Application Withdrawn For Quarry On 6,000 Sqm Of ODZ Land In Birżebbuġa
An application for a quarry on 6,000 square metres of ODZ and agricultural land in Bengħajsa, Birżebbuġa has just been withdrawn.
The application, filed by Paul Falzon, outlined plans for a quarry in lower coralline limestone for hard rock on virgin agricultural land which had surfaced earlier this year.
Multiple NGOs had urged the public to object to the development, including Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa and Moviment Graffitti.
“While we express our satisfaction to hear this news, we are going to continue working hard in order to also get the application for the model plane flying strip in Wied Żnuber withdrawn,” Moviment Graffitti said, reacting to the news of the withdrawal.
Among the representations, residents and environmentalists had warned of the unprecedented harm that the approval of such an application would bring with it.
Concerns were raised about the increase in pollution, such as dust particles, noise pollution, and contamination of soil.
The proposed quarry would have also had a negative visual impact in an area within the buffer zone of an Area of Ecological importance just 300 metres away from the Bengħajsa fort and very close to a Natura 2000 site.
Do you want to see more similar applications withdrawn?
READ NEXT: Planning Authority Officially Lists 'Ability To Withstand Abuse' As Job Requirement
