PDS for the Construction of Mooring Bays, Gżira as per ERA requirements for the Planning Application Technical Report AIS REF. NO: PRJ-ENV458 CLIENT REF. NO: PA 03120/19 FIRST VERSION Publication Date 03 April 2020 ff PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY Date Revision Comments Authors/Contributors 03/04/2020 1.0 First Version Joshua Gili AMENDMENT RECORD Approval Level Name Signature Internal Check Sacha Dunlop Internal Approval Mario Schembri Page | i PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by AIS Environment Limited with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, and taking account of the manpower and resources devoted to it by agreement with the client. Information reported herein is based on the interpretation of data collected and has been accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid. This report is for the exclusive use of Transport Malta; no warranties or guarantees are expressed or should be inferred by any third parties. This report may not be relied upon by other parties without written consent from AIS Environment Limited. AIS Environment Limited disclaims any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside the agreed scope of the work. Page | ii PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Applicants Details ................................................................................................... 2 3.0 Project Description and Objectives .......................................................................... 3 3.1 Gżira ........................................................................................................................... 3 3.2 Scheme Site and Immediate Surroundings ................................................................ 3 3.3 Scheme Development ................................................................................................ 6 3.4 Project Justification .................................................................................................... 6 4.0 Proposed Project Timing ......................................................................................... 7 5.0 Scheme Location .................................................................................................... 8 6.0 Alternative Uses, Technologies and Locations ....................................................... 11 6.1 Location .................................................................................................................... 11 6.2 Layout and Design .................................................................................................... 11 6.3 Alternative Technology ............................................................................................ 11 7.0 Physical Characteristics ......................................................................................... 12 7.1 Size, Scale and Design .............................................................................................. 12 7.2 Number of Employees ............................................................................................. 15 8.0 Land Uses & Environmental Characteristics ........................................................... 16 8.1 Land Uses ................................................................................................................. 16 8.1.1 Commercial ...................................................................................................... 18 8.1.2 Residential ........................................................................................................ 19 8.1.3 Abandoned Fields............................................................................................. 21 8.1.4 Construction Sites ............................................................................................ 21 8.1.5 Recreational and Public Land ........................................................................... 23 8.1.6 Boating Facilities .............................................................................................. 25 8.2 Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology................................................................ 26 8.2.1 Geology and Geomorphology .......................................................................... 26 8.2.2 Soils .................................................................................................................. 26 8.2.3 Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 26 9.0 Services Available on Site ..................................................................................... 31 10.0 Nature and Quantities of Raw Material, Energy, Waste and Machinery Used ..... 32 10.1 Raw Materials .......................................................................................................... 32 Page | iii PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA 10.1.1 Construction Phase ...................................................................................... 32 10.1.2 Operational Phase ........................................................................................ 32 10.2 Energy ...................................................................................................................... 32 10.3 Machinery ................................................................................................................ 32 10.3.1 Construction Phase ...................................................................................... 32 10.3.2 Operational Phase ........................................................................................ 33 10.4 Waste ....................................................................................................................... 33 10.4.1 Construction Phase ...................................................................................... 33 10.4.2 Operational Phase ........................................................................................ 33 11.0 Access and Parking Requirements ..................................................................... 34 11.1 Access during Construction Phase ........................................................................... 34 11.2 Access during Operational Phase ............................................................................. 34 11.3 Parking during Construction Phase .......................................................................... 34 11.4 Parking during Operational Phase ........................................................................... 34 12.0 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation .............................................................. 35 Page | iv PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA Table of Figures Figure 1: Urban fabric (red and pink), land for cultivation (yellow) and port areas (grey) in Gżira (blue boundary) ...................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2: Map showing location of the Scheme (Source: Geoportal)................................... 4 Figure 3: Moorings which are currently in use at the Scheme site (March 6th, 2020) .......... 5 Figure 4: Moorings which are currently in use at the site of the Scheme (March 6th, 2020) 5 Figure 5: Moorings which are currently in use at the site of the Scheme (March 6th, 2020) 6 Figure 6: North harbour overall strategy map. Red dashed box added showing location of the Scheme. ..................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 7: North Harbour general transport strategy........................................................... 2 Figure 8: North Harbour public transport strategy ............................................................. 3 Figure 9: North Harbour Local Plan archaeological features ............................................... 4 Figure 10: Gżira Policy Map .............................................................................................. 5 Figure 11: Map showing the Scheme location in the Maltese Islands (Google Earth, 2020) . 8 Figure 12: Map showing the scheme location in the Marsamxett Harbour (Google Earth, 2020) 8 Figure 13: Site plan of the scheme with a 100 m buffer zone ............................................. 9 Figure 14: Satellite map of the scheme with a 100 m buffer zone. ................................... 10 Figure 15: Plans showing the catenary beam (heavy mooring line) anchors, mooring lines and buoys ...................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 16: Plans showing the positions of the mooring lines in the two sites of the Scheme 14 Figure 17: Land use map within a 100 m buffer zone ....................................................... 17 Figure 18: Hotel present along Triq ix-Xatt (March 6th, 2020) .......................................... 18 Figure 19: Food outlets present along Triq ix-Xatt (March 6th, 2020) ............................... 18 Figure 20: Food outlet present on the promenade (March 6th, 2020) .............................. 19 Figure 21: Food outlet present on Manoel Island (March 6th, 2020) ................................ 19 Page | v PDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOORING BAYS, GŻIRA Figure 22: