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About That Truck Casually Dumping Debris Into Marsalforn Bay Yesterday…

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Maltese social media was set alight after a video was posted in the Gozone Facebook group of what looked to be a sub-contractor casually dumping rocks, sand, and other debris into Marsalforn Bay in the middle of the day as shocked swimmers tried to enjoy the sun.

This egregious behaviour was roundly condemned online, and the Planning Authority quickly showed up on site and ordered the sub-contractor to halt the dumping, and to retrieve all the rubble and debris that had already been dumped into the sea.

Video: Sub-contractors retrieve dumped debris from Marsalforn Bay

However, it turns out that the sub-contractor was there on government orders

The Ministry for Gozo has tried to clarify the situation in the wake out the public outcry that included Gozitan councillors condemning the dumping. In a public statement, Minister Justyne Caruana said the replacement of sand and pebbles happens in Marsalforn Bay every year:

“The process in question involves sand, pebbles and other material that is brought up from the sea among the winter season and is moved back to the bay according to the approved method statement from the Environmental and Resources Authority. This intervention can only occur when there are favourable weather conditions. The Gozo Ministry would like to point out that this work happens every year after all necessary permits are released.”

“The Gozo Ministry is collaborating with the competent authorities to ensure there is no environmental impact in that zone,” she said

The sea moves the rubble from Marsalforn Bay to a nearby valley every winter, forcing the Gozo Ministry to wait for good weather before attempting to take the rubble back to the sea.
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Pictured: The Marsalforn valley full of winter debris

Photo: Barbara Chapman

This year however, the sub-contractors used a new method that hadn’t been seen before

In previous years, the workers would use a mechanical shovel to push the debris back to the sea from below the nearby bridge, out of the public’s sight.

This year though, the debris was dumped from a truck on a very public ramp in the middle of the day, shocking people who are getting used to seeing things like this in Malta nowadays.

The Planning Authority has said it will be monitoring the site until all the debris in the sea has been retrieved.

While the Planning Authority yesterday condemned the dumping, even forcing the workers to remove the debris, the sub-contractors did have a permit from ERA to justify their work

Now that the dumping has been halted, the sub-contractors may need to go back to the mechanical shovel method as a means of replacing the lost sediment in Marsalforn Bay.

Timing is also key. Replacing the pebbles and sand in such a popular and public bay during off-peak hours – whether permitting – would be more reasonable, especially if they are planning on outright dumping it back in.

What do you think of this story?

READ NEXT: WATCH: Is This Truck In Spinola Bay Doing What We Think It’s Doing?

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Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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