The planning authority has more than 4,000 pending complaints from the public it has not started investigating, according to CEO Johann Buttigieg.
Mr Buttigeig blamed the delay on lack of resources in the enforcement section while answering questions on the proposed separation of Mepa’s functions into two planning and environment authorities.
These are not only from the past year
He said the enforcement section would be strengthened to address concerns the split may increase tolerance of illegal development.
Last week, the government launched two documents for public consultation outlining the functions of the new planning authority and environment authority.
The aim is to simplify the planning process while giving environmental issues a stronger voice.
But the proposal has come under fire from environmental and cultural heritage organisations, who have said the proposals have paved the way for more illegal development by threatening to dismantle hard-earned protective measures built into the planning system over the years.
Mr Buttigieg said that the efforts to strengthen the authority’s enforcement showed the government aimed to clamp down on illegalities.
Scepticism prevailed based on Mepa’s persistent failure to take concrete action on illegalities in the past. Mr Buttigieg acknowledged this.
“At the moment, Mepa has more than 4,000 pending complaints from the public that are as yet not investigated. These are not only from the last year, I can assure you.”
He explained the enforcement directorate currently had three officers working on outside development zone (ODZ) complaints.
“Our aim is to have 12 enforcement officers in the coming year, in addition to the inspectors coming in from the Building Regulations Office who will be transferred here,” he said.
Yet the plans for splitting Mepa suggest prolonging the process until enforcement action comes into effect on illegal developments.
Under the proposals, a ‘warning’ notice would be issued for illegal developments before any ‘stop’ and ‘enforcement’ notices.
Our aim is to have 12 enforcement officers in the coming year
The maximum period for enforcement notices to take effect is also extended to 50 working days to allow more time for compliance.
The consultation document For an Efficient Planning System also proposes that enforcement notices are suspended for all cases when an application to sanction has been submitted.
The list of proposals have been interpreted as a softer government approach to illegal development, a move that would serve the interests of those who are willing to disregard the law, according to Din L-Art Ħelwa.
Claims that a stronger environment authority would keep the planning authority in check were doubted.
Environmental NGOs and the Environment Directorate are already represented on the Mepa board, although the new environment authority would also get a vote under the proposals, DLĦ said.
Yet DLĦ council member Petra Caruana Dingli asked: “Since the environment authority will be involved in assessing development applications, will it be voting on its own recommendations on the new planning board?”
The consultation documents can be downloaded at www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation.