Even more valleys down degradation lane

Abstract

Wied Moqbol - this valley in Zurrieq, which over the years has already been subjected to repeated dumping and makeshift landfills, is again in the news with reference to an application (no. 02700/00) to relocate a hardstone quarry from Harh Qim to this valley. As always, a plethora of valid reasons exist for opposing such a relocation, namely that the development site is close to an Area of Ecological Importance (GN 400/96) and is covered by policies such as RCO1, RCO 11 and RCO 12 and MIN5); a Scheduled Area (Coastal Cliffs) and a Nature Reserve (LN 12/01); that the site lies within the boundaries of a watershed; that a substantial number of mature carob trees and associated biota will be lost to the development; that the area lies within a Rural Conservation Area and outside scheme, with no approval for mineral extraction and that a new service road will have to be constructed and traffic will increase in what is an essentially rural area.