Site Description
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Date: 4th April 2018 Our Reference: PubDom/01/18 Document Description: Application to title Bulebel as Public Domain Site Location: Reference is made to an approximate area of 150,000 sq meters high quality agricultural land owned by government and leased to farmers who actively use it. This is flanked by Wied iż-Żrinġ. Site Description: This designated area in PA Policy SMZN 02 (Redefinition of Bulebel Industrial Area Boundary) is described as being for “further study to determine the agricultural value of the area before any additional industrial development can be permitted”. This is an ‘Area of Ecological Importance’ and a ‘Site of Scientific Importance’, as well as a ‘Valley Protection Zone’ within the South Malta Local Plan (SMLP) and serves as a buffer zone between Bulebel Industrial Area and Żejtun Gebel San Martin residential area. We are here submitting an application to protect an area of 107,650 sq meters as detailed in the land registry maps. Additional Information: Il-Fewdu ta’ Buleben At the symposium organised by Wirt iż-Żejtun in 2012, a team of researchers and archaeologists from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, presented a very interesting paper, The Żejtun Villa and its ancient landscape – three new archaeological discoveries (extract from the publication The Żejtun Roman Villa, Research, Conservation, Management). The authors claimed that “The area comprising Żejtun and its environs provides a good case study for understanding the various ways in which ancient communities used and transformed their natural environment.” Following further research carried out by Wirt iż-Żejtun in this area, which once was known as il-Fewdu ta’ Buleben, a number of culturally significant discoveries were made, adding to the environmental value of this area. These together form an intrinsic social asset not only to the surrounding communities but to the general public at large. Wied iż-Żrinġ Wied iż-Żrinġ is part of the valley tributary system which starts from Wied Betta at Ħal Luqa and Bir Miftuħ at Gudja. These two valley courses join together at Wied Ġarnaw between Santa Luċija, Gudja and Ħal Għaxaq. The route continues by crossing Tal-Barrani at il-Maqgħad to Wied iż-Żrinġ. Then continues to Wied Mazzam Wied iż-Żiju and ends up at il-Magħluq at Marsaskala. The South Malta Local Plan environmental studies have identified this valley as an Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance. Moreover, all the surrounding agricultural land has been identified as a Valley Protection Zone. This is clearly shown on the “Zejtun Environmental Constraints Map” (Map ZN5 of the South Malta Local Plan approved in 2006. Wied iż-Żrinġ is an important habitat for the Maltese Painted Frog, a species which is only found in Malta and Sicily. Wied Betti – Ħal-Luqa Wied Ġarnaw – Ħal-Luqa, Santa Luċija, Gudja Il-Maqgħad – Ħal-Għaxaq Tal-Barrani – iż-Żejtun Wied Żrinġ – iż-Żejtun Il-Minżel – iż-Żejtun Wied ta’ Mazza – iż-Żejtun, Ħaż-Żabbar, Wied iż-Żiju – iż-Żejtun, Marsaskala Wied Sant Antnin – Marsaskala Il-Mgħaluq – Marsaskala Maquis Habitat Maquis or Makkja in Maltese is the terrestrial habitat following the garigue. It is characterised by an evergreen shrub community, with shrubs reaching a height ranging from one to three metres. Among the trees found in local maquis there are the carob (Scientific: Ceratonia siliqua; Maltese: Ħarruba), the olive (Scientific: Olea europaea; Maltese: Żebbuġa), the lentisk (Scientific: Pistacia lentiscus; Maltese: Deru), and the wild fig (Scientific: Ficus carica; Maltese: Siġra tat-tin). At Buleben il-Kbir one finds a substantial amount of patches of maquis surrounded by cultivated agricultural land. In most cases these patches occurred in rocky outcrops with less soil cover. The trees found include carob, olive and fig. Archaeological remains The cultural landscape, topography and documented and undocumented archaeological finds of Buleben and its environs hint towards the active use of this area not just in antiquity but also in medieval and early modern times. One of the discoveries reported in the paper referred to above included a number of tombs and a quarry which were uncovered following the clearance of a factory built in the 1960s to make way for the ACTAVIS extension. Farmers who have cultivated the area give evidence to other important clues on the existence of further tombs in the area, some of which were changed to cisterns to collect rain water which is thus used for irrigation. Oral information provided by these farmers and others, referred to the fact that most of the fields in the area were concentrated with sherds and sea-shells. In fact one of the fields was referred to as tal-Qawwi as it was very difficult to plough with traditional agricultural implements, due to large concentrations of such deposits. A farmhouse within this estate had a particular room which