Preparation of
Master Plans and Technical Guidelines for Selected Valley Catchments in the
Maltese Islands
Background
to the Project:
The
Project forms part of the LIFE 16
IPE MT 008 Project on the Optimisation of the implementation of the 2nd
River Basin Management Plan in the Malta River Basin District. The Project involves
the formulation of Master Plans and Technical Guidelines for 16 major water catchments
in Malta and Gozo. There will be 12
Master Plans, with three plans addressing more than one catchment, where the catchments
are adjacent.
Adi Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd has been awarded the contract by PARKS Malta
(Valley Management Unit) to formulate the Master
Plans and Technical Guidelines.
Project Objectives
·
To develop Master Plans - providing a strategic
policy framework to encourage integrated valley management (Integrated River
Basin Management and Planning)
·
To provide guidance frameworks for
management of resources (e.g., water) that can be replicated for other
catchments
·
To develop technical guidelines to inform
the implementation of management interventions
·
To provide a framework for the
conservation and enhancement of the ecosystem services
provided
by water catchments and valleys
Timeframe for the Project:
·
30th July 2020: Project Launch
·
August – October 2020: Phase 1 stakeholder engagement,
with
nation-wide public events in September and October. Phase 1 of the stakeholder engagement will
inform formulation of the draft master plans
·
November – February 2020: Phase 2 stakeholder engagement,
with
nation-wide public events in January and February. Phase 2 of the stakeholder engagement will be
consultation on draft Master Plans
·
March 2020: final Master Plans
·
May 2021: technical guidelines
The Water Catchments
1. Wied il-Ghasel Catchment
2. Wied il-Kbir Catchment
3. Wied il-Ghajn and Wied Sant’ Antnin Catchments
4. Wied Zembaq, Wied Dalam and Wied il-Qoton Catchments
5. Wied Harq Hammiem and Wied Ghomor Catchments
6. Wied tal-Mistra Catchment
7. Il-Wied tal-Gnejna Catchment
8. Wied il-Bahrija Catchment
9. Wied Blandun Catchment
10. Wied tad-Dwejra Catchment (Gozo)
11. Wied tax-Xlendi Catchment (Gozo)
12. Il-Wied tal-Imgarr Catchment (Gozo)
Why are
the Master Plans being prepared?
The Master
Plans will provide the Valley Management Unit with a long-term planning
framework for the management and conservation of environmental resources found
in the water catchments.
The
aim of the Master Plans and Technical Guidelines is to provide tools for the
Valley Management Unit, in identifying the actions to be carried in the
valleys. The Master Plans will provide
the scientific justification for the proposed interventions
The Master
Plans will:
·
Provide a written and approved document which has
been formulated following public consultation;
·
Describe the water catchment, the problems and
issues related to the catchments, and opportunities for management of the
catchment to address the issues;
·
Provide a commitment to, and guidance for, the
management and conservation of the catchments;
·
Present the vision and strategic direction for
the catchments until 2050, and detail how the catchments will be managed to
achieve the agreed management objectives; and
·
Outline measurable outcomes for the catchments
in the short-term (5-years), medium-term (15-years) and long-term (30-years).
What does having a Master
Plan mean for you?
The Master
Plans will ensure that the uses and activities that take place within the water
catchments are sustainable. Importantly,
the Master Plans will ensure that the future management of the valleys will
protect and enhance the ecosystem services provided by the water catchments.
Valleys and water catchments are
important for the ecosystem services they provide to humans, as well as being
important natural habitats for Maltese flora and fauna.
Ecosystem services directly and indirectly benefit humans and enhance health and
well-being in many ways.
Ecosystem services include:
·
provisioning services - food,
raw materials, medicinals, energy
·
maintenance and regulating services - water
purification, waste decomposition, climate regulation, flood protection, soil
formation, pollination, erosion prevention
·
cultural services - recreation, history
and tradition, science and education, therapeutic
How can you be involved in the Project?
A national stakeholder engagement programme
will run from August 2020 to February
2021, with a series of events across Malta and Gozo on each water
catchment, and involving Government entities, national agencies, Local Councils,
NGOs, farmers, residents, and visitors to and other users of the valley
catchments.
The aim of engaging all of these
stakeholders is:
·
To
raise awareness of the Project and of the benefits of having Master Plans in
place for the water catchments;
·
To
gather the information and local knowledge needed to formulate the Master
Plans;
·
To actively
involve all stakeholders in the formulation of the Master Plans so as to
facilitate their implementation
The
stakeholder engagement programme will have two stages:
Stage
1: Formulation of the Draft Master Plans (August to October 2020)
The
stakeholder engagement programme in Stage 1 will include a number of public
events addressing each of the water catchments, organised over September and
October, and in the localities of the water catchments. The public will be invited to become involved
in interactive exhibitions and workshops to discuss the problems and issues
affecting the catchments and to put forward their ideas for management measures
to be taken forward in the Draft Master Plans.
Schedule
of events:
- Il-Wied tal Gnejna: Saturday 19th
September at the Mgarr Local Council Offices, Mgarr, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
- Il-Wied tal-Mistra catchment:
Wednesday 23rd September at the Mellieha Parish Centre, Triq
il-Kappillan Magri, Mellieha, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Wied il-Bahrija catchment:
Thursday 24th September at St Joseph’s Retreat House, Triq
il-Buskett, Rabat, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Wied Harq Hammien and Wied Ghomor catchments:
Wednesday, 30th September at the St Julian’s Parish Hall, Triq
Lapsi, St Julians, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
- Wied tad-Dwejra (Gozo) catchment:
Saturday 26th September, at the Don Bosco Oratory, Pjazza Santu
Wistin, Rabat / Victoria, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
- Il-Wied tax-Xlendi catchment: Saturday
26th September, at the Don Bosco Oratory, at Pjazza Santu
Wistin, Rabat / Victoria, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Il-Wied tal-Imgarr catchment: Saturday
26th September, at St Joseph’s Band
Club, Pjazza Madonna ta’ Loreto, Ghajnsielem, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Wied Zembaq, Wied il-Qoton and Wied Dalam: Wednesday
7th October: Soċjetà
Filarmonika San Pietru Birzebbuġa, Triq Birzebbuġa, Birzebbuġa - from 5:30
– 8:00 pm
- Kbir System: Saturday
10th October: St Joseph’s Retreat House, Triq Buskett, Rabat
- from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Għasel System: Tuesday
13th October: Mosta Civic Centre, Constitution Street,
Mosta - from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
- Wied Sant’ Antnin, Wied il-Għajn and Wied Blandun: Wednesday 14th October: Fgura Local Council, Triq
Hompesch, Fgura - from 5:30 – 8:00 pm)
If you are interested in attending any of
these events, please register at: info@adi-associates.com . This is necessary to comply with the Ministry
of Health’s ‘COVID-19 Transitioning - Standards for Gatherings and
Events’. These events will be organised and managed to take account of
the Standards. Accordingly, if you do intend to participate in any of the
events, please ensure to bring your own face mask. It will be
necessary to wear your mask for the duration of the event.
Stage
2: Consultation on the Draft Master Plans (November 2020 to February 2021)
The
stakeholder engagement programme in Stage 2 will include a number of public
events in January and February at which the Draft Master Plans for each of the
water catchments will be presented. The
public will be invited to review and discuss the proposed management measures,
to put forward their suggestions for revision of the measures (as necessary),
and to agree the Final Master Plans.
Schedule
of events
1. Wied il-Ghasel Catchment
The Wied il-Għasel catchment is extensive,
extending across the north and west of Malta and including the localities of
Mosta, San Pawl il-Baħar, Naxxar, Mġarr, Rabat, Attard, Mtarfa, and Dingli.
The Għasel System is one of the main river-valley systems of
Malta. The system flows in a northwardly
direction from the Rabat - Dingli Uplands and flowing through Mġarr, Mosta, Naxxar and Burmarrad until it discharges at
Is-Salini.
The Għasel valley catchment system is made up of
seven different sub-catchments incorporating several valleys - Wied Liemu
(Dingli); Wied il-Bużbież (Dingli / Rabat); Wied il-Fiddien (Rabat); Wied
il-Qlejgħa (Rabat / Mtarfa
/ Mġarr / Mosta); Wied
l-Arkata / Wied tal-Imselliet / Wied ta’ Għajn
Riħana (Mġarr / Mosta (Bidnija) / San
Pawl il-Baħar (Burmarrad)
/ Naxxar); Wied il-Għasel / Wied Speranza (Mosta / Naxxar); and
Wied Qannotta (Mġarr
/ Mosta (Bidnija) / San Pawl il-Baħar
(Burmarrad) / Naxxar).
