming. It is also interesting

to note that University campus includes an institute of digital filming, which could be

an opportunity for increased cooperation with the local film industry.

The tank cleaning facilities, which are regularly used, can be relocated to other areas

where they do not pose a threat to health. Currently emissions from the site are

posing a threat to the health of people in Kalkara. This can be an opportunity to

upgrade the technology used for such an activity to limit toxic emissions.

We believe that Fort Ricasoli, despite its many setbacks, offers an excellent

opportunity so that a site facing danger of collapse can be put to better and constant

use, so that heritage is restored, while providing a boost to the local economy.

Figure 65: Entrance to Fort Ricasoli

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Fort Saint Rocco – usable area c. 8,500 sqm

Fort Saint Rocco is a polygonal fort

found on the outskirts of the SmartCity

project. This fort, dating back to the

time of the French Occupation (end

1700s) as an insurgency fort and later

modified by the British, is low-lying,

and currently in a state of total

abandonment and inaccessible to the

Figure 66: Fort Saint Rocco public. With a usable area of 8,500

sqm it could be rehabilitated into a

faculty or institute belonging to the University. In addition to this, its close proximity to

SmartCity offers an opportunity to cooperate with IT companies setting up shop in

the area, and also provides a proximal place for

recreation and entertainment.

Fort San Salvatore – usable area c. 8,500

sqm

Fort San Salvatore was built into San Salvatore

Bastion in the 18th century to render the structure,

which occupies a strategic elevated hill

Figure 67: Fort Salvatore entrance during the British Period

Figure 70: Fort San Salvatore (centre)

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overlooking Birgu, more defensible. The fort can be seen as a retrenchment cut into

the piazza or platform of the bastion. Its ramparts are casemated, to the point where

the fort can be seen as a hollow work with the ramparts enveloping a central parade

ground.

The San Salvatore fort also includes a frescoed chapel which suffered a direct hit

during WW2 and is currently in a derelict state.

We feel that San Salvatore Fort would be a third complimentary site of a spread

campus around the Kalkara area, and could accommodate another faculty in close

proximity to the two other sites briefly described above.

Infrastructure in the area

When driving in the area, one cannot help but notice the high-quality roads, prepared

for Smart City. Most of the roads already have bicycle lanes – indeed a positive,

healthy and environmentally sound manner of transportation that should be

encouraged in Malta, which is currently ranked as one of the most obese countries in

Europei. Students should be offered the opportunity to rent or own bikes. Shuttle

buses organised between the three forts could facilitate transport between the

campus, and would serve to reduce traffic.

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Figure 68: Roads around San Salvatore (Triq Santa Liberata and Triq San Dwardu)

Figure 69: Triq Santu Rokku, leading to both St Rocco and Ricasoli

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Inner Grand Harbour – another alternative

The inner end of the Grand

Harbour is surrounded by large

areas that are severely

underutilised. The presence of

the Marsa Power Station and of

other heavy industries, have

over the decades resulted in the

progressive degradation of this

area. This has contributed

directly to an impoverishment in

the quality of life and wellbeing

of the surrounding

neighbourhoods. Within the

area itself, the residents that remain are the ones who have no choice; either the

very poor, or the residents of the Marsa Open Centre.

The winding down of operations at the Malta Shipbuilding Yard and at the Marsa

Power Station have now provided a

historic opportunity to reclaim this area

for the citizen. The area is crying out for a

new vision, which needs to be debated

across all sectors of our society, before

the country gets to work on its delivery.

We believe that a bold and well-

integrated vision can transform this area,

in a short space of time, from one of the

most depressed and degraded districts in

the country, to a highly desirable district

that can accommodate a mix of uses that Figure 71: Marsa Power Station (blue), Malta Shipbuilding and an unspecified, derelict area (green)

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Figure 70: Inner Grand Harbour Area

benefit various sectors of society.

The entire shoreline from the area of Il-Menqa, around the Marsa Power Station, and

on to the former Malta Shipbuilding site is a superb waterfront location, with potential

for public waterfront promenades, complemented by maritime leisure activities such

as yacht marinas. The surrounding docklands, today largely derelict, present a vast

area that, approached creatively and intelligently, may be given a new lease of life,

on the model of so many other dockland regeneration projects that have been

successfully delivered in other countries. If we succeed in unlocking the vast

economic and recreational potential of this area, it will be able to accommodate a

mix of uses, ranging from residential, to tourism education, to institutions such as a

new university campus. Similar exercises have been carried out abroad. One such

example is the King’s Cross station complex in London, once a group of derelict

industrial buildings, which since then has been rehabilitated into a worthy example of

sustainable development, lauded by the public and experts alikeii. Surely we can

aspire to achieve such an example in our debilitated inner harbour area.

The area has the added advantage of connectivity. It is already very well connected

to the arterial road network, and within easy reach of both the capital and the airport.

It is furthermore accessible by sea, providing opportunities for water taxis and ferries

to further network it into the emerging vision for the rest of the Grand Harbour as a

node of leisure and tourism.

