Old People's Home, Mqabba
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Old People’s Home, Mqabba PA 8969/19 Environmental Impact Assessment March 2021 Prepared by Proposed Old People’s Home Proposed Old People’s Home Proposal for the development of an old people’s home in Quarry SM61, Mqabba Proposed Old People’s Home Proposed Old People’s Home The home will have a total footprint of 18,976m2. The built up-area will occupy 7,650m2 of land and will be surrounded by 11,130m2 of landscaped area. Proposed Old People’s Home Proposed Old People’s Home The home will be built on five floors: • Level -2: Water reservoirs with a 11,287m3 capacity • Level -1: Main parking area and back-house facilities • Level 0: Outdoor parking, gardens, and 42 two-bedroom units • Levels 1 and 2: 42 two-bedroom units. Proposed Old People’s Home Proposed Old People’s Home Level Parking LTC units -2 - - -1 143 parking spaces - (including six spaces for the mobility-impaired). Eight spaces for loading/unloading. Hearse parking. 0 Seventeen parking spaces. 42 two-bedroom units (29m2 per room Loading/unloading space for ambulance. excluding bathrooms and entrance hall) 1 - 42 two-bedroom units (29m2 per room excluding bathrooms and entrance hall) 2 - 42 two-bedroom units (29m2 per room excluding bathrooms and entrance hall) Proposed Old People’s Home Proposed Old People’s Home The home will have additional amenities on its upper floors including: • Patient treatment and medical rooms • Filing rooms and office space • Reception and lounge areas • Multi-purpose hall • Crafts space • Area of worship Proposed Old People’s Home Policy & Justification There is currently a shortage of beds in LTC in Malta. Demographic aging of the Maltese population will increase the future demand for LTC. The development will alleviate the waiting list for LTC as it will provide an additional 252 beds. Proposed Old People’s Home Policy & Justification The design and scale of the development has taken in consideration the requirements of local policies: 1. National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing Malta (2014-2020) • Improving learning opportunities in LTC • Strengthening training programmes in dementia care 2. National Strategy for Dementia in the Maltese Islands (2015- 2023) • Deliver high-quality dementia care by a trained work force • Provide patient-catered dementia LTC and palliative care Proposed Old People’s Home Policy & Justification 3. National Minimum Standards for Care Home for Older People • Single rooms shall have a minimum of 12m2 of usable floor-space • Shared rooms shall not be occupied by more than two residents • Shared rooms shall have a minimum of 8m2 of usable floor space per resident Proposed Old People’s Home EIA findings Proposed Old People’s Home Visual Amenity Area not considered as an Area of High Landscape Value The 10.65m high building lies at 100.61m above sea level and is highly visible within the 3km zone of influence Study of 6 viewpoints Viewpoint 1, Triq tal-Isqof, Mqabba Viewpoint 1, Triq Għaxet l-Għajn (Top of the World) Għargħur Viewpoint 1, Triq tal-Isqof, Mqabba Viewpoint 2, Triq il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija Viewpoint 2, Triq il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija Viewpoint 3, Triq il-Biedja, Żurrieq Viewpoint 3, Triq il-Biedja, Żurrieq Viewpoint 4, Triq Wied Costa, Siġġiewi Viewpoint 4, Triq Wied Costa, Siġġiewi Viewpoint 5, Triq Dun Ġużepp Barbara, Kirkop Viewpoint 5, Triq Dun Ġużepp Barbara, Kirkop Viewpoint 6, Triq il-Belt Valletta, Mqabba Viewpoint 6, Triq il-Belt Valletta, Mqabba Proposed Old People’s Home Land Cover and Land Uses The site is surrounded by: • agricultural fields, • residential areas, and • land used for quarrying activities. Proposed Old People’s Home Land Cover and Land Uses Site clearance will result in loss of compacted soil and interventions on trees present on site. Built structures currently present within the quarry will be demolished. Generation of noise and dust during construction will impact sensitive receptors including fields, residents, and pine trees. Proposed Old People’s Home Land Cover and Land Uses The change in use from quarrying to LTC will decrease the local dust and noise emissions. Proposed Old People’s Home Geology Loss of 29,000m3 of rock Good quality Lower Surrounding rock Release of dust Globigerina walls may and accidental Limestone become unstable spills of oils and should be reused during lubricants are to mitigate the excavation expected impact Proposed Old People’s Home Water The site lies in the catchment area of Wied ta’ Ħal Saflieni. The site is a 40m deep closed- system, hence any runoff will percolate into the underlying rocks. Proposed Old People’s Home Water Ground water degradation through accidental spillage or discharges Release of Site lies on Accidental dust and the Mqabba- leakage of accidental Żurrieq sewer or spills of oils perched other and aquifer and discharges lubricants the MSL during during aquifer operation construction Proposed Old People’s Home Noise and Vibrations Noise assessment was performed in compliance with the