Environment and Planning Commissioner David Pace sees no reason to probe works on a new casino in Paceville.

“There are no grounds which can reasonably justify the carrying out of a full investigation” on the works in progress at the Intercontinental Hotel, he concluded.

The Times of Malta reported that a rival casino operator had informed the planning authority that Eden Leisure Group was carrying out significant infrastructural works on a new casino at the Paceville hotel although the necessary permits had not been issued yet.

The group, which owns the hotel, insisted that only refurbishment works that did not need a permit were being done. The company had erected billboards announcing that the new casino would open its doors next month.

The Malta Gaming Authority then ordered that the billboards be removed.

Mepa, which has set an April 2016 target to clear the full development permit, also said that, following a site visit by its inspectors, it found no irregularities.

The Environment Commissioner within the Ombudsman’s office started a preliminary investigation in the wake of the press reports on the works. However, following talks with Mepa, Mr Pace told this newspaper he did not feel a full investigation was necessary.

“The enforcement officers (of Mepa) reported that the structural alterations being carried out were indeed those indicated on the drawings submitted in PA 3872/15. In fact, they were faithful to these drawings, so much so that it was not felt necessary to take any photos of the works,” Mr Pace said on the basis of information obtained from Mepa.

He said the Mepa officials told him that once the existing and approved use of the premises had not changed and the structural alterations carried out were permissible without any form of notification, “there is no reason to stop the works”.

Mr Pace concluded that “although one might argue about the semantics” regarding the work carried on the external façade and Mepa’s interpretation, he did not feel that the issue merited a full investigation.

Eden Leisure won a government concession for a new casino licence last year.

The Malta Gaming Authority has yet to issue an operating licence for the new casino. This is expected to be done once the gaming machines are in place.