Strategic Environment Assessment. For the. New Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands. Scoping Report

Transcription

1 Strategic Environment Assessment For the New Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands Scoping Report Structure Plan Team December 2004

2 CONTENTS 1 Introduction Purpose of the scoping report SEA Preparation & Consultation Background to the Structure Plan Baseline data review Introduction Key Environmental Issues Environmental Objectives Assessment of Alternatives Future Stages SEA Process Environmental Report...13

3 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the scoping report The purpose of this report is to set out the scope of the SEA for consultation with the Environment Assessment Team, MEPA in order to obtain feedback on the various elements that will form part of the assessment process. The scope will be described in terms of the following: The key environmental issues in Malta: These have been identified in Phase I of the review process and compiled systematically in the final Issues Paper and Technical Report, following public consultation. They are the main issues that the SEA will take into account when assessing the significant impacts of the plan. Environmental criteria for the assessment: the plan will be assessed against each of these criteria which have been derived from a review of the environmental policy context, undertaken in Phase I and II of the review process and the initial stages of Phase III. Alternatives to be assessed: The Strategic Growth Options paper assessed three alternative scenarios and identified the best scenario for development until Alternative strategies for the chosen scenario will be identified and assessed accordingly. 1.2 SEA With the adoption of Council Directive 2001/42/EC, Member States within the EU are obliged to undertake an environmental assessment of certain plans and programs, during the preparation stage and before their adoption. According to this Directive, plans and programmes begun before 21st July 2004 will also need assessment if they are not adopted by 21st July 2006 unless the Member State in question decides this is not feasible and informs the public accordingly. Although work for the new Structure Plan began in 1999, and the target date for the final draft plan is July 2005, the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority believes that it would benefit from carrying out an environmental assessment of the new Structure Plan. This plan will cover the national territory and the strategy will undoubtedly have an affect on the environment. However, the process will not be completely in line with that outlined in the draft legal notice on Strategic Environment Assessment in Malta. The reason for this divergence is two-fold: -i- the Structure Plan Review process has commenced in 1999 and is currently in phase 3; -ii- the time period envisaged to cover the whole process as identified by the draft legal notice transposing the SEA Directive is in the region of 64 weeks, to allow ample time for consultation. Such a time frame will not allow the target date set for the final draft plan to be met.

4 Given that no national guidance on the implementation of the SEA Directive has been approved to date, the environmental assessment outlined for the new Structure Plan will follow the major milestones for the plan preparation itself. This scoping report outlines the proposed SEA methodology and will initiate the environmental assessment process, which will be ongoing. The assessment will cover both the strategy formulation and policy formulation stages. An interim Environmental Report covering the assessment of the proposed strategy will be submitted for review to MEPA s Environmental Assessment Team and a final Environmental Report will be submitted together with the draft new Structure Plan for public consultation. It is expected that there will be ongoing consultation with the Environmental Assessment Team, responsible for the regulatory function of the SEA Directive, within MEPA. This will ensure that any difficulties that may arise during the stages identified in section Preparation & Consultation The SEA will be prepared by the plan making team. Two consultation groups have been set up to provide feedback throughout the plan formulation process at specific stages, namely the identification of issues, the strategy formulation and policy formulation stage. The Stakeholders group is made up of representatives of constituted bodies and non-governmental organisations in Malta whilst the Think Tank is made up of a smaller group of individuals composed of key persons in the environmental, social and economic fields. Internal consultation was held on the environmental objectives and indicators with MEPA officials having different expertise in the environment field, including nature protection, pollution, and resources management. The public consultation process is envisaged to take place in two stages through the dissemination of the scoping report on the MEPA website, for information purposes and a wider consultation programme at the final stage with the publication of the draft Structure Plan and Environmental Report This would incorporate the distribution of the document on the MEPA website as well as meetings with the general public where the public would be asked to provide feedback over a period of six weeks as stipulated by planning regulations. 1.4 Background to the Structure Plan The Structure Plan is the document that provides strategic guidance on land use in the Maltese Islands. Drawn up in 1990, its goals are three-fold: 1. To encourage further social and economic development of the Maltese Islands and to ensure as far as possible that sufficient land and support infrastructure are available to accommodate it. 2. To use land and buildings efficiently and consequently to channel urban development activity into existing built up areas particularly through rehabilitation and upgrading of urban areas thus constraining further inroads into undeveloped land. 3. To radically improve the quality of all aspects of the environment.

