Manoel Island excavation will mean 11 trucks an hour for 40 weeks

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Construction on the planned development of Manoel Island is expected to take eight years and cause “adverse” impacts during excavation, according to a newly published report. The Environmental Impact Assessment for the development indicates that excavation works will require 11 truckloads per hour for a period 40 weeks. Works will generate a total of 290,000 cubic meters of excavated material, with around 67,000 cubic metres reused on site, largely for a land reclamation project roughly the size of two football pitches. Developers Midi are seeking to build an extensive “Mediterranean village” including a hotel at the historic Lazaretto, apartment blocks, retail outlets, yacht marina, helipad and public plazas. The developers are also promising 80,000 square metre of new parks and family areas, as well as an arts and culture centre at Fort Manoel comprising galleries, museums, shops, restaurants. Other heritage buildings will largely be retained and restored. According to the EIA report, the project’s visual impact is expected to be “beneficial” to the character and visual amenity of the area in certain aspects, while others, particularly the residential and commercial blocks...