An environmental permit renewal is being processed for Quarry HM33 on Għar Lapsi Road in the limits of Siġġiewi, bringing renewed attention to the environmental management of quarrying in one of Malta's distinctive rural and coastal landscapes.
ERA's quarry information identifies the relevant application as EP 0134/26. Activities associated with such quarry operations can include hardstone extraction, processing of inert material and eventual backfilling of excavation areas.
Quarry permits regulate environmental impacts
An environmental permit is not concerned only with the amount of stone removed. Conditions can address dust, noise, waste management, runoff, operational practices, monitoring and the way a quarry is restored or backfilled.
These controls are particularly important where quarrying occurs within a wider landscape used by wildlife, agriculture, residents and visitors.
The wider Għar Lapsi landscape
Għar Lapsi and the surrounding Siġġiewi and Fawwara countryside contain garigue, agricultural land, limestone formations and ecologically sensitive coastal areas.
Environmental effects can therefore extend beyond the excavation itself. Dust, heavy vehicle movements, noise and changes to landform can influence surrounding habitats and the experience of the landscape.
Restoration is part of the environmental question
A quarry's eventual condition is as important as its active operating phase. Backfilling and restoration need to produce a stable end state and avoid creating new environmental problems through unsuitable material or poor land management.
Nature Malta will follow the determination of the permit renewal and the environmental conditions imposed if approval is granted.
Sources
Environment and Resources Authority — quarry permit information
Environment and Resources Authority — permitting consultations