Nature Trust (Malta) has presented detailed proposals to the Prime Minister on reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa).

The NGO said its proposals cover three main areas – the overall structure of MEPA, the Boards and the Reporting structure.

“ The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, has over the years become a very bureaucratic organisation. Development and nature conservation applications at times are taking far too long to be decided. Furthermore in cases where it is evident that there should be an outright refusal such cases are also entering into a long process of reports making it an expensive and uneconomic process for the application and time consuming for objectors,” Nature Trust said.

It said the authority was too biased towards development rather than environmental protection, with over 310employees to development and only around 90 on nature protection.

“Nature Trust is recommending that no ODZ permits should be issued, unless for existing dwellings (extensions or repairs), agricultural facilities etc - all other ODZ applications should be dismissed at source – outright refusal,” it said.

It also felt that the membership of Mepa boards should reflect the balance of development and the environment and the boards should be more transparent.

“Due to past mistakes it is clear that a mechanism should be in place for permits to be revoked,” Nature Trust said, adding that recommendations by case officers should have a higher weight and taken into consideration.

The NGO urged Dr Gonzi to start the reform process as soon as possible and halt decisions on large projects having an impact on the environment until the process was concluded.

Picture: Applications for building outside development zones should be refused outright, Nature Trust said.