The Front Ħarsien ODZ said today that it welcomed the fact that the Church will be committing itself to a land protection policy as regards any future development on its part.

However it called on the Church to abandon its two applications to build schools in Għaxaq.

"This project would obliterate more than 77,000 square metres of agricultural land, including rubble walls and mature trees and is only marginally smaller than the Zonqor Point development," it said.

"There is still time to save this land, and the Church has an opportunity to give a powerful example to the rest of society, strengthening the environmental conscience of the nation on environmental and also ethical and moral grounds. We call on the church to not only seriously reconsider but also relocate this project inside the development zone, or alternatively negotiate with the government to occupy one of the presently empty public schools."

The Front said it shall remain vigilant of and seek to protect all ODZ indiscriminately.