The Planning Authority’s failure to revise a controversial fuel stations policy is unacceptable, a group of 11 NGOs said on Tuesday.  

The groups also hit out at comments indicating that, when revised, the new policy might still allow fuel stations to take up large tracts of ODZ land.

The lengthy 2015 Fuel Service Stations Policy saga seemed destined to continue, the groups said, as one year and two months had already passed since the review was promised by the authorities and yet the public still had no answer as to why the policy revision had not been seen to.

Read: New petrol stations policy will not apply to pending applications - minister

"It is also disconcerting that Planning Minister Ian Borg stated that, after all, the revised policy might still allow ODZ fuel stations," the statement reads. 

"Despite repeated calls by citizens, NGOs and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to remove the possibility of ODZ fuel stations, the authorities seem to be adamant on maintaining it."

The ERA’s recommendations, which had been requested by the Environment Ministry, had stated that: “ODZ sites shall not be potential candidate sites for new or relocated fuel stations.”

There are currently 14 applications for ODZ fuel stations. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

"We are in agreement with moving fuel stations away from urban centres, but not on ODZ, since alternative, non-greenfield sites can be found," the NGOs said. 

Watch:Damning video shows impact of delay in fuel station policy review

The statement added that the current policy allowed for the development of both new and relocated fuel stations on up to 3,000 square meters of agricultural and natural land designated as ODZ.

Fourteen applications for ODZ fuel stations were being reviewed by the PA, with four having already been accepted and the others still being processed, covering a total area equal to five times the Floriana Granaries.

Additionally, the two applications for ODZ fuel stations withdrawn on February 26 by the applicants may be re-submitted at a later stage, the statement said.

"In fact, as this review continues to extend beyond any reasonable deadline, applications for such projects continue to be submitted, jeopardising the country’s rapidly-decreasing ODZ land," the NGOs warned. 

"We strongly believe that every passing day is crucial to the safeguarding of our islands from predatory commercial interests that seek to exploit natural and agricultural land for their own profit, and that the current fuel stations policy is extremely detrimental. A revised fuel stations policy, one which prohibits ODZ fuel stations, needs to be implemented at once."

The statement was signed by Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Nature Trust Malta, Futur Ambjent Wieħed, Bicycle Advocacy Group, Isles of the Left, Ramblers Association, Birdlife Malta and Żminijietna.