We recommend that the siting of the proposed university campus in the inner end of

the Grand Harbour be given serious consideration in the context of this vision that

also encompasses other complementary uses, while guaranteeing public access to

the entire waterfront. We believe that, if managed responsibly and professionally,

this initiative may be an important catalyst in the reversal of fortunes of this area, that

will help unlock the great potential of this area for the benefit of the South of Malta,

and for the country more generally.

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Brownfield sites and Quarries – a third alternative

Our third suggested option would be the use of brownsites or quarries as sites for

the campus. One particular site that we have noticed is the quarry, marked in light

green in the satellite picture below, which is found in the outskirts of Marsascala,

known as Wied iz-Ziju quarries that have been used for generations. It is over 80,000

sqm in size, and is well connected in terms of infrastructure with the Marsascala

bypass close by.

We believe that using this quarry site, together with the ruins of the Jerma Hotel as a

dormitory, would be an excellent exercise of reusing sites that are currently scars on

the landscape or are, in the case of Jerma, a hazard, and utilising them for a better

purpose without going beyond the urban footprint of Marsascala. This would also

mean that Marsascala still gains from the economic side of this project. One still

needs to ensure, however, that social impacts of having too many students in

Marsascala be considered. A spread across another site (such as Saint Rocco)

could still be explored to mitigate the full effects of potentially too many students in

one location.

Figure 72: Quarry near Marsascala (light green) and Jerma Palace hotel (blue-green)

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A Fourth Alternative: The ex-Malta International

Airport area at Ħal-Luqa

The site of the ex-Malta International Airport at Luqa is a very large area, with over

120,000 sqm of underutilised or unused space. Currently, it is used only to house

some offices belonging to the civil aviation department. The area is located at the

centre of the ‘South’, where the national administration has shown the intention of

placing a new university campus. This central location would be of benefit to all the

communities of the south. The

economic benefits derived from

the students’ residence would

likewise be for all the

communities of the South

because it is feasible for

different student populations to

reside in different villages of

the South. The social impact of a large population of

foreigners in one locality would be avoided, as the number of foreign residents

impacts greatly on perceptions and unease of a village community (same concept as

the impact of migrants on the communities of Balzan, which houses small numbers,

and Birżebbugia, which houses larger numbers).

The main infrastructural utilities of electricity, water and sewage are already in place

because they used to cater for the Malta International Airport at Luqa. There is no

need for new roads, as it is already well served by main roads.

Close at hand is the Malta International Airport at Gudja, which houses a hotel at

Skyparks: foreign lecturers and visiting families can use that hotel facility. The hotel

facility itself can be increased in the same ex-Malta International Airport site at Ħal-

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Figure 73: Ex-Malta International Airport at Luqa

Luqa and would benefit both the university and the Malta International Airport at

Gudja. Additionally in the media it was reported that 2 guesthouses are in the

planning stage for neighbouring Gudja and Safi.

It might also be that direct income from lease of land to the developers and future

managers of the American University of Malta can be injected into AirMalta itself,

facilitating its restructuring.

The finances that the Government of Malta would have needed to use to improve

and upgrade the sewage infrastructure and the road system at Marsascala would not

be needed if this site is found to be suitable and instead channelled to restoration of

the derelict fortifications mentioned above in this document. Their eventual re-use

could generate new income for our country.

Upholding of Sustainability principles and Recommendations

We as a think-thank feel that these recommendations are a viable alternative model

as a spread campus, as opposed to the one proposed so far at Żonqor point, and is

also a sustainable project upholding all three columns of sustainability – economy,

environment and society. We also feel that involving the community in such a project

– perhaps through open days upon fort or waterfront restoration, or allowing public

access and membership to the private university library and archive would induce a

sense of involvement and acceptance within nearby communities, further increasing

the sense of ‘welcome’ that the students might expect.

Recommendations

As a group, we strongly believe that restoration of existing buildings considered for a

campus should be carried out applying the following best practice measures during

construction and operation:

• A thorough Conservation Plan would be undertaken at the outset for each of

the historic buildings under consideration, which would ensure that their

values would be safeguarded, by defining a detailed plan for their

conservation to the highest standards of current best practice, and that any

new uses respect the principles of authenticity, legibility, reversibility and

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compatibility of use. Such a Conservation Plan would therefore need to be

undertaken prior to any detailed feasibility or design studies, in order to inform

those studies.

• The ecological value within the footprint and in the immediate vicinity of the

building is protected and enhanced and measures are in place for long term

management of such features;

• Measures are in place to prevent water pollution during restoration works and

when the building is occupied. Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) should

be in place to manage rainwater run-off;

• Potable water consumption is limited through the specification of hydro-

efficient fittings and through measures to reuse rain and waste water;

• Energy consumption is limited through the enhancement of existing and new

passive design measures, energy efficient systems and renewable energy

generation technology in order to limit the additional servicing infrastructure

and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions;

• Sources of local air pollution are limited and contained wherever possible, e.g.

dust sheets during construction, managed and limited deliveries during

construction, no ODP and GWP gases on site, limited NOx emissions, etc.;

• The health and wellbeing of occupants of said buildings is safeguarded

through measures that guarantee high levels of air, visual and acoustic

quality, thermal comfort, limited Volatile Organic Compounds, adaptable and

accessible spaces, as well as early and continuous consultation wherever

possible.

