Mepa auditor urged to investigate Qala development permit
The Bukett site in Gozo now and as proposed. Photo/impression issued by environmental NGOs.
Nine environment NGOs including Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, the Ramblers' Association and Nature Trust, have called on the Mepa auditor to investigate the granting of a permit for the redevelopment of a restaurant overlooking the valley .
In a strongly-worded statement said they could not understand how Mepa persisted in disrespecting its own internal regulations and continued to freely interpret Local Plan policies, 'breaking them flagrantly at will'.
The issue involves "Il-Bukkett" complex on the panoramic road that from Mgarr leads to Qala, overlooking the scenic coastline of Southern Gozo and the panoramic view of the Comino Channel with the Blue Lagoon and the Maltese Island beyond.
"The (DCC) board irrationally granted permission, in this Category 1 ODZ rural settlement placed on a site of high landscape value, to turn the present low lying rural "casa-bottega" restaurant into a multi-storey imposing development that will involve the construction of "additional floors, the demolition of dwellings and construction of new units with a pool, the construction of an underground basement parking as well as the sanctioning of infringements at the existing commercial area," the NGOs said.
In spite of valid arguments put forward against the development by the Local Council of Qala and others, and despite the well-informed recommendations of the case officers to dismiss reconsideration of the application, the DCC board 'irrationally overruled and decided to break Structure Plan and Local Plan policies with the usual nonchalance'.
"What had been refused for seven valid reasons by the same board only a few months before was reconsidered and approved after the applicant made alterations so minor that six of the seven valid reasons were not adequately addressed."
The groups said the insensitive development would have serious repercussions on the remainder of the belvedere road, cause more ribbon development (this time between Mgarr and Qala), impact negatively the visual impression that visitors first get, and irreversibly destroy the landscape value of the cliff face of the southern coast of Gozo.
The nine NGOs, backed by the Local Council of Qala, have called formally on the MEPA Auditor to immediately investigate this irrational DCC decision, certainly not taken in the best interests of Gozo.
The nine NGOs were the Ramblers' Association of Malta, Nature Trust, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, GAIA, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, and Light Pollution Awareness Group.
See also: Qala defends Qala permit at:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090728/local/mepa-defends-qala-permit
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Maria Borg
Aug 5th 2009, 10:37
@ John Azzopardi
I tried to access the Mepa website re: 'Dar ix-Xemx' Nadur but no information is available. Why?
Joe Galea
Aug 5th 2009, 09:08
Ohhh it's really a nice sustainable, environmentally friendly and compatible development.
MEPA is just the anti-Christ of the environment and the prime minister is the Minister responsible for it. Everyone should arrive to his own conclusion.
With more GonziPN years in Government our children will know what is a tree by being shown pictures or they have to travel to do so....simply pathetic.
Neil Pace
Aug 5th 2009, 03:36
Not only does it stand out and ruin the natural state of the site but who ever designed this doesn't have any taste. It looks cheap and has no character.
David Pisani
Aug 4th 2009, 21:52
Zminijietna – Voice of the Left said that the main issue surrounding Government’s MEPA reform proposals is Government’s own direction with regard to the environment and development.
‘Through its proposals, Government will simply clearly define a role which it already had, namely controlling MEPA’s policies. Previously, Government used to hide behind MEPA whilst pushing its agenda, as was the case with the land rationalization process’.
‘The recently approved permit at Ta’ Xerri il-Bukkett on the Qala Promenade is a case in point, whereby Government’s local plans justified development in an area which was previously classified as ODZ (Outside Development Zone).
‘Zminijietna believes that the Local plans should be revised to stop unsustainable development in ODZ areas, as further anomalies such as the one at Qala promenade will be created’.
‘Government’s proposal regarding Environmental NGO (ENGO) representation on the MEPA board is an example of co-option and institutionalization. If Government is really in favour of ENGO representation, there should be more than one representative, and these should be chosen by NGOs themselves. Besides, social and cultural NGOs should also be represented on the MEPA board.
MEPA reform is all about working in line within its own policies and having accountable decision-makers.
Joseph Markham
Aug 4th 2009, 20:54
SHAME! Shade of Bahrija ( and many other ODZs... )
Shouldn't ODZ be outside development zones?
Galea. L
Aug 4th 2009, 17:02
M Xuereb
Who was it that said "don't judge me with what I say but with what I do" not so long ago?
M. Gauci
Aug 4th 2009, 14:47
Scandalous. Stinks to high Heaven. I suppose they too will resign like the last lot and nobody will be responsible again.
They can fool some of the people some of the time but they cannot fool all the people all of the time.
J.Bonnici
Aug 4th 2009, 13:52
So much for the ECO island!
M Xuereb
Aug 4th 2009, 13:19
An utter shame. MEPA reform? What MEPA reform?
To me, actions speak far louder than words.
John Azzopardi
Aug 4th 2009, 13:03
I don't know who is running Mepa, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Almost 2 weeks ago, MEPA approved the developement of DAR Ix Xemx at Nadur. This old house in Wied Bingemma, Nadur has been designated a Grade 2 and is located in a private alley. There were numerous objections and still, Mepa voted to grant permission 6-0. Who is running Mepa, and why is a grade 2 building being given up for development.
