Kurt Sansone
Mepa reform proposal 'by July'
The proposed reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is expected to be made official towards the beginning of July, The Times has learnt.
"The government is fine-tuning the document and it will be launched in the coming weeks," a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said.
The PN parliamentary group held a discussion on the reform on Saturday, the same day the heritage group Din l-Art Ħelwa accused the government of "dragging its feet" over it.
The organisation said the government lagged behind with its promise to go ahead with the reform, amid an "unacceptable" number of planning applications and decisions.
The reform of Mepa is expected to be one of the more contentious the government is pushing through as it seeks to balance the demands of environmentalists with those coming from the construction industry.
It is being piloted by the Prime Minister under whose wing the authority falls.
The spokesman said that after the reform document is launched, a national conference would be called to discuss it in the widest possible forum.
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Joseph V. Grech
Jun 16th 2009, 23:59
The Prime Minister simply NEEDS to get Mepa Reform done right. A bad slip here will be very very unfortunate.
Months ago a number of NGOs presented an excellent document to the Prime Minister that clearly explains the shortcomings, inefficiencies and resultant abuses that exist presently in development planning. These NGOs put forward many recommendations that will, if implemented, possibly help to make Mepa truly the authority that safeguards the environment and citizens from abuse.
I also believe that presently at Planning Appeals Board level there exists considerable room for improvement. For a start, it is ludicrous that objectors need to speak through their attorneys. What is certainly irritating is that one or two Legal Consultants to Mepa seem to be just concerned with the desirability of the Authority winning its cases NO MATTER WHAT - even throwing ethical considerations to the wind and committing unacceptable acts (such as covertly lying) to achieve their aims. Mepa Reform will hopefully make these people more accountable for their actions and open to scrutiny.
Mepa Reform also requires that there be confluence between Civil laws and Mepa Planning Regulations. Presently this is not the case - with disastrous consequences.
Nigel Lawrence
Jun 16th 2009, 22:38
Mepa reform proposal 'by July'---
Sorry, I don't believe you.