• Safeguards should be put in place to protect the fabric, sense of place,

authenticity and legibility of the historic fabric of an area, so as to ensure that

cultural heritage is maintained for future generations.

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The alternative options of a spread campus makes sense from an economic

perspective in that rather than focusing all the campus on one site, one could in

effect have accommodation and educational facilities spread across an entire area.

Therefore, the students when travelling across the area for their morning and

evening commute would see different urban areas and be given the impetus to

explore. Economically, this makes more sense, as the wealth would spread across

the region. Additionally, it could avoid the dangers of concentrating too much wealth

in an area, fostering social inequality.

This of course is also a considerable injection into the economy of the region, and

therefore it could be taken as an opportune moment to locate this campus in the

alternative sites being proposed above. The ODZ area causing such controversy,

instead, could be turned into the agricultural-ecology park being proposed, of which

this document is an addendum.

Figure 74: A spread campus across this area could benefit all the major urban areas marked on the map, rather than concentrating it in Marsaskala

Economic perspective

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Social impact

The social impact of locating the University in an ODZ area at the tip of Żonqor point

is also being strongly disputed because, while investment in the region is welcome,

locating such a campus in concentrated form has potentially serious social

repercussions. Social change in the area is to be encouraged especially since they

could be very positive in nature. However, we feel that locating 4,000 students in one

area, especially in an ODZ, could potentially lead to a shift in the social fabric of the

community that may be unexpected by most its members.

Citing one such example, Paceville has become the entertainment nightlife mecca of

the Maltese islands, but the community living there previously has all but vanished

as they moved to quieter, more livable places. Should we risk that Marsascala

suffers the same as a university campus? Do we, indeed, need two Pacevilles in

Malta? Or should we strive to improve and enchance the social vibrancy of a

community without overbearing it?

Traffic is an additional problem. Traffic to and from a particular location is set to

increase drastically with 4,000 students located in one area, especially with lecturers

and visitors travelling to and from the airport and other areas. This could negatively

affect the quality of life of many people in Marsascala, and could make an already

bad situation (with the Marsa and Fgura traffic bottleneck) even worse. One could

argue that this is the opportune moment to start fostering a culture of cycling in this

region of Malta, especially since the spread campus would offer a viable opportunity

to do so with the roads between the three forts outlined above having low traffic

volumes.

We therefore feel that a comprehensive and holistic social impact assessment

should be carried out, and alternative site proposals be taken as a primary viable

option, where uptake of ODZ land is not considered.

The public outcry against this project through numerous online petitions, setting up of

protest groups and eNGO concerns has also led to what we believe should be a

serious consideration by the government to truly treat ODZ land as a pact with the

people that it would not be touched by large developments, but that its character

should be preserved as far as possible. Taking over a stretch of ODZ land as is

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currently being proposed by the university campus could lead to a loss of faith in the

environmental pledges of the government, and loss of faith in the institution of

government by many in Malta.

Conclusion

We therefore conclude this document by stating that the above options show that

there are viable and good alternatives for a new university campus. This leads us to

recommend that ODZ land is not used for such a development, and that the new

university be not located at Żonqor point but in other areas where the infrastructural

needs are already existent. We firmly believe that adopting such a strategy for the

campus would be for the benefit of all, and could potentially lead to a boost in

cultural heritage restoration that safeguards the existance of such structures well into

the future.

i  http://www.mcppnet.org/publications/issue12-­‐6.pdf  

ii  http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/12/regeneration-­‐kings-­‐cross-­‐can-­‐other-­‐developers-­‐repeat-­‐trick  

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N I F S

Addendum: Alternative Sites proposal for anew University Campus

A discussion document outlining some possible alternative sites that may be suitable for a new university campus.

National Independent Forumfor Sustainability

June 2015

Contributors

Veronica Barbara Archeology, Heritage

Jason Bonnici Family Doctor

George Cassar Tourism

John Paul Cauchi Environmental Health

Michela Fenech Law

Reuben Grima Cultural Landscapes

Edwin Lanfranco Botany

Mark Mifsud Environmental Education

Edward Said Architecture and Conservation

Rio Sammut Marine Biology, Fishing

Marie-Louise Schembri Sustainable Development

Joerg Sicot Graphics and Design

Anna Spiteri Environmental Conservation

Jos Willemsen Fringe Farming and Ecological Farming

Anna Zammit Sociology

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Rationale

NIFS (National Independent Forum for Sustainability) is a think-tank formed of

individuals from a range of professions and walks of life, acting on a voluntary basis

and in their private capacity, who share a strong commitment to promoting more

responsible approaches to the sustainable enjoyment of non-renewable resources.

We believe that the proposal to create a new university campus, with the right

safeguards and by following due process, could lead to an improvement in the

quality of life of residents in the region, and could lead to a much-needed injection of

investment and activity in areas that have suffered decades of neglect.

