Tuesday, 1st December 2009 - 08:42CET

Ramblers concerned over building in ODZ

The Ramblers' Association in a statement has drawn attention to the building of a winery on virgin land at Tas-Salib, near Rabat.

"This application for a winery was accepted by MEPA on 3rd March 2008. The photo shows the resultant building. This development was allowed on completely virgin land in an ODZ area. It is an example of the constructions that MEPA are allowing on pristine countryside." the NGO said.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Georges Meekers (on 1/12/09)

Isn't there possibly a loophole here of which the applicant is making 'clever' use?
A winery needs a licence to operate. How can Mepa grant a permit to build a winery without knowing if the building will eventually classify to be granted such a licence?
I have witnessed a similar case just a few years back: a permit was granted to build kennels. Guess what? Instead of a doghouse an imposing villa now stands in the middle of ADZ.

S Debono (on 1/12/09)

When will we learn to protect what little countryside we have? When MEPA? Government? anyone? Guess it is up to the Maltese public to protest, as in the case of the Rabat golf course and development of Verdala residences. There are still MEPA applications pending there. but at least, public opinion halted their processing.

Anthony Mizzi (on 1/12/09)

Conveniently late now......

When was this ODZ permit issued and to whom?

Any bets that it was issued pre - 2008 General Electoral Election from the newly appointed Gonzpn 2008 Pre-Election appointed MEPA Board when all the attention was focused on Orlando Park at Mistra Bay?

Joe Azzopardi (on 1/12/09)

It is very encouraging to see that people are reacting to this kind of news. The current sad situation is also due to our prolonged silence in such meters. But there is still much rural beauty in Malta that can be saved. We do and should pretend this from our representative bodies. Political parties must understand that they may lose votes on this issue as much as on others. Well done to the Ramblers Association.

Etienne Pavia (on 1/12/09)

@Lewis Balzan - I'm not shifting blame on anyone. I'm laughing at the fact that funnily enough it is like the R. A. noticed this building overnight and now they want action to be taken. Since, it is built, make the best out of it and perhaps encourage the responsible entities to ask the owners of this property to embelish the whole area and let the public enjoy the whole area rather than leaving it as a waste. At least the property seems to fit in well with the environment. And with regards to PN or PL, what is wrong is wrong and what is good is good! Hopefully one day we Maltese learn how to vote instead of looking at the party, we should look at results and who gives us results should govern!

Alfred Baldacchino (on 1/12/09)

There should be a proviso that should this winery eventually stalls and cease to function, the building would have to be domolished and the site returned to its original state.

Raymond Sammut (on 1/12/09)

@ J.Tonna -- "...so called, envionmentalists are only targeting PN's." MEPA is under direct control from Gonzi. You may want to tell us about PL's (or any non-PN's for that matter) who get permits from MEPA to build a "winery" on pristine public land.

J.Tonna (on 1/12/09)

@ Lewis Balzan - The English saying goes 'It is no use crying over spilled milk'. Meta l-froga tkun saret, saret.

Lewis Balzan (on 1/12/09)

@Etienne Pavia.
It's unfair, even stupid, to shift the blame on the Ramblers Association for "not saying something and taken pictures when the winery was in its foundations stage". Why should we expect an NGO made up of volunteers to go all over Malta and Gozo to check on illegal buildings in ODZs. First of all it's MEPA's duty to prohibit such buildings and NOT SANCTION THEM. Secondly, it's EVERY citizen's duty, including yours and mine, to report and bring to the attention of MEPA and groups like Ramblers, wherever we see illegal buildings in ODZs.

J.Tonna (on 1/12/09)

@ Etienne Pavia - I fully agree with you. probably the owner of this winery is a PN supporter, because these, so called, envionmentalists are only targeting PN's.

Etienne Pavia (on 1/12/09)

It's funny...so the report is being done now that the property is built... The title makes one laugh... 'Ramblers concrned over building in ODZ'. Personally, i think it's not fair and good that some people are allowed to build and others not in ODZ. However, overall this building is quite nice especially if it's going to revive the area and from a waste land it is developed into something interesting for the PUBLIC. But come on ramblers: one could have said something and taken pictures during its foundation stage as if it was built overnight...

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI (on 1/12/09)

Does the operator of this winery intend to make wine for his own personal use. Judging from the structure he has designed his winery to include a top floor probably for him and hismany workers to sleep there after the pressing!!!

What a farce. ODZ stands for

J.Borg (on 1/12/09)

Looks like a very modern winery that is being built here.........!!!!!!
When is our Prime Minister going to wake up about these ODZ buildings....or are we going to let them be finished first and then we say we cannot do anything.
We need action......or are thes complaints falling on deaf ears!!!!

Joe Morana (on 1/12/09)

I believe that things will get worse in the absence of Government's subventions to MEPA , as this quango seeks to finance its existence/operations from the proceeds of its permits.

laurence schembri (on 1/12/09)

What is the point, the destruction will go on, the Reformer is blindfolded to anything that is going on at MEPA. An inane entity.

A. Camilleri (on 1/12/09)

This is another reason to back Joe Falzon as Auditor. We'd appreciate more light on this latest Rabat development please. Also, allow me to refer back to the Qala Belvedere development, to be exact at the Bukkett restaurant; why is the development above the present building still taking place, because it seems that the matter is closed and the full development to carry on? Could the Ramblers and the FAA please note and possibly throw more light on this Qala development, because this should NOT proceed as is!

Charles Flores (on 1/12/09)

MEPA's acceptance date is highly significant, to say the least. The rape of what's left of our countryside cannot go on. The Ramblers' Association ought to be congratulated for regularly and determinedly alerting the nation over such horrendous development. It is now thew people's turn to protest. Protests do work, as we have just seen from the Balluta piazza experience, with the majority of the San Giljan local council having to eat humble pie.

Ramblers concerned over building in ODZ

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