K. Sultana
Aug 4th 2009, 12:52
This is always the same problem in gozo. In gozo there are not investors who want to invest a big project where the economy gain from it, a project that attracts turist/investors and more important SERVICE COMPANIES to provide employment.
But there is these kind of small building that harm all the entire beauty of gozo which only the investor gain from it. I hope that MEPA go back and stop this project. It is better that authorities rather than wasting time dealing with such issue which it is clear that no permit shoud be granted, begin thinking of a good investment that wake up the economy of gozo.
In gozo we need only long run sustainable devlopment and not short term projects which gives no value added. Entrepreneurs need a more help to invest in gozo more than in malta because of the geographic limitation (double insularity), and this help should be given by the government rather than wasting money in social benefits to solve the short-run problems of gozitans.
Patrick Sciberras
Aug 4th 2009, 12:00
Isn't it time for persons sitting on boards taking controversial decisions (not just at MEPA) be PERSONALLY responsible for such decisions and thus liable to be sued ? Otherwise they just do what they like and at the worst resign, and they all live happily ever after !
Ray Sultana
Aug 4th 2009, 11:39
DISGSUTING!! SHAME, SHAME on the Dcc members!
Another monster of which Mepa and the Dcc should be ashamed of.
No amount of conferences or damning auditor reports seem to be able to stop Mepa and the Dcc from ruining Malta.
I hope in 30 years' time, when their grandchildren would ask them how come Malta is so ugly, the Dcc board members would have the courage and say "Malta was beautful but I personally allowed it to be ruined beyond recognition"
Roderick Cutajar
Aug 4th 2009, 11:11
Here we go again...don't we ever learn? I can't beleive projects like these are even considered. With all this talk from this government, we are far from being environment concious and being so small we should make that our priority. SHAME!!!
Joe Cassar
Aug 4th 2009, 11:04
It is worth bearing in mind that the members of the DCC are appointed as follows:
- One half (50%) directly by the Prime Minister, and
- One half (50%) by the Board of MEPA.
The Board of MEPA is appointed 100% by the PM at his sole discretion.
So it is amply clear where the political responsibility lies.
v.pulis
Aug 4th 2009, 10:57
Another blasphemy against our dwindling environment in the making.
Don't these people ever learn from past mistakes?
Do you blame anyone for coming to certain conclusions?
I am crtain that these decisions are not taken naively and that whoever is taking them knows what he's doing to our countryside. We are not talking of small innocent children here.
These obscenities must be stopped right now.
David Gauci
Aug 4th 2009, 10:32
Present and past DCC members should be investigated and brought to justice on any irregularities.... one must point to the fact that DCC members are not the whole of MEPA.... there are very competent people there around for sure!
DCC members shame on you!...... government should investigate them
Robert Callus
Aug 4th 2009, 10:30
I don't think there should be any report about this. This article, including the picture are enough for anyone in a sound mind to say - NO WAY
Galea. L
Aug 4th 2009, 09:51
Who can blame the people for thinking that there is rampant corruption at MEPA?
Michael Neville Cassar
Aug 4th 2009, 09:32
Stop this ugly and deforming outlook, all over Gozo is being transformed into a horrible building areas without respect to the beauty of the land and its surroundings it is more be coming like Hong Kong Gozo .Any deformity with any buildings should be taken down and no compensation should be given. Marsaforn should also be investigated for deforming outlook over the valley It is up to Mepa and all concern to stop shanty towns being buld.
J oatmon
Aug 4th 2009, 09:07
Am I the only person in Malta who believes that MEPA is riddled with corruption at the decison making levels?
Why are there no prosecutions, of these obviously corrupt past officials?
Too much a 'can of worms' to open perhaps?
L Buhagiar
Aug 4th 2009, 08:47
The Government should take the bull by the horns and investigate the DCC board for irregularity . They have been making too many "mistakes" lately. If the MEPA reform should be taken seriously, members should be held accountable for past and present abbuse of power. SHAME AGAIN ON MEPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
r ferriggi
Aug 4th 2009, 08:42
I am IN NO WAY interested in the political banter that is going on at the moment but I HAVE to comment about this:
this morning i opened radio 101 and i endured about 10 mins of harping on about Joseph Muscats 'fast track' permit bla bla bla bla.
is this the level to which radio news is going to subject us in the future??
i am not refering to radio 101 only but to all stations who make big issues of insignificant matters.
lets be serious. for the sake of everyone on this island.
mistakes have been made ( and apparently BIGGish ones by MEPA!!) but lets see that these dont occur again.
Mark Sammut
Aug 4th 2009, 08:38
At last!!!!!..... what a shame.... ruining the belveder for ever!!! shame on you DCC.
A.E. Camilleri
Aug 4th 2009, 08:36
Well done NGOs. This development will destroy the Qala Belvedere for ever. Another MEPA drama! This complex has an infridgement history dating back to 1996 when it all started with a ridge-top terrace extension without a permit and referred for direct action. MEPA's reasoning here again is being very strongly queried by the people. We all hope that there is some more reasoning and the so-called permit witdrawn immediately.