Examination of the sustainability of quarrying on the Maltese islands' social, environmental and economic spheres

Abstract

Quarrying in Malta started thousands of years ago with the building of Neolithic temples, and continues to the present day. The stone is used mainly for building purposes in the form of limestone building blocks or as crushed aggregate for concrete. The continued demand for limestone resources for residential and tourist development has necessitated an expansion of the quarrying industry. This study has examined the public perception of quarrying impacts on society, the environment and the economy. Data from the public was collected through a questionnaire survey, whereas information regarding the quarrying industry was collected through interviews with quarry owners and operators. Interviews were also carried out with business entrepreneurs and farmers. In general the study found that although dust caused a great nuisance, stakeholders are aware of the importance of the quarrying industry for the Maltese Islands' economy and agree that it is a 'necessary evil'. The main issues identified by the public were dust and aesthetics, for which several mitigation measures were suggested through the questionnaire survey. This study found that both these aspects are addressed in development permits for quarries together with remedial action required to be carried out by the operator. These same impacts were also found to be flagged in various reports commissioned over the years. However this study identified a significant lacuna in action on the ground in terms of practical enforcement and mitigation. The overall perception of the public is that not enough is done by enforcement agencies and quarry operators to ensure the containment of dust inside the quarry sites. The lack of rehabilitation programs for abandoned quarries was also found to be a main concern for society, especially in view of the Islands' limited land area with respect to parks and recreational facilities.