Environmental lobby groups will march through the streets of Valletta later this month to raise awareness about the “worrying” numbers of large property developments.
At a press conference yesterday, Din L-Art Ħelwa president Simone Mizzi accused the Government of playing to the interests of property developers and speculators.
“Just look around at the tragic results of poor planning all over the country. It’s getting out of hand,” she said.
The protest will be held along Republic Street at 10.30am on November 30.
Ms Mizzi was joined by representatives from Birdlife Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, Moviment Graffiti, Greenhouse Malta, Malta Organic Agricultural Movement, Nature Trust Malta and the Ramblers’ Association.
The NGOs accused the Government of selling the country’s health to developers.
Ms Mizzi lamented the “ridiculous” decisions that led to the approval of an 800-apartment development overlooking Mistra Bay, and another “monstrous” mega block in San Ġwann.
Village cores were also at risk of development, Ms Mizzi said, pointing to the recent approval of demolishing three 400-year-old townhouses in Naxxar village centre.
The demolition, given the green light by the planning authority last month, had sparked outrage among conservation experts.
If we can’t keep a handle on our built-up areas, what will happen in the countryside?
Ms Mizzi said several planning laws were being discussed by the Government while the planning authority was undergoing a reform.
Ramblers’ Association spokesman Romano Cassar expressed his dismay at the policy proposals, which would see developments permitted in non-development zones.
“If we can’t keep a handle on what is happening in our built-up areas, can you imagine what will happen in the countryside?” he asked, adding that such developments would only occur through unethical loopholes in outside development zones regulations.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar spokeswoman Astrid Vella pointed to the planning authority’s apparent lack of human resources. She said there were insufficient enforcement officers to process all reports of abuse.
“They can’t manage everything, let alone be proactive and go out to see what’s happening,” she said, adding that the authority had some 7,000 pending enforcements.
Ms Vella said she was shocked that case officers, who were assigned to draw up reports on proposed developments, were not making site inspections.
“These people are deciding the fate of a whole community without even going to the development site,” she lamented.
Ms Vella insisted that putting the environment and people’s health first also bolsters the country’s economy.
“The health of residents is at risk, their right to fresh air is being threatened by continued development, this will have an effect on tourism and Malta’s competitiveness,” she said.