Government wants 'smooth transition' from DCCs to EPC

It is the government's intention to have a smooth transition of applications before the present Development Control Commissions to the boards established under the new Environmental Planning Commission (EPC), in the interests of applicants.

Speaking during the committee stage of the Environment and Development Planning Bill, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said that DCCs would continue to hear pending applications which were already on their agenda, but promised that these commissions would stop functioning in three to six months' time. The cut-off date would be agreed on with the opposition, after which pending applications before the DCCs would be transferred to the EPC.

Dr de Marco was answering the opposition's spokesman on planning Roderick Galdes, who pointed out that if there was no early cut-off date between the DCC and the EPC, inconsistencies might arise.

The opposition's spokesman on the environment, Leo Brincat, called on the government to inform the opposition on established timeframes when certain clauses of the Bill would come into force. Dr de Marco said that the government found no objection to giving such information.

Mr Brincat also requested approximate timeframes when staffing for the directorates and environmental authority took place, and asked that the opposition be given a copy of any legal notice that would be issued under the enabling law. The government had to give a clear idea of the transitional periods, he said. Dr de Marco announced that the government was to present a Bill on sustainable development. It was consulting with a number of stakeholders, including the Chamber of Architects, the Chamber of Planners, the Users' Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) and other NGOs.

Another legal notice to be published would establish the registration of environmental impact assessment consultants.

Mr Brincat said that there should be separate agencies responsible for the environment and development in order to establish a balance. While Mepa was planning-oriented, the environment authority would set up environmental standards. He said that within Mepa, an environmental unit would be just a Cinderella, adding that two separate entities would not necessarily increase bureaucracy.

Dr de Marco said both parties agreed that the environmental voice should be strengthened. This could be strengthened through investment in resources, where the government was to employ 45 more officers. The fact that the Environment Directorate was part of Mepa did not mean that it had decreased in importance. He wished that the environmental policies would be reflected in development policies.

Mr Galdes said that separation of the two was essential. There was no authority in the world that catered for both sectors.

Mr Brincat proposed an amendment saying that the EPC chairman should be appointed for a period of three years and not a maximum of seven years, as indicated by the government.