Commonsense consensus

Like much of Malta, Mosta has been negatively affected by the "rationalisation" of development boundaries introduced last year. While a vast number of houses remain vacant, more land has been approved for construction. Moreover, no proper public consultation was held, rendering the whole process unacceptable.

To add insult to injury, the tracts of land included for development still do not satisfy the urge by some developers to turn Mosta into an urban jungle. For instance, an application was submitted to Mepa last December for the construction of a supermarket plus parking area outside the development zone in Mosta. That Mepa accepted it on that basis puts the relevance of local plans into serious doubt.

The site in question lies between Ta' Mellu and Ta' Dendu, near Speranza valley, covering an area equivalent to a full-size football pitch. After my having instigated enquiries in this regard, the mayor of Mosta agreed to submit an objection on behalf of the local council on February 16, just two days before the prescribed deadline.

Cross-party consensus and enlightened cooperation such as this, transcending traditional partisan pique and senseless antagonism, exemplify the art of the possible in mature, reasoned politics, for the greater good and lasting benefit of the whole community.

There is every reason, therefore, to extend this management model to a much broader spectrum. Much can be accomplished by joint projects encompassing the input of the community, the local council and the private sector.

A particular case in point is the Ta' Mlit neighbourhood, where residents have been needlessly subjected to severe flooding after heavy rainfall for decades.

Adjacent to this area, however, there is a stretch of land scheduled to be developed into 110 apartments and underlying garages.

In a press conference held in Mosta on February 15, Alternattiva Demokratika proposed that the local council approach the developer in question and jointly evaluate the following solution: Given that the local council is engaged in resurfacing the roads, they should be done so with a view to channelling the flood water to a huge reservoir constructed underneath the new apartments.

It is a win/win situation whereby neither the present community nor the new residents will suffer further acute flooding. In addition, the substantial amount of valuable rain water collected can be resourcefully deployed for irrigation or domestic purposes.

Let's collaborate and grasp this golden opportunity together.

Mr Galea is AD candidate for the local council elections in Mosta.