The placing of the citizen's well-being at the centre of reform at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) was the main thrust of discussion at a meeting between Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) on one side and the Prime Minister and Mepa chairman Austin Walker on the other.
FAA argued that the country cannot afford to wait for a well-studied reform at Mepa without adopting interim measures, as more highly damaging permits are meanwhile being issued.
While it is not against development, FAA highlighted the fact that a number of measures can be taken on board almost immediately and independently of Mepa reform to ensure that development is sustainable.
This was reflected in FAA's stand on the need for a review of the local plans. There is no reason why the review should not begin immediately, it held. The process would be manageable if targeted at specific, limited areas where mistakes made in the past affected the community.
Among other measures that could be adopted straight away, FAA listed a greater use of strategic environment assessments which would provide informed guidelines for sustainable development.
FAA said there was complete agreement among all present on the need for a procedure to dismiss immediately applications that violate Mepa regulations on heritage and Out of Development Zone protection, along with the reversal of policies that encourage inappropriate building in the countryside.
The environment group also insisted on the need for a speedy revision of the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, saying it is essential to rescale and render them effective given the island's small size.
Local priorities need to be addressed with greater emphasis on Social Impact Assessments. The drawing up of the register of EIA consultants is 15 years overdue and will hopefully be addressed without further delay.
In spite of the fact that the Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations came into force in January last year, the Building Regulations Department has done little to enforce them, FAA claimed.
It described as outrageous the fact that Mepa continues to issue permits, especially for mega-projects, which do not comply with this EU directive, with no concern for the damaging implications to both health and the economy.
FAA also underscored the dire situation the Mepa auditor is in, urging the Prime Minister to provide him with an assistant who is well-versed in planning regulations and is familiar with the loopholes and the legal implications, so that the auditor can once again start to function as an effective watchdog.
It called for an investigation into the issue of an outline development permit for the construction of semi-detached villas outside the development zone in Safi and the demolition of a group of townhouses within the Sliema urban conservation area.
FAA called once more for financial assistance to owners of scheduled properties and for the long-overdue activation of the Heritage Fund.