5 Two extensive monitoring studies were carried out (in 1995 and 1997) to gauge progress in the implementation of the Structure Plan. Under the Development Planning Act 1992, as amended in 2001, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is legally obliged to review the Structure Plan to address issues that are relevant now, or that will become relevant over the next 20 years. The authority shall monitor the Structure Plan and review it as often as may be necessary provided that such a review does not take place within a period of less than five years. Given the geographical extent covered by the plan it is without doubt that it will have implications on other sectoral plans at a national and local level. Any such plan will have direct or indirect land- or sea-use implications. This inter-relationship explains the broad and ongoing consultation process during the plan preparation phase, to ensure synergy with other proposed plans and minimise the potential conflicts that may arise. The Review Process Phase I The Structure Plan review was initiated in 1999 with the first phase seeing the preparation of a series of Topic Studies that were compiled in consultation with the relevant bodies and institutions, with the purpose of identifying current issues and projected needs for the period covering The Topics covered include Demography, Housing, Urban Conservation and Environment, Social and Community Care Facilities, Retail, Employment, Transport, Utilities, Leisure and Recreation, Tourism, Rural and Coastal strategies. Two Subject Plans were also produced on Minerals and Waste Management respectively. Each Topic Paper and Subject Plan was based on the current available data, including environmental data, and underwent a period of public consultation to ensure that all the issues have been identified as well as to communicate and disseminate the information. Phase II The second phase of the Structure Plan review process saw the preparation of three documents, the Issues Paper (a compilation of the main issues arising from all the Topic Papers), a Technical Report (a supporting document with all the base line data used for the preparation of the Topic Papers and a set of monitoring indicators) and a Strategic Growth Options Paper. The purpose of this paper was to develop a set of alternative strategic growth scenarios and identify a preferred scenario on the basis of a technical evaluation and submissions received during the public consultation. The Growth Options were based on projected levels of housing and employment that may be accommodated to address the needs of the nation over the next two decades. An environmental assessment was undertaken on the three strategic growth options that were identified: the assessment addressed general environmental, economic and social issues and as such was more a

6 sustainability appraisal in approach. However it helped to identify the best scenario on these three pillars of sustainable development. The Strategic Growth Options Paper also identified the new Structure Plan Vision and Goals as outlined in Box 1 below. A public consultation process was also undertaken in Phase II. BOX 1.1: PROPOSED NEW STRUCTURE PLAN VISION AND GOALS Vision To improve the quality of life in the Maltese Islands by integrating environmental stewardship and social and economic development, within a framework of sustainable development. Goals To encourage further social and economic development by ensuring that sufficient land is available to accommodate it and by encouraging the upgrading of land, buildings and infrastructure. To facilitate stewardship of the rural, urban, coastal and marine environment, promoting distinctiveness and channelling urban development into existing development areas. To facilitate an integrated and efficient approach to the development and use of land, buildings and infrastructure. To facilitate partnership, participation and inclusion in the planning process. Source: Strategic Growth Options Paper, 2002 (MEPA) Phase III The third phase of the review started in September This phase will seek the identification of the preferred development strategy and the formulation of supporting policies. The new draft Structure Plan is expected to be ready by the second half of 2005 and will be subject to a consultation process. 2 Baseline data review 2.1 Introduction A data collection exercise was carried out for the preparation of each of the Topic Papers during Phase I of the review process. Most of the data was available in-house from MEPA s Environmental Resources Surveys, whilst other data was collated from government entities and institutions. Studies were also commissioned for the purpose of the review. The main source of data for the SEA will be the Technical Report (prepared in 2002) and the State of the Environment Report of Updates on environmental data are currently being made and will be incorporated where available and where necessary. The baseline data will be presented together with the Environmental Report.

