The construction of an old people’s home on ODZ land at Wied Garnaw could be halted if an application filed by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar to declare the site public domain is approved.
The environment NGO said the request was made in submissions to the Prime Minister, the Environment Minister and the Planning Parliamentary Secretary within the ambit of the Public Domain Act.
Apart from the protected valley, situated between Santa Luċija and Luqa, five other sites and three trees at Ta’ Xbiex were included. The sites are Manoel Island, Ħondoq, Kalanka and Delimara, Ta’ Ċenċ and the beach between Sliema and St Julian’s.
Earlier this month, a report was submitted to the Planning Authority stating that there was no viable location for the retirement home within the development zone. Thus, the document added, it would best be built in the protected valley.
Healthmark Care Services is behind the project. Its directors, Silvio Debono, of the Seabank Group, and James Barbara, of James Caterers, were recently chastised by the National Audit Office because of the service offered by their company Healthcare Caterers at the Gozo General Hospital.
The project proposed at Wied Garnaw did not go down well with nearby residents and environmental organisations, who called on the government to keep its promise and safeguard the area.
Shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi, who drafted the public domain law that was unanimously approved by Parliament, called on citizens and NGOs to exercise their right to propose public domain sites.
“These are just the first submissions. We will be making more in the coming months and hope other individuals do the same,” FAA spokeswoman Astrid Vella said, encouraging the public to take the cue.
The law in question empowers citizens and NGOs to recommend land and property to be listed as public domain. It also guarantees public access to such land.
The move by the NGO was welcomed by Environment Minister Jose Herrera, who encouraged other organisations to come forward with similar proposals. He said the submissions would be passed on to the Planning Authority for processing.
The proposed development at Wied Garnaw would cover some 4,472 square metres and include a chapel, cinema, administration rooms, a hall, a main kitchen and dining areas. A coffee shop, hairdresser, beauty salon and mortuary are also proposed, along with a linen store, cleaners’ room, garbage room and switch room.
The planned home is a private investment but seeks to offer beds to the public through a public-private partnership.
The developer’s report, drafted by Adi Associates, an environmental and planning consultancy firm, gave no reasons why no viable sites were located within the development zone but insisted the protected valley was the best option for the 301-room retirement home.