Following the recent proposal to build a new university campus on an Outside

Development Zone within the very area designated for the National Park between

Żonqor and Xgħajra, NIFS discussed the potential impacts of such a development on

local communities and the surrounding area. This has led us to write this addendum

outlining some possible alternative sites that may be more suitable for such a

project. We believe that these alternatives are viable, and if undertaken with a

greater sense of vision and responsibility that has been shown to date, could

contribute to an improvement in the quality of life to the communities in the area, to

our students’ guests, and to our heritage, without negatively impacting the

environment and taking up of scant land resources in Malta. This document will not

go into the merits of the institution itself, or of how it will be operated, nor will it

express any opinion on how the contractor was selected, or on other issues of

transparency or due process. This document will confine itself to proposing some

alternative sites, which should make it abundantly clear that it is unnecessary and

capricious to touch any ODZ area for this purpose.

This document is most certainly not a Strategic Environment Assessment, nor should

it in any way be misconstrued to replace a Strategic Environment Assessment, but is

merely highlighting some of the possible alternatives that could and should be taken

into consideration when a Strategic Environment Assessment is undertaken.

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Outside Development Zone (ODZ) and Planning policy

The current public outcry against proposals to build on Outside Development Zone

(ODZ) areas, has clearly shown that civil society expects ODZ areas to be respected

and safeguarded, and is deeply concerned that Government is not giving adequate

reassurances that it will meet these expectations. NIFS considers that it is time

Government rises to its responsibilities, as defined in the Constitution, and reassures

the public with cast-iron guarantees that ODZ areas will be treated with the respect

that this dwindling and non-renewable resource deserves. The inalienable public

right of present and future generations to enjoy their landscape and coastline stems

from the Constitution of Malta. More specifically, the safeguarding of the landscape

and coastline between Xgħajra and Marsaskala is embedded in the current planning

policy framework.

The proposal to build a university campus, in whole or in part, within this coastal area

is a direct contradiction of these principles and policy objectives, and a travesty of

the State’s responsibilities under Article 9 the Constitution.

Constitution of Malta

‘The State shall safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of

the Nation.’

(Article 9, Constitution of Malta)

The countryside and coastline between Xgħajra and Marsaskala is safeguarded by a

number of policies in the planning policy framework that is presently in force. Most of

the area under discussion is not simply in an Outside Development Zone, but is, in

addition, covered by specific policies in the South Malta Local Plan, some of the

more salient of which are listed below:

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SMIA 13 National Park

The Policy states:

“This local plan designates the area known as L-Għassa tal-Munxar (Marsascala)

and the coastal stretch between Il-Ponta taz-Żonqor (Marsascala) and Blata l-Bajda

(Xgħajra), as indicated in Policy Maps MS1, MS2, XA1 and ZA1, as National Parks

primarily for informal recreation (e.g. walking, cycling) and the appreciation of the

ecological, geological, archaeological as well as cultural-historical features of these

areas. Within these parks priority will be given to the conservation, protection and

improvement of the natural and cultural-historical heritage…”

Further, the Policy also states:

“These two stretches of coast are important ecological, geological and cultural areas

due to the variety of features an elements present in these areas ranging from salt

pans to fortifications to a number of important ecological habitats. This policy seeks

to maximize the recreational use of the site whilst protecting and providing for the

appreciation of the rich heritage of these areas.”

SMCO 03: Protection of Areas of Ecological Importance (AEIs) & Sites

of Scientific Importance (SSIs)

This AEIs and SSIs identified in this policy include the coastal stretch between

Xgħajra, Zabbar and Żonqor Point.

The Policy states:

“In these protected areas/sites there will be a general presumption against

development that would create negative impacts on these areas/ sites and the

MEPA will endeavour to safeguard and protect AEIs and SSIs listed within this Local

Plan.”

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SMCO 06: Areas of High Landscape Value (AHLVs)

The AHLVs identified in this policy include the area between Żonqor Point

(Marsascala) and Blata l-Bajda (Xgħajra), including the entire area of the Żonqor

location under discussion as a site for a new university campus.

The Policy states:

“MEPA designates the areas identified on the respective Policy Maps as Areas of

High Landscape Value (AHLV) as per Section 46 of the Development Planning Act,

1992 and Structure Plan policy RCO There shall be a strong presumption against the

creation of new built structures (including cultivation and animal husbandry related

structures) in AHLVs.”

The Policy also states:

“These areas are essential as local recreational venues for the local populations as

well as distinctive local open space lungs which help to impart a feeling of

remoteness from the urban atmosphere which is so prevalent in the south of Malta.”

Contiguous Protection Areas

In addition to the Policies referred to above, there are a number of complementary

policies, which protect areas that are contiguous to the area designated as a

National Park in Policy SMIA 13. These include SMC 07: Valley Protection Zones;

SMC 04: Archaeologically Sensitive Areas. This creates an opportunity to further

integrate and consolidate these various protection measures, by safeguarding

contiguous areas around the National Park, extending across tal-Bidni to the

Marsaskala road, to act as buffer zones for the Park itself. There are also Policy

POLICY SOC 12: Use of existing buildings

The guidleines for community and social facilities show that priority is always given

to existing or empty buildings. Policy SOC 12 example states :

Particular consideration will be given to the conversion of underused or empty

building, and to the inclusion of student residential facilities, which could be used

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during college holidays for the accommodation of conference participants.

