LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR XLOKK RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2007-2013 LEADER CONTENTS Glossary and Abbreviations .................................................................... vi Executive Summary................................................................................ vii Sunt Ezekuttiv .......................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 Introduction and Background ............................................... 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................1 Applicant Details including company name and number....................................................................1 Local Area.....................................................................................................................................................2 Process preparing the Application ..........................................................................................................2 Structure of application document..........................................................................................................3 Chapter 2 The Partnership ...................................................................... 5 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................5 Description of the partnership members including who they represent.......................................6 Proposed group staffing and capability...................................................................................................7 Proposed management structures ..........................................................................................................7 Proposed financial management system including control and development................................7 Financial Status.............................................................................................................................................8 IT system capability.....................................................................................................................................8 LAG structure and Decision Committee Structure ...........................................................................8 Members of the Decision Committee....................................................................................................8 Chapter 3 Needs Assessment................................................................ 11 Introduction................................................................................................................................................11 The Xlokk Territory.................................................................................................................................11 land cover ...................................................................................................................................................13 Agricultural Land.......................................................................................................................................15 protected areas in the xlokk territory.................................................................................................17 Protected Areas and Species..................................................................................................................17 Freshwater..................................................................................................................................................19 Groundwater Quality...............................................................................................................................19 Air quality....................................................................................................................................................21 Landscape....................................................................................................................................................26 Cultural Heritage.......................................................................................................................................28 Climate change ..........................................................................................................................................28 The Socio-Economic Assessment..........................................................................................................30 Demographic Trends................................................................................................................................30 Education and Economic Activity ..........................................................................................................34 Dwellings.....................................................................................................................................................37 Economic Resources ................................................................................................................................45 Agriculture..................................................................................................................................................47 i Note on fisheries.......................................................................................................................................51 Conclusion on the socio-economic assessment ................................................................................54 Wider relevant research and evaluation..............................................................................................55 Documents of National Relevance........................................................................................................55 Documents of European and International Relevance .....................................................................56 wider relevant policy, plans, & programmes.......................................................................................56 A Draft Sustainable Strategy for the Maltese Islands (2006 – 2016).............................................56 National Strategic Reference Framework (2007-2013) ...................................................................56 National Reform Programme, 2008-2010 ...........................................................................................57 The Budget Document, 2009 .................................................................................................................57 Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Malta 2007 – 2013.....................................................58 Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands, 1990 ......................................................................................58 Rural Strategy Topic Paper, 2003..........................................................................................................60 South Malta Local Plan, 2006..................................................................................................................61 Marsaxlokk Bay Local Plan, 1995...........................................................................................................61 Central Malta Local Plan, 2006 ..............................................................................................................61 Policy and Design Guidance for Agriculture, Farm Diversification, and Stables, 2007 .............62 Draft Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Maltese Islands, 2009 ......................................62 Agricultural Waste Management Plan for the Maltese Islands, 2008 ............................................63 Space for Waste: the Waste Management Subject Plan...................................................................63 National Allocation Plan for Malta 2008-2012 ...................................................................................63 Sewerage Master Plan, 1990...................................................................................................................63 National Report on the Strategic Action Plan for the Conservation of Maltese Coastal and Marine Biodiversity, 2002........................................................................................................................63 The First Communication of Malta to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2004.......................................................................................................63 European Policy Documents ..................................................................................................................64 The Gothenburg Agenda.........................................................................................................................64 The Copenhagen Agenda ........................................................................................................................64 The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).............................................................................................65 Some conclusions......................................................................................................................................65 Consultation Process ...............................................................................................................................66 Locality Meetings.......................................................................................................................................66