An overhaul of Mepa's regulations and structures might take quite some time, during which period permits which will cause irreparable damage to the environment will continue to be issued, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) warned yesterday.
The environmental lobby therefore called for the reconstitution of the Mepa board, whose composition would be crucial during this period of essential restructuring as it would determine the pace and direction of the reform.
FAA also called for the immediate restructuring and re-appointment of the DCC boards with a reduced complement but on a full-time basis.
"It is essential to ensure that these boards are composed of both qualified planners and qualified environmentalists while political appointees do not outnumber the other selected board members."
Furthermore, FAA called for consultation between applicants and all chairmen and members of the different boards to be immediately prohibited by Parliamentary order.
The FAA said the Register of Environment Impact Assessment Consultants (overdue since 1994) should also be immediately set up with the proviso that those consultants submitting reports which do not faithfully reflect the reality of the case, would be struck off the register and barred from carrying out future EIA assessments.
The Environment Impact Assessment regulations should be urgently revised, the Development Planning Act amendments should immediately be legislated as soon as Parliament convenes and the Circular to Architects 8/02 which lists the minimum submission requirements for planning applications for any type of development, such as vehicular access, justification for building in ODZ, MRA/MTA/Dept of Agriculture clearance etc., should be implemented.
Moreover, the Building Regulation Guidelines on the Conservation of Fuel, Energy and Natural Resources of 2006 should be implemented immediately.
The process of de-scheduling to remove protection from heritage buildings, allowing their demolition, which is currently at the sole discretion of the minister who can give approval without justification, must be stopped. De-scheduling must be by Parliamentary Order giving justification for such de-scheduling, FAA insisted.
Moreover, the reform of Mepa should not be seen in isolation but should encompass a wider strategy, from implementation of the National Sustainable Development Plan, to matters related to safety on construction sites to workers and citizens, third party rights, rent reform, self-regulation of the various professional classes, as well as resource management (including empty buildings, Joint Office properties and unutilised government assets), most of which can be studied and implemented independently of the overall reform of the authority.