7 2.2 Key Environmental Issues The key environmental issues were identified in the review process and by the State of the Environment Report of These issues have helped to form a benchmark for the plan preparation process as well as the identification of environmental objectives. 3 Environmental Objectives A set of environment objectives and subsequent assessment criteria were identified in the initial stages of Phase III. These were developed from a review of the environmental obligations (national, EU and international) and the key environmental issues. Table 1 provides a list of the environmental objectives for the SEA and the respective assessment criteria on which the Structure Plan strategy and policies will be evaluated. The relevant factors listed within Annex (f) of the SEA Directive are also presented for reference. Finally, a set of indicators has also been developed at this initial stage. These indicators are intended to assist the monitoring stage of the new Structure Plan once it is adopted. The list of indicators may be updated at a later stage to include those indicators that are being calculated and relevant to the scope of monitoring the Structure Plan. The list of objectives, assessment criteria and indicators has been circulated for internal consultation within the Environment Protection Directorate.

8 Table 1 Environmental Objectives, Assessment Criteria and Indicators Ref No. Environmental Environmental criteria Most relevant factors Indicators Objective in Annex (f) 1 Protect, enhance and 1) Is the proposal likely to significantly Biodiversity, fauna, flora, 1) -i- Area of protected habitats where necessary restorehelp to protect species especially those water, landscapes (terrestrial and marine) species and habitats protected by law? 2) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect, enhance or restore -ii - List of endangered and threatened flora and fauna. habitats especially those protected by law? 3) Is the proposal likely to have -iii- Ration of total protected area to successfully managed sites. significant adverse effects on species and habitats? 2 Protect and use soils in a sustainable way 4) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect soils or encourage the sustainable use of soils or to have significant adverse affects on soils? Soil, biodiversity 2) i-area of agricultural land lost to development 3 Protect and enhance groundwater resources 5) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect and enhance ground water resources or to have significant adverse effects on ground water resources? Water, human health, 3) -i- Nutrients in fresh water population, biodiversity, material assets,

9 4 Protect and enhance the water environment including watercourses and coasts 6) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect and enhance the water environment such as watercourses or to have a significant affect on the water environment? 7) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect and enhance the coast or to have a significant adverse affect on coast? Water, biodiversity, fauna, flora, climatic factors, landscape, material assets and human health 4) i- Bathing water quality -ii- Chlorophyll-a in transitional, coastal and marine waters 5 Reduce waste 8) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to reduce waste or is it likely to increase waste arisals? Biodiversity, fauna, flora, landscape, air, water, material assets, population, human health 5) - i - Total waste generation by type with breakdown on municipal. ii- Recovery and recycling rates by type of waste (e.g. glass, paper), municipal waste. 6 Reduce air pollution from mobile and nonmobile sources 9) Is the proposal likely to significantly Air, climatic factors, help to reduce air pollution from mobile human health, sources or is it likely to increase it? biodiversity 10) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to reduce air pollution from nonmobile sources or is it likely to increase it? 6) i -Emissions of ozone precursors -ii- Emissions of primary particulates and secondary particulate precursor -iii- Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas -iv- Exceedance of air quality limit values in rural areas -v- Emissions of Sulphur Oxides -vi- Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides 7 Reduce noise and light pollution 11) Is the proposal likely to significantly Biodiversity, fauna, help to reduce noise or is it likely to human health, increase it? population, landscape 12) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to reduce light pollution or is it l ikely to increase it? 7) Monitoring trends of - i - Noise levels -ii- Light intensity levels

10 8 Facilitate renewable energy 13) Is the proposal likely to facilitate renewable energy infrastructure? Climatic factors, air, water, biodiversity, population, human health 8) - i - Renewable electricity generated as a % of total electricity generated. -ii- Number of renewable electricity schemes approved. -iii- Renewable energy consumed 9 Reduce energy consumption 14) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to reduce energy consumption or increase it? air, climatic factors, water, human health, population biodiversity 9) i- Energy consumption by sector/season (residential, industrial, commercial). -ii- Sale of fuel. 10 Facilitate shift to 'green' modes of transport 15) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to facilitate the shift to green modes of transport or is it likely to deter it? air, climatic factors, cultural heritage, population, human health, biodiversity 10) i- Bus Patronage. -ii- No of electric cars. -iii- No of trips by mode (vehicle, walking, etc) 11 Respect landform, natural processes and natural systems 16) Does the proposal respect the Biodiversity, human influence of landform, natural processes health, fauna, flora, (erosion, subsidence) and natural water, air, climatic systems? factors and landscape 11) i- Extent of risk prone areas (flooding, erosion). ii- No insurance claims for flood damages. iii- Area of land covered by development 12 Protect, enhance and where necessary restore landscape character, distinctiveness and scenic value 17) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect, enhance, or restore landscape character, landscape distinctiveness and scenic value or is it likely to significantly adversely affect the character, distinctiveness and scenic value of the landscape? Landscape, cultural heritage, population, biodiversity 12) Area protected for Landscape Value