Therefore consideration for the sites described below is an obligation of the

government, especially when it comes to educational facilities.

Visual Integrity

Visual integrity of the landscape is an important asset for our quality of life, and that

of our visitors. The Maltese cultural landscape is one of Malta’s most valuable and

irreplaceable assets. It must not only be safeguarded from direct physical impacts,

but also from impacts on its visual integrity. The configuration of the area of the

National Park (SMIA 13) between Xgħajra, Żonqor, and Fort San Leonardo forms a

visual envelope which is almost entirely free of visual intrusions caused by

urbanisation. No new constructions outside existing Development Zone boundaries

should be contemplated within this viewshed. Stricter height limitation policies, based

on visual impact studies, should be introduced to regulate development within the

existing Development Zones at Xgħajra and Żonqor.

The concept of visual integrity is highlighted under Structure Plan POLICY RCO 4,

which states that The Planning Authority will not permit the development of any

structure or activity, which in the view of the Authority would adversely affect scenic

value because it would:

1. Break a presently undisturbed skyline

2. Visually dominate or disrupt its surroundings because of its mass or location

3. Obstruct a pleasant and particularly a panoramic view

4. Adversely affect any element of the visual composition - for example, cause

the destruction or deterioration of traditional random stone walls

5. Adversely affect existing trees or shrubs

6. Introduce alien forms, materials, textures, or colours

The proposal to attempt to integrate a university campus, in whole or in part, within

the area designated as a National Park in Policy SMIA 13 is a direct contradiction of

this principle of visual integrity, and a travesty of the very purpose of the Park. One

should also question as to why the natural park being proposed is actually smaller

than that already outlined under the 2006 Local Plan.

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Figure 62: The Local Plan of 2006, outlining the area proposed for the campus as a Park

Figure 63: An image overlay, showing proposed campus area and proposed Natural Park, superimposed on Local Plan 2006 park area

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The Local Plan

A Local Plan deals mainly with land-use planning and development issues, and

indicates where development can take place, what type and the criteria against

which development proposals will be assessed by the Malta Environment and

Planning Authority (MEPA). Its main function is to guide development by seeking a

sustainable balance between economic and social needs of the public (e.g homes,

shops, employment, transport, recreation and community facility requirements) and

the need to protect and improve the existing urban and natural environment and to

meet future demand in a sustainable manner. The primary thrust of this Plan is to

afford protection and secure enhancement of all the assets the area contains, to

achieve a more sustainable quality of life and efficient use of land for all sectors.

Functions of the South Malta local plans

The points below are taken from the South Malta local plan, and serve to highlight

some important features.

• To highlight all areas that require protection from development for social and

environmental and other planning reasons.

• The rural character of the area is an important feature, which warrants a

careful approach to development, particularly since specific infrastructure

(Sant’ Antnin Plant) and quarrying operations have created adverse impacts

on the rural environment.

• With regard to the rural and coastal environment the strategy seeks to

facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded rural landscapes and the protection

and safeguarding of the limited coastal stretch for the provision of recreational

facilities.

The above points therefore illustrate that rural character must be preserved, and that

opting for ODZ is most undesirable. The second point above highlights quarrying

operations, which are discussed as a third alternative option below.

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Alternative sites proposed – a spread campus As a group, we believe that the idea of a spread campus and accommodation within

the south and the reuse of currently abandoned and/or dilapidated areas in the south

would inject economic life across the whole area and not limit it to Marsascala, and

could lead to positive social changes across the communities in between if managed

properly. Adopting a spread-campus strategy would avoid the need to resort to

outside development zone as a campus site, and therefore safeguard the

environment and guarantee open spaces for the public to enjoy. If the proposal of an

agricultural-ecology park we are suggesting is realised, it would provide even more

economic benefit to the communities in the area as both community members and

students would have an area of park to enjoy both for recreation and rural landscape

enjoyment.

Utilising existing Fortifications

We propose that one of the alternatives that is given serious consideration is that the

proposed campus would be spread out across three fortifications in the area around

Kalkara, namely Fort Ricasoli, Fort Saint Rocco and Fort San Salvatore. Here below

is a map showing the proximity of these sites, and the usable areas within as

provided by Architect Edward Said who is part of our think-thank.

Figure 64: Map showing three viable fortifications in the Kalkara area

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Compatibility of re-use

Adapting a historic site to a new use poses a range of complex challenges, but that

is not a reason to shy away from this possibility. The vast military infrastructure that

Malta has inherited may only be sustainably maintained if new, and compatible uses

are found for these spaces. The reuse of these buildings must be conservation-led,

with robust safeguards in place to ensure that not only is the original fabric carefully

preserved, but also, that the authenticity, legibility, and sense of place of the whole

and its context is fully respected. A thorough and professional Conservation Plan

would be required for each of the historic buildings under consideration, which would

ensure that their values would be safeguarded. Such a Conservation Plan would

therefore need to be undertaken prior to any detailed feasibility or design studies, in

order to inform those studies.

Ownership and Public Access

Ownership of any of the historic sites under consideration must, on principle, never

be transferred to private interests. A lease agreement that expires after a definite

period, such as 49 years, would need to be defined and negotiated.

Public access to and enjoyment of key areas of the historic sites in question, on the

same lines as Fort Saint Elmo, is a principle that would need to be built into the

concept and any agreements, and must be guaranteed as an inviolable right

throughout the period of use of the said sites.

Fort Ricasoli – usable area 43, 500 sqm

Fort Ricasoli is the largest fort in the Maltese

Islands, built in the 17th and 18th centuries on

top of the peninsula at the entrance of the

Grand Harbour opposite Valletta. It follows

Figure 66: Fort Ricasoli 133

the outline of the peninsula, and as such as an irregular fort.

Over the centuries it has faced considerable deterioration due to erosion, especially

due to its outward flanks being so exposed to rough seas. Its maintenance has not

been seriously taken up in decades, and at current rates there is a real danger of its

total collapse in the coming decades.

Fort Ricasoli is currently being used as a storage space

and filming area by the film industry in Malta for over 200

days in a year. Its inner flank is also used as a tank

cleaning facility for port activities. However little is being

done to maintain its structural integrity by any of the

current users. Additionally, the Fort itself is rented out at

a rate of €40/ day, which is an extremely low rate for an

area of this size, and a fort with such potential.

We therefore feel that a fort with an area of this size can

be reused for a better purpose as a campus site.

Efforts can be made to find alternative sites for the film industry for storage of their

film sets, and an agreement can be reached with the University campus so that

certain parts of the campus can be used temporarily for filming. It is also interesting

to note that University campus includes an institute of digital filming, which could be

an opportunity for increased cooperation with the local film industry.

The tank cleaning facilities, which are regularly used, can be relocated to other areas

where they do not pose a threat to health. Currently emissions from the site are

posing a threat to the health of people in Kalkara. This can be an opportunity to

upgrade the technology used for such an activity to limit toxic emissions.

We believe that Fort Ricasoli, despite its many setbacks, offers an excellent

opportunity so that a site facing danger of collapse can be put to better and constant

use, so that heritage is restored, while providing a boost to the local economy.

Figure 65: Entrance to Fort Ricasoli

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Fort Saint Rocco – usable area c. 8,500 sqm

Fort Saint Rocco is a polygonal fort

found on the outskirts of the SmartCity

project. This fort, dating back to the

time of the French Occupation (end

1700s) as an insurgency fort and later

modified by the British, is low-lying,

and currently in a state of total

abandonment and inaccessible to the

Figure 66: Fort Saint Rocco public. With a usable area of 8,500

sqm it could be rehabilitated into a

faculty or institute belonging to the University. In addition to this, its close proximity to

SmartCity offers an opportunity to cooperate with IT companies setting up shop in

the area, and also provides a proximal place for

recreation and entertainment.

Fort San Salvatore – usable area c. 8,500

sqm

Fort San Salvatore was built into San Salvatore

Bastion in the 18th century to render the structure,

which occupies a strategic elevated hill

Figure 67: Fort Salvatore entrance during the British Period

Figure 70: Fort San Salvatore (centre)

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overlooking Birgu, more defensible. The fort can be seen as a retrenchment cut into

the piazza or platform of the bastion. Its ramparts are casemated, to the point where

the fort can be seen as a hollow work with the ramparts enveloping a central parade

ground.

The San Salvatore fort also includes a frescoed chapel which suffered a direct hit

during WW2 and is currently in a derelict state.

We feel that San Salvatore Fort would be a third complimentary site of a spread

campus around the Kalkara area, and could accommodate another faculty in close

proximity to the two other sites briefly described above.

Infrastructure in the area

When driving in the area, one cannot help but notice the high-quality roads, prepared

for Smart City. Most of the roads already have bicycle lanes – indeed a positive,

healthy and environmentally sound manner of transportation that should be

encouraged in Malta, which is currently ranked as one of the most obese countries in

Europei. Students should be offered the opportunity to rent or own bikes. Shuttle

buses organised between the three forts could facilitate transport between the

campus, and would serve to reduce traffic.

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Figure 68: Roads around San Salvatore (Triq Santa Liberata and Triq San Dwardu)

Figure 69: Triq Santu Rokku, leading to both St Rocco and Ricasoli

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Inner Grand Harbour – another alternative

The inner end of the Grand

Harbour is surrounded by large

areas that are severely

underutilised. The presence of

the Marsa Power Station and of

other heavy industries, have

over the decades resulted in the

progressive degradation of this

area. This has contributed

directly to an impoverishment in

the quality of life and wellbeing

of the surrounding

neighbourhoods. Within the

area itself, the residents that remain are the ones who have no choice; either the

very poor, or the residents of the Marsa Open Centre.

The winding down of operations at the Malta Shipbuilding Yard and at the Marsa

Power Station have now provided a

historic opportunity to reclaim this area

for the citizen. The area is crying out for a

new vision, which needs to be debated

across all sectors of our society, before

the country gets to work on its delivery.

