Who wants a mushroom factory next door?

Dear friends,

We would appreciate it if you can support the residents of Gharb in the cause against a mushroom factory in yet another Outside Development Zone (ODZ) and so close to the residents.

Gharb residents have joined forces this afternoon to show their anger and concerns towards the proposal of a construction of a mushroom factory on agricultural land in an outside the development zone.

The 12,000 square metre land is also few metres away from the residential area.
The residents feel that although various authorities were consulted , they were not although they were the ones who would have to suffer the consequences, including noise, traffic congestions and odours.

The heritage panet of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the residents said, had itself stated that the factory could produce offensive odours in the vicinity of Gozo’s crafts village and a five-star Hotel, since it would be using 22,000 kilogrammes of odoriferous chicken excrement per week.

Referring to studies commissioned by the developers, on behalf of the newly set up Gharb Residents Association, I explained that the Gharb residents are also concerned that Mepa is accepting a study which was supposed to give an assessment of the impact of this proposed development on the ground water.

It seems that MEPA finds that a study which should be done by an expert hydrologist with competence and experience on the hydrology of the Maltese Islands is being sufficed by an exercise done by a geologist.

We find no comment or assessment or quantification on the potential contamination of the proposed project on the underlying aquifer – which should be the most important part of the study.

We now seem to have a replica of the great damage that has already occurred to the natural spring waters at the new Nadur Cemetary and the pain carried upon the farmers at Ghajn Qasam, simply because Mepa is just satisfied with the studies of a geologist and not of an expert hydrologist.

With regards to the emissions generated by this proposed development, we also explained that the environment impact assessement made no attempt to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that would be emitted by the process of mushroom cultivation.
The aerobic/anaerobic decomposition of the manure to be used in the mushroom cultivation process was a big generator of GHG emissions.

Mr Galea said the association would ask MEPA's auditor to investigate this case.

The association called on the council to remain consistent in its stand against the development and applealed to all environmental NGOs and people who cared about the Gozitan quality of life to support residents.

Please enjoy the present countryside scenery and pay to God that this factory won't take place in this area.