Front Ħarsien ODZ has welcomed the government's decision to exclude the expansion of the Freeport on ODZ land in Birzebbuga.

"Apart from the fact that any further expansion has to take place outside development zones, it is also clear that the operations of the Freeport are having a considerable impact on the quality of life of the local community in Birzebbuga."

Front Ħarsien ODZ called for a national holistic national plan on warehousing and storage facilities to ensure the long term sustainability of the Freeport and the import/export sector .  

"To ensure  the long term sustainability of this sector, the allocation of available brownfield sites should be given priority. The government should also avoid a proliferation of haphazardly planned small scale facilities in other ODZ areas," the Front said.