We believe that a bold and well-

integrated vision can transform this area,

in a short space of time, from one of the

most depressed and degraded districts in

the country, to a highly desirable district

that can accommodate a mix of uses that Figure 71: Marsa Power Station (blue), Malta Shipbuilding and an unspecified, derelict area (green)

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Figure 70: Inner Grand Harbour Area

benefit various sectors of society.

The entire shoreline from the area of Il-Menqa, around the Marsa Power Station, and

on to the former Malta Shipbuilding site is a superb waterfront location, with potential

for public waterfront promenades, complemented by maritime leisure activities such

as yacht marinas. The surrounding docklands, today largely derelict, present a vast

area that, approached creatively and intelligently, may be given a new lease of life,

on the model of so many other dockland regeneration projects that have been

successfully delivered in other countries. If we succeed in unlocking the vast

economic and recreational potential of this area, it will be able to accommodate a

mix of uses, ranging from residential, to tourism education, to institutions such as a

new university campus. Similar exercises have been carried out abroad. One such

example is the King’s Cross station complex in London, once a group of derelict

industrial buildings, which since then has been rehabilitated into a worthy example of

sustainable development, lauded by the public and experts alikeii. Surely we can

aspire to achieve such an example in our debilitated inner harbour area.

The area has the added advantage of connectivity. It is already very well connected

to the arterial road network, and within easy reach of both the capital and the airport.

It is furthermore accessible by sea, providing opportunities for water taxis and ferries

to further network it into the emerging vision for the rest of the Grand Harbour as a

node of leisure and tourism.

We recommend that the siting of the proposed university campus in the inner end of

the Grand Harbour be given serious consideration in the context of this vision that

also encompasses other complementary uses, while guaranteeing public access to

the entire waterfront. We believe that, if managed responsibly and professionally,

this initiative may be an important catalyst in the reversal of fortunes of this area, that

will help unlock the great potential of this area for the benefit of the South of Malta,

and for the country more generally.

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Brownfield sites and Quarries – a third alternative

Our third suggested option would be the use of brownsites or quarries as sites for

the campus. One particular site that we have noticed is the quarry, marked in light

green in the satellite picture below, which is found in the outskirts of Marsascala,

known as Wied iz-Ziju quarries that have been used for generations. It is over 80,000

sqm in size, and is well connected in terms of infrastructure with the Marsascala

bypass close by.

We believe that using this quarry site, together with the ruins of the Jerma Hotel as a

dormitory, would be an excellent exercise of reusing sites that are currently scars on

the landscape or are, in the case of Jerma, a hazard, and utilising them for a better

purpose without going beyond the urban footprint of Marsascala. This would also

mean that Marsascala still gains from the economic side of this project. One still

needs to ensure, however, that social impacts of having too many students in

Marsascala be considered. A spread across another site (such as Saint Rocco)

could still be explored to mitigate the full effects of potentially too many students in

one location.

Figure 72: Quarry near Marsascala (light green) and Jerma Palace hotel (blue-green)

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A Fourth Alternative: The ex-Malta International

Airport area at Ħal-Luqa

The site of the ex-Malta International Airport at Luqa is a very large area, with over

120,000 sqm of underutilised or unused space. Currently, it is used only to house

some offices belonging to the civil aviation department. The area is located at the

centre of the ‘South’, where the national administration has shown the intention of

placing a new university campus. This central location would be of benefit to all the

communities of the south. The

economic benefits derived from

the students’ residence would

likewise be for all the

communities of the South

because it is feasible for

different student populations to

reside in different villages of

the South. The social impact of a large population of

foreigners in one locality would be avoided, as the number of foreign residents

impacts greatly on perceptions and unease of a village community (same concept as

the impact of migrants on the communities of Balzan, which houses small numbers,

and Birżebbugia, which houses larger numbers).

The main infrastructural utilities of electricity, water and sewage are already in place

because they used to cater for the Malta International Airport at Luqa. There is no

need for new roads, as it is already well served by main roads.

Close at hand is the Malta International Airport at Gudja, which houses a hotel at

Skyparks: foreign lecturers and visiting families can use that hotel facility. The hotel

facility itself can be increased in the same ex-Malta International Airport site at Ħal-

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Figure 73: Ex-Malta International Airport at Luqa

Luqa and would benefit both the university and the Malta International Airport at

Gudja. Additionally in the media it was reported that 2 guesthouses are in the

planning stage for neighbouring Gudja and Safi.

It might also be that direct income from lease of land to the developers and future

managers of the American University of Malta can be injected into AirMalta itself,

facilitating its restructuring.

The finances that the Government of Malta would have needed to use to improve

and upgrade the sewage infrastructure and the road system at Marsascala would not

be needed if this site is found to be suitable and instead channelled to restoration of

the derelict fortifications mentioned above in this document. Their eventual re-use

could generate new income for our country.

Upholding of Sustainability principles and Recommendations

We as a think-thank feel that these recommendations are a viable alternative model

as a spread campus, as opposed to the one proposed so far at Żonqor point, and is

also a sustainable project upholding all three columns of sustainability – economy,

environment and society. We also feel that involving the community in such a project

– perhaps through open days upon fort or waterfront restoration, or allowing public

access and membership to the private university library and archive would induce a

sense of involvement and acceptance within nearby communities, further increasing

the sense of ‘welcome’ that the students might expect.