Ghasel System.pdf
2. Wied il-Kbir Catchment
The Wied il-Kbir catchment is
extensive, extending across the central and southwest of Malta and including
the localities of Ħad-Dingli, Ir-Rabat, L-Imdina, L-Imtarfa, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Balzan, Birkirkara (L-Imrieħel), Santa Venera, Il-Ħamrun, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Is-Siġġewi, Il-Qrendi, L-Imqabba, Ħal Luqa, Ħal Qormi and Il-Marsa. The Kbir and Sewda System is one of the main
river-valley systems of Malta. The
system flows in an eastward direction, originating in the Rabat - Dingli
Uplands and flows through Malta’s central plains to its outflow in the Grand
Harbour. The upstream part of the system is dominated by agricultural land and
the downstream part is characterised by urban land cover.
Kbir System.pdf
3. Wied il-Ghajn and Wied Sant’ Antnin Catchments
Wied il-Għajn and Wied Sant’ Antnin are
adjacent catchments located in the southeast of Malta.
Wied il-Għajn is located primarily
within the locality of Ħaż-Żabbar but includes part of the locality of Marsaskala,
where it extends to the sea in the settlement of Marsaskala. The
catchment also extends within the localities of Xgħajra, Birgu, Bormla, and Fgura, albeit in very small areas. The catchment includes the urban
settlements of Ħaż-Żabbar
and Marsaskala; however, a good
proportion of the Wied il-Għajn catchment is
agricultural land.
Wied Sant’ Antnin is an extensive catchment,
taking in the localities of Marsaskala, Ħaż-Żabbar, Iż-Żejtun, Santa Luċija, Il-Gudja, Ħal Tarxien
and Ħal Għaxaq. The catchment extends to the sea in
the settlement of Marsaskala. The catchment is a mix of urban development
and agricultural land. Spanning from
West to East, Wied Sant’
Antnin catchment
comprises a number of valleys, including Wied Garnaw, Wied iż- Żring, Wied ta’ San Martin, Wied iz-Ziju,
and Wied Sant’ Antnin itself.
Wied il-Ghajn.pdf
Wied Sant' Antnin.pdf
4. Wied Zembaq, Wied Dalam and Wied il-Qoton
Catchments
Wied Żembaq, Wied Dalam and
Wied il-Qoton are adjacent catchments located in the south of Malta.
Wied Żembaq is an extensive
catchment, taking in the localities of Mqabba, Żurrieq, Kirkop, Luqa, Safi, Gudja, Ghaxaq, and Birżebbuga, where it extends to the sea
in the settlement of Birzebbuga. The catchment includes two valleys: Wied
Żembaq and Wied Ħas-Saptan.
Wied Dalam takes
in the localities of Ħal Għaxaq and Il-Gudja and to smaller extend the localities of Luqa, Zeijtun, Marsaxokk, and Birżebbuga, where it extends to the sea in the settlement of Birżebbuga. The catchment
includes the settlements of Ħal Għaxaq and Il-Gudja, as well as Birżebbuga; however, there is a significant amount of
agricultural land within the Wied Dalam catchment.
Wied il-Qoton takes in the localities
of Iż-Żurrieq, Ħal Safi, Ħal Luqa, and Birżebbuga, where it extends to the sea
in the settlement of Birżebbuga. The catchment is largely rural, although it does include some built-up
areas.
Wied Zembaq.pdf
Wied Dalam.pdf
Wied il-Qoton.pdf
5. Wied Harq Hammiem and Wied Ghomor Catchments
Wied Ħarq Ħammiem separates the towns of St Julian’s and
Pembroke. The valley’s surroundings are
urban (mostly residential), with commercial complexes (the Villa Rosa complex and
St George’s Hotel) at the mouth of the valley. Some scattered agricultural buildings are
present close to the watercourse upstream, and there are a number of recreational
complexes to the west of the catchment.
The valley is severed from the sea by the commercial complex of Villa
Rosa and the coastal road leading to Pembroke.
The catchment of the valley extends up through Swieqi and Pembroke and
part of St Julian’s.