standards of the BS5228-1:2009+A1:2014. Daytime and night time baseline conditions were measured at three receptors during June 2020. Daytime baseline was measured in twelve consecutive 15-minute measurements between 10:00 and 17:00. Night time baseline was measured in two non- consecutive 15-minute readings between 00:00 and 03:00. Proposed Old People’s Home Noise and Vibrations 3 monitoring locations (NSRs) Additional The traffic Vibration Predicted traffic generated effects at construction generated during closest noise less during operation will sensitive than the construction generate an receptors are 65db LAeq over current additional below limit levels will be 2.4dB on Triq threshold negligible Valletta limits Proposed Old People’s Home Infrastructure The infrastructure found in the area surrounding the site include: • Aerial and underground electricity cables • Street lights • Water and wastewater mains • Telecommunication aerial and underground cables and antennae Proposed Old People’s Home Infrastructure Majority of infrastructure is located outside of the site on Triq Valletta. Minor risk of intermittent disruption to local electricity and water supply when the home is being connected to the distribution systems. Proposed Old People’s Home Public Access Currently the site may be accessed by workers and operators of the quarry from two main access points along Triq il-Belt Valletta. The lack of pavement along Triq il- Belt Valletta limits pedestrian access. Bus stops are located approximately 50m away from the site southern boundary. Proposed Old People’s Home Public Access Construction of the project When in operation the home will have a minor impact will: since: • Decrease the localised • Public access to the quarry number of heavy vehicles is already limited • Increase the number of • The present quarrying private cars accessing the activity already attracts site from Triq Valletta heavy vehicles to the area Proposed Old People’s Home Recommended Mitigation Measures Proposed Old People’s Home Mitigation Measures • Adherence to S.L. 522.09 (Environmental Construction Site Regulations) and monitoring of construction works • Re-use the excavated soil for on-site landscaping • Transplant uprooted trees as per the provisions of the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations and ERA’s accompanying guidelines • Rehabilitation of the remaining quarry site and subsequent landscaping and use of earthly colours for the façade • Monitoring of excavation works by an experienced geologist due to potentially unstable rock structures Proposed Old People’s Home Mitigation Measures • Periodic checks during operational phase to prevent leakages to groundwater • Use of shielded and downward facing lighting to minimise light pollution • Communication with third parties, especially with regards to ancillary infrastructure and utilities • Use of arterial roads for transporting heavy machinery to minimise impacts on road users • Reduce traffic load by drafting Green Travel Plans for the workers Proposed Old People’s Home Monitoring Recommendations • Geological monitoring during excavations. • Monitoring for effluents and discharges • Monitoring of noise during construction works • Monitoring during construction to prevent damage to infrastructure Proposed Old People’s Home Impacts Count of impacts during the construction and operation phases: Description Construction Operations Land cover and uses 5 1 1 3 Landscape & visual amenity 6 4 2 6 4 2 Geology 1 3 1 Water 2 Noise & vibrations 6 1 1 2 Infrastructure & utilities 2 1 1 Public access 1 2 1 Major Moderate Minor Negligible Minor Moderate Major beneficial beneficial beneficial adverse adverse adverse Proposed Old People’s Home Residual Impacts Count of impacts during the construction and operation phases: Description Construction Operations Land/sea cover and uses 4 2 1 3 Landscape & visual amenity 8 2 2 1 6 5 Geology 3 2 Water 2 Noise & vibrations 6 2 1 Infrastructure & utilities 2 1 1 Public access 1 2 1 Major Moderate Minor Negligible Minor Moderate Major beneficial beneficial beneficial adverse adverse adverse Proposed Old People’s Home Conclusions The Mqabba home will address the demand for LTC in Malta by providing space for an additional 252 beds. The development will have a total footprint of 18,976m2 and will result in the uprooting of trees and loss of soil and natural rock. When operational the project will reduce the local emissions of dust and noise. Proposed Old People’s Home Conclusions The home will be highly visible from its surroundings as the current quarry void will be backfilled and the buildings will rise to 10.65m above ground level. The increase in demand for electricity and water will be offset by the generation of electricity from PV panels and the harvesting of rainwater. The facility will substitute a current socio-environmental nuisance in the area (quarrying) with a service that is in high demand and causes limited environmental impacts. Thank you Comments on the EIA can be sent to ERA until 23rd March 2021 By post: Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441, Malta.