Recommendations

As a group, we strongly believe that restoration of existing buildings considered for a

campus should be carried out applying the following best practice measures during

construction and operation:

• A thorough Conservation Plan would be undertaken at the outset for each of

the historic buildings under consideration, which would ensure that their

values would be safeguarded, by defining a detailed plan for their

conservation to the highest standards of current best practice, and that any

new uses respect the principles of authenticity, legibility, reversibility and

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compatibility of use. Such a Conservation Plan would therefore need to be

undertaken prior to any detailed feasibility or design studies, in order to inform

those studies.

• The ecological value within the footprint and in the immediate vicinity of the

building is protected and enhanced and measures are in place for long term

management of such features;

• Measures are in place to prevent water pollution during restoration works and

when the building is occupied. Sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) should

be in place to manage rainwater run-off;

• Potable water consumption is limited through the specification of hydro-

efficient fittings and through measures to reuse rain and waste water;

• Energy consumption is limited through the enhancement of existing and new

passive design measures, energy efficient systems and renewable energy

generation technology in order to limit the additional servicing infrastructure

and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions;

• Sources of local air pollution are limited and contained wherever possible, e.g.

dust sheets during construction, managed and limited deliveries during

construction, no ODP and GWP gases on site, limited NOx emissions, etc.;

• The health and wellbeing of occupants of said buildings is safeguarded

through measures that guarantee high levels of air, visual and acoustic

quality, thermal comfort, limited Volatile Organic Compounds, adaptable and

accessible spaces, as well as early and continuous consultation wherever

possible.

• Safeguards should be put in place to protect the fabric, sense of place,

authenticity and legibility of the historic fabric of an area, so as to ensure that

cultural heritage is maintained for future generations.

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The alternative options of a spread campus makes sense from an economic

perspective in that rather than focusing all the campus on one site, one could in

effect have accommodation and educational facilities spread across an entire area.

Therefore, the students when travelling across the area for their morning and

evening commute would see different urban areas and be given the impetus to

explore. Economically, this makes more sense, as the wealth would spread across

the region. Additionally, it could avoid the dangers of concentrating too much wealth

in an area, fostering social inequality.

This of course is also a considerable injection into the economy of the region, and

therefore it could be taken as an opportune moment to locate this campus in the

alternative sites being proposed above. The ODZ area causing such controversy,

instead, could be turned into the agricultural-ecology park being proposed, of which

this document is an addendum.

Figure 74: A spread campus across this area could benefit all the major urban areas marked on the map, rather than concentrating it in Marsaskala

Economic perspective

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Social impact

The social impact of locating the University in an ODZ area at the tip of Żonqor point

is also being strongly disputed because, while investment in the region is welcome,

locating such a campus in concentrated form has potentially serious social

repercussions. Social change in the area is to be encouraged especially since they

could be very positive in nature. However, we feel that locating 4,000 students in one

area, especially in an ODZ, could potentially lead to a shift in the social fabric of the

community that may be unexpected by most its members.

Citing one such example, Paceville has become the entertainment nightlife mecca of

the Maltese islands, but the community living there previously has all but vanished

as they moved to quieter, more livable places. Should we risk that Marsascala

suffers the same as a university campus? Do we, indeed, need two Pacevilles in

Malta? Or should we strive to improve and enchance the social vibrancy of a

community without overbearing it?

Traffic is an additional problem. Traffic to and from a particular location is set to

increase drastically with 4,000 students located in one area, especially with lecturers

and visitors travelling to and from the airport and other areas. This could negatively

affect the quality of life of many people in Marsascala, and could make an already

bad situation (with the Marsa and Fgura traffic bottleneck) even worse. One could

argue that this is the opportune moment to start fostering a culture of cycling in this

region of Malta, especially since the spread campus would offer a viable opportunity

to do so with the roads between the three forts outlined above having low traffic

volumes.

We therefore feel that a comprehensive and holistic social impact assessment

should be carried out, and alternative site proposals be taken as a primary viable

option, where uptake of ODZ land is not considered.

The public outcry against this project through numerous online petitions, setting up of

protest groups and eNGO concerns has also led to what we believe should be a

serious consideration by the government to truly treat ODZ land as a pact with the

people that it would not be touched by large developments, but that its character

should be preserved as far as possible. Taking over a stretch of ODZ land as is

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currently being proposed by the university campus could lead to a loss of faith in the

environmental pledges of the government, and loss of faith in the institution of

government by many in Malta.

Conclusion

We therefore conclude this document by stating that the above options show that

there are viable and good alternatives for a new university campus. This leads us to

recommend that ODZ land is not used for such a development, and that the new

university be not located at Żonqor point but in other areas where the infrastructural

needs are already existent. We firmly believe that adopting such a strategy for the

campus would be for the benefit of all, and could potentially lead to a boost in

cultural heritage restoration that safeguards the existance of such structures well into

the future.

i  http://www.mcppnet.org/publications/issue12-­‐6.pdf  

ii  http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/12/regeneration-­‐kings-­‐cross-­‐can-­‐other-­‐developers-­‐repeat-­‐trick  

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