Local councils should unite against plans for a racetrack which could be built on land outside the development zone, Front Ħarsien ODZ said yesterday.
In a statement, the front urged councils where ODZ land may be earmarked for the development of a racetrack to express themselves against it.
The development of a racetrack for motorsports was listed as an electoral pledge by both major parties prior to the last general election. The government launched a call for expressions of interest to build the track earlier this week.
Sports Parliamentary Secretary Chris Aguis told the Times of Malta he would not exclude a new track being developed outside of construction boundaries.
Referring to the project as an “educational and recreational motorsports park”, Mr Aguis stressed that this would have a strong training purpose. One of the only ways projects can be built on ODZ land is if they are deemed to be educational. Asked whether the government would prefer commissioned real estate (plots already developed) over untouched land, Mr Agius said: “Proposals will have to respect the laws of Malta, especially environmental laws.”
The preferred sites were not announced, however, this newspaper is informed that Siġġiewi is among the localities being considered.
The Siġġiewi council came out against the development of the racetrack on an ODZ site known as San Niklaw, close to the Dar tal-Providenza.
In a statement the council said that it had held a meeting to discuss the possibility of a track being built in the town, and was firmly against it. The front was quick to express its support for the council.
“We are against any development on any non-committed ODZ site irrespective of the location proposed and we reiterate our call on the government to exclude any proposals on undeveloped ODZ land,” the front said.
It reiterated its stance that a call for expressions of interest should not have been issued in the absence of studies on the environmental sustainability of such a huge project - the size of 100 football pitches - on a small island like Malta.
“If the government remains obstinate in issuing this call, all documents related to this call for expressions should be published in full to ensure maximum transparency,” it said.