11 13 Protect, enhance and 18) Is the proposal likely to significantly where necessary restorehelp to protect, enhance, and restore historic character, the character and distinctiveness of townscape and historic areas or is it likely to significantly archaeological adversely affect historic area? heritage 19) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect, enhance, and restore the character and distinctiveness of townscape or is it likely to significantly adversely affect townscape? 20) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to protect, enhance, and restore the character and distinctiveness of archaeological remains or is it likely to significantly adversely affect archaeological remains? Cultural heritage, population, material assets, landscape 13) i- Land areas of UCAs approved/protected. ii- Number of listed buildings. iii- Form and proportion of development types in UCA. iv - Land areas of protected archaeological features.. v- Number of management plans as a % of total protected area. 14 Regenerate degraded environments 15 Maintain and improve the quality of life 16 Ensure that the rate, nature and location of development is within the environmental capacity 21) Is the proposal likely to make a Biodiversity, fauna, flora, 14) Area of degraded environment - significant contribution to the regeneration\restoration of derelict, contaminated or otherwise degraded water, landscape, air, population, human health, material assets, within scheme and ODZ by type environments or is it likely to increase the cultural heritage area or degradation of such land? 22) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to maintain and improve the quality of life? 23) Is the proposal likely to significantly help to identify and contain development within limits of acceptable environmental change? Population, human health Biodiversity, flora, fauna, air, water, landscape, cultural heritage, material assets, human health and population 15) i- Area of accessible open space for person within scheme. ii- Area of accessible land in rural and coastal areas. 16) i- Area of land covered by development -ii- Ratio of land area taken up by development within scheme : ODZ

12 4 Assessment of Alternatives The SEA Directive requires the formulation of alternatives. It is intended that the approach to the SEA will be an integral part of the plan preparation process and alternatives will be identified during the strategy formulation stage. Assessment will be based on the identified strategy and changes made during the assessment process itself where necessary. A similar approach will be adopted for the policy development stage. The subsequent assessment of preferred alternatives will also be recorded. 5 Future Stages 5.1 SEA Process Table 2 lists the next stages planned for the environmental assessment. Table 2 Future stages Stage Methodology Timetable Identification of Environmental objectives Identification assessment criteria Review of Environmental Policy context; key environmental issues from SOER and Issues Paper Consultation process with the Environment Protection Directorate November 2004 November 2004 Identification of indicators Streamline with indicators November 2004 identified for SOER and in the Structure Plan Technical Report Assessment of strategy Structure Plan team + December 2004 Environmental Assessment Team Interim environment report January 2005 Assessment of policies January-June 2005 Development of monitoring January June 2005 recommendation Environment Report July 2005 Consultation on Environment Report and Structure Plan Assimilation of comments on Environmental Report and amendment of Plan Consultation process for both documents will run at the same time August September 2005 October December 2005

13 5.2 Environmental Report The structure of the Environment report will be as outlined below. Table 3 Environmental Report Section of report Outline information to be included Summary and outcomes Non-technical summary What difference has the SEA process made to the Structure Plan process Methodology used Who carried out the SEA, when, who was consulted Purpose of the SEA Plan objectives and overview of contents Links to other plans, programmes and environmental protection objectives Baseline environmental data Relevant environmental problems Difficulties in collecting data, limitations of the data, etc. Environmental protection objectives relevant to the plan Plan issues and alternatives Significant environmental effects of the preferred alternatives How environmental problems were considered in choosing the preferred alternatives Other alternatives considered and why they were rejected Plan policies and proposals Significant environmental effects of the policies and proposals Proposed mitigation measures and monitoring Implementation Links to project environmental impact assessment, design guidance etc Source: Environmental Resources Management, April 2004