NGOs to make formal request for Qala permit to be withdrawn
Seven environmental NGOs have expresses regret at the reaction of the chairman of Mepa following a report by the Authority's audit-officer over the permit granted for development on Qala Ridge.
Ramblers' Association, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, Nature Trust, Din l-Art Helwa, GAIA, and Malta Organic Agriculture Movement said they were surprised and dismayed at the negative reaction to the report and said they considered it as a "poor attempt to divert attention from the real issue at stake" and which the chairman should have addressed.
"The report exposed serious shortcomings in the approval of the Xerri Planning Application, similar to other abusive cases that have been bulldozed through while Mepa reform drags on," the NGOs said.
They called on the chairman as well as the Prime Minister, under whose responsibility the Authority falls, to explain why the planners who formulated the Gozo and Comino Local Plan in 2006 zoned the area as a Category 1 Rural Settlement when this area did not fit the criteria at all.
They recalled that in their request to the audit-officer for an investigation into the development permit, they had questioned how the designation of "rural settlement" has been accorded to just two structures, both belonging to the same owner, and both in ODZ, when far larger clusters have been denied that designation and the development potential that came with it
The NGOs said they would be filing a formal request to the Prime Minister and the MEPA Chairman to investigate the anomaly that will be created if the development permit is not withdrawn, in view of the highly damaging precedent that would be set for the rest of the scenic ridge.
They also asked the chairman to commission an independent surveyor to draw up a photo montage of final plans from the sensitive side of the site - the cliff side. He would thus determine which of the two montages was fact-based - the one submitted by the applicant or the one submitted by the objectors.
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091112/local/mepa-in-sharp-rebuke-of-its-audit-officer
12 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Karen Zammit Manduca
Nov 22nd 2009, 00:23
In reply to Amanda Reynolds' question regarding why anyone would want to ruin Gozo : it's all about money and abject selfishness. As long as I (contractor) put money in my pocket - lots of it and fast - I don't care what the country looks like...
This is the same situation as those who clean their homes scrupulously day after day only to throw their waste out at any odd hour of the day or, say, Saturday afternoon - and at times also on other peoples' property. And what about those who discard their bulky waste in the countryside when the drive to take it there could easily have been made to a waste facility instead, even on a Sunday. These are the people who don't care about our country or our environment.
lesley kreupl
Nov 21st 2009, 20:40
It is all very well to regret, condemn or even accept what happened to 15 or 20 years ago, but surely it doesn't give anyone the right to continue destroying what little is left of places such as the Qala Ridge?
Think, Gonzi/MEPA, think. Think and do something about it before it is too late!
Victor Borg
Nov 21st 2009, 18:44
When MEPA was set up, there were several of these cases in Gozo wherein a building has 'basements' running down at the back of ridges - the so-called 'basements' would in fact then turn out to be lower floors with terraces that hold fantastic high views. The problem with them is that they are an eyesore when seen from far at the back and they actually destroy macquis (the rich habitat of trees and shrubs that thrives at the base of inland cliffs). Back then, when MEPA was set up 15 years ago (at the time called PA), I fought these developments very hard and there was a tacit agreement among PA architects and officials that these kind of permits would never be issued again. But they are still being issued, as this case shows. The question is why? We all know why - it's not due to lack of common sense, or lessons unlearned - it's in fact due to various possible scenarios - these could range from people using influence, or money, or also due to the decay and obliviousness that has set into an institution that seems to be careering wildly out of coordination and control.
J.Bonnici
Nov 21st 2009, 18:00
Eco island my foot!
Ray Sultana
Nov 21st 2009, 15:51
Good job NGOs, but I doubt the Prime Minister and the Mepa chairman will heed your pleas.
With their attacks on the auditor, the PM and Mepa have shown that they do not care a bit for the environment. The PM has lost all credibility regarding the environment whilst Mepa has shown it has not changed one bit.
victor borg
Nov 21st 2009, 13:29
I always thought that mepa is there to save our envirement but after what is happening in
Bahrija and now in xghara Gozo i have to change my mind we dont need to reform it
but to scrap the lot
Edward camilleri
Nov 21st 2009, 12:52
Keep it up NGOs. It is very sad that the government has launched eco-Gozo and at the same time MEPA approving such an eye sore structure in an ODZ areas.
Recent public criticism of the MEPA audit officer do not auger well - especially when the audit officer seems the only one that is opposing ODZ developments. We were promised restructuring of MEPA and not of ODZ areas.
a. sciberras
Nov 21st 2009, 12:14
welcome to eco-gozo in the making. well done ngos but isn't it a little bit too late when the extension is already in progress?
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 21st 2009, 12:13
CORRECTION, PLEASE!
--------------------------------------------------
Can’t the NGOs see with their own eyes that the WHOLE ridge is ruined by the already existing developments, which has mushroomed over the years?
By the same reasoning of these NGOs, then ALL the existing developments should be bulldozed to the ground and turn this once pristine ridge back to its original state, as it was some hundred years ago!
I am not pleased with this new development but also I am not pleased with the already existing developments.
Why are all the NGOs objecting to this particular project and being selective, when this ridge has already been ruined?
JC.
Amanda Reynolds
Nov 21st 2009, 11:17
Malta is too late already spoiled by eye sore properties galore, now why on earth would anyone want to spoil the beauty of Gozo is beyond me as a foreign resident in Gozo. Just doesn't make sense.
Joe Morana
Nov 21st 2009, 10:35
Well done environmental NGOs for standing up againt the "Qala Bukket Xewk" MEPA permit which is going to spoil the beautifull Qala Ridge overlooking the Comino Channel. Are the the Minister for Gozo and the Gozo Business Chamber in agreement with this proposed monstrosity? Is this what is planned for Eco Gozo? Eco Gozo my foot!!!
How can the Malta Environment and Planning Autortity , worthy of its name, if at all, be so insensitive? Is MEPA hell bent to pursue its seemingly perverse trait of repeating its past blunders.
This Qala proposed predicament seems very similar to the Madliena valley development , whereby no consideration was given to the negative effects of such development, which has ruined this once most scenic valley. SHAME.
May I urge environmental concious citizens to put their money where their mouth is and therefore to boycott such commercial premisses if the permit goes through.
laurence schembri
Nov 21st 2009, 10:13
Prime Minister and MEPA Chairman to investigate? Investigate what? Take a good look around you and you will notice that, Architects, MEPA and Government has ruined the beauty of this Isle. Amen.