was referred to as il-kamra tal-fuħħar in which the ancestors of the current farmer used to collect all ceramic material gathered from their fields to crush it into broken pottery and used as deffun. Since at the moment most of the fields have agricultural produce, a comprehensive assessment of the soil surface of these fields is not always possible, however preliminary assessment has shown that sherds and broken sea-shells are still visible. When asked about the sea-shells which used to be found in these fields, one of the farmers said that when he was a child he used to collect these shells from the soil and varnish them, since they had a particular purple to reddish colour. Such shell samples have bern used to decorate a shrine which was built in 1913. These shells are of the murex species. The secretion produced by these sea snails is a reddish-purple natural dye which was used by the Phoenicians for the dying of purpura which was considered as a very expensive material at that time. Grand Master Perellos Farmhouse In the area of Buleben, Wirt iż-Żejtun has discovered a building which is directly linked to Grand Master Perellos. Although the building has some modern accretions, the original structure can be easily identified and still survives. Its ground floor is in the form of an “L” shape and consists of long rooms roofed over with stone roof slabs (xorok tal-qasba) resting on double side corbelling (kileb). The facades of these rooms, which have a series of arched openings, overlook on what was a large courtyard. A coat of arms of Grand Master Perellos is still preserved on site. This appears to be a farmhouse on the land known as Il-Fewdu ta’ Buleben, which was administered by the Order. Grand Master Perellos has strong links with Żejtun, in fact he also built a town-house in Triq Santa Katarina. Possible discovery of a lost medieval church The paper “F’Għeluq l-425 Anniversarju mit-Twaqqif tal- Parroċċa Matriċi ta’ San Leonadru: tagħrif minn sorsi ppublikati” written by researcher Kenneth Cassar in Festa San Leonardu 2017, published by the Għaqda Mużikali San Leonardu – Ħal Kirkop referred to the pastoral visit of Mons Pietro Dusina in 1575. In this visit Mons Dusina mentions a rural church dedicated to St Leonard built on the feudal land of the Grand Master. It had one altar, no doors, no rector, no income and no decoration. The feast of the Saint was celebrated annually, alternating between the Parish of St Catherine and the Parish of Birmiftuħ. Mons Dusina warned and asked the Grand Master to take proper care of this church. In the pastoral visit held by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares, there is reference to the fact that the church was abandoned and deconsecrated in 1615 and in the pastoral visit of 1627, the bishop wrote that this church was located in the area known as “Tal-Qassasa ta’ Buleben“. In another publication, “Il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Ħal-Tarxien 1610-2010“, published by the parish of Tarxien, Mons. Profs Vincent Borg, gives further detail on this church. He refers to the acts held during the pastoral visit of 1600 were it is reported that a certain Ganni Sammut from Birgu was taking care of the church. During this pastoral visit the church was listed with the other rural churches within the parish of Żejtun. It is also stated that in front of the church there was a cemetery and that there was a strong devotion to this church particularly by those who experienced a form of slavery. St Leonard is the patron saint of slaves. Following these two important publications, Wirt iz-Żejtun researched cartographic documentation. This lead to the identification of a depicted church dedicated to St Leonard located between Zabbar, Tarxien and Żejtun on old 17th century maps. However there was no mention of the place-name of “Tal-Qassasa” but the church was evidently an important landmark. On studying more recent plans, namely the 1968 Ordinance Survey Sheet, the place name of “It-Taqsis” was found. This area is yet undeveloped and is mainly characterized by terraced fields and a rural farmhouse along Triq il-Merħla. This land is located less than 250m south-west of the rural complex funded by Grand Master Perellos which was also discovered some days ago. A closer look at these meaning of these place both names have the same consonants and refer to the same skill. Qassasa is a noun referring to the people who trim or cut, while Taqsis is the noun referring to trimmings or cuttings. In a field in It-Taqsis one finds a particular structure which may be taken as being part of a previous chapel. Godfrey Farrugia MP PD Marlene Farrugia MP PP References: Wirt iz-Zejtun power point presentation to the Standing Committee on Environment and Development Planning Standing Committee on Environment and Development Planning http://conference.connectedviews.com/default.aspx?i=malta-scedp&session=10410 This includes three other presentations .