Front Ħarsien ODZ is urging the planning authority to declare the proposed building of 15 villas at Ta’ Ċenċ in Gozo as “a non-starter”, just as it did with the proposed development at Munxar.

The front noted that the present local plan banned any further development on the plateau overlooking Mġarr ix-Xini.

“Moreover, Mepa’s Planning Directorate had already pronounced itself against further development in the area in a 2007 case officer report. The report had expressed concern at the impact of development on bird colonies and the neighbouring Special Area of Conservation which enjoys maximum protection,” the front said in a statement.

Although the development has been downscaled, it was still substantial and involved the uptake of ODZ land in an ecologically sensitive area.

Ecological studies included in the latest edition of the Environment Impact Statement have warned that the noise from construction and operations on the site in question could lead to the desertion of the existing bird colonies, the pro-environment front added.

Any approval of such development would create an “unacceptable precedent” at a time when environmental awareness was at an all-time high.

“MEPA should therefore put an end to a saga dating back to 1996 by taking a final decision on this application which respects the principle that ODZ is ODZ,” the front said.