Wied Għomor is a relatively small
green area in the midst of a highly urbanised area. The towns of St Julian’s, Swieqi and San Ġwann border the valley. The downstream end of the valley is disconnected
from the sea by a recreational complex (which has been built directly on the
watercourse), a car park, the coast road and the Spinola Bay promenade. Upstream, the valley forks into two
watercourses, with the upstream forks of the valley being separated from the
downstream end by a through-road linking San Ġwann
to Swieqi. The area where the valley
forks has paved paths with recreational areas and there is a dog park located along
one side.
Wied Harq Hammiem.pdf
Wied Ghomor.pdf
6. Wied tal-Mistra Catchment
Wied tal-Mistra is located in the
northwest of Malta, primarily within the locality of Mellieħa but extending into the
locality of San Pawl il-Baħar. The catchment is predominantly rural but
includes parts of the settlements of Mellieħa, Xemxija and Manikata.
Il-Wied tal-Mistra.pdf
7. Il-Wied tal-Gnejna Catchment
Il-Wied tal-Ġnejna is located in the north
of Malta, primarily within the locality of Mġarr, but also extending into the locality of Ir-Rabat. The catchment
is predominantly rural and agricultural but includes the settlement of Mgarr and
part of the settlement of Zebbiegh. The valley itself is deep and wide, with the watercourse
flowing through its length towards the sandy beach at the valley mouth.
Il-Wied tal-Gnejna.pdf
8. Wied il-Baħrija Catchment
Wied il-Baħrija is located in the west of Malta, within the locality
of Ir-Rabat. The
catchment is predominantly rural and includes the settlement of Baħrija. Wied
il-Baħrija catchment
receives water from different tributaries and typically has water during most
months of the year.
Wied il-Bahrija.pdf
9. Wied Blandun Catchment
Wied Blandun is located in the
southeast of Malta, primarily within the locality of Fgura but also extending
into the localities of Tarxien, Paola, Bormla, Ħaż-Żabbar,
and Iż-Żejtun. The catchment is
largely urban, with the valley occupying a relatively small area of the
catchment. The valley itself is flanked
by Fgura’s main road and residential areas to the south and the Palumbo
dockyard and the Harbour Fortifications (the Cottonera Lines) to the north.
Small pockets of agricultural fields can be found both to the west and east of
the valley.
Wied Blandun.pdf
10. Wied tad-Dwejra Catchment (Gozo)
The Wied tad-Dwejra
catchment is located on the northwestern coast of the island of Gozo, in the
localities of San Lawrenz and Kerċem. The catchment includes a mosaic of
distinctive and uncharacteristic geological, geomorphological and ecological
features, making the area one of scientific importance and heritage value. It comprises extensive coastal cliffs and
rdum structures (forming part of the Rdumijiet ta’ Għawdex), cliff plateaux, valleys, il-Qattara
permanent freshwater pool, the Ħaġret il-Ġeneral Nature Reserve, and the Qawra / Dwejra
Heritage Park. The southern part of the
catchment is characterised by agricultural land.
Il-Wied tad-Dwejra.pdf
11. Wied tax-Xlendi Catchment (Gozo)
The Wied tax-Xlendi
catchment is located in the west of Gozo and includes the localities of Fontana,
Kerċem, Munxar, Rabat and
Sannat, and the settlement of Ix-Xlendi.
The catchment includes the entire valley system of Il-Wied tax-Xlendi,
including its tributaries, namely Il-Wied tal-Għanċija (Wied tal-Għawdxija), Wied il-Ħmar, Wied il-Għarab, Il-Wied ta’ Grixti, and
Il-Wied tal-Lunzjata, all of which end in the inlet at Ix-Xlendi. Il-Wied tal-Lunzjata forms the upper part of
Il-Wied tax-Xlendi and is one of the few remaining valleys in the Maltese
Islands with a permanent freshwater supply.
Il-Wied tax-Xlendi.pdf
12. Il-Wied tal-Imgarr Catchment (Gozo)
Il-Wied tal-Imġarr catchment is located in
the south of Gozo, primarily within the Għajnsielem
locality but extending to include the southern part of Nadur locality. The catchment includes the settlement of Għajnsielem, as well as a part
of the settlements of Nadur and Mġarr.
The catchment
is predominantly agricultural and is a densely vegetated gorge-like
valley. Abandoned agricultural land and
steppe form part of the elevated ground adjacent to the head of the valley.
Il-Wied tal-Imgarr.pdf