Speculators are trying to build projects on ODZ land because they know that the government will give them land there “on the cheap”, according to PN deputy leader Mario de Marco.
As part of its pre-Budget proposals, the Opposition has suggested raising the value of outside development zone land to equal that of land in prime development zones.
The proposal was slammed by the government, which argued that the only real effect would be to increase the value of ODZ land, a move that would solely benefit property speculation.
The PN believes that ODZ can be developed “as long as it is given the same price as prime development zones”, a government spokesman had told this newspaper.
This government is determined to override existing safeguards
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Dr de Marco said, arguing that the proposal was being made precisely to further protect ODZ land by providing an additional financial deterrent over and above existing safeguards.
“The sad reality is that this government is determined to override existing environmental safeguards by adopting a ‘development at all costs’ policy and speculators are seeking to develop their projects in ODZ land because they know that the government will give them land there on the cheap.”
The proposal, Dr de Marco added, should obviously not apply to non-speculative uses of ODZ land such as agriculture.
If environmental considerations were not putting off speculators from using ODZ land because they knew that the government would waiver them, they would hopefully think twice before attempting to speculate on ODZ land if its value was at least equal to development zones, Dr de Marco said. This would remove the temptation for any government to give out such land for free.
The fact remained that government was giving up 180 tumoli of ODZ land in Żonqor Point for speculation, he continued. A representative of the Sadeen Group had confirmed that, had government asked the developer to pay a commercial price for the ODZ land, the viability of the project would have been compromised.
This line of reasoning, this way of devaluing ODZ land, was “unacceptable”, Dr de Marco said.
The PN welcomed the comments made by environmental NGOs, who warned that while the proposal might slow down development, ODZ land was ultimately priceless and should not be touched.
In the coming days, the PN will be holding consultation meetings with various organisations, including environmental NGOs, to seek their views on the ‘Sustainable Growth and Dignity for All’ document, Dr de Marco said.