How ridiculous we are as a nation. NGOs and ordinary people have to defend our natural, cultural and archeological heritage from the Planning Authority. This should be their role.
I think that the Planning Authority is a failed institution. It is not an authority since it does not seem to be independent. Many developments like batching plants and sites to park construction machinery sprout up everywhere without a permit and the Planning Authority is unable or unwilling to stop them or to reverse the ruining of our natural environment.
How can one explain the massive development that took place under the Nationalist government at Ħal Sagħtrija in Żebbuġ, Gozo? This took place below the ridge of Żebbuġ and sprawled down it. I am against the development at the square of the same village and join in the chorus of disapproval. However for me what happened at Ħal Sagħtrija is much worse and ruined the rural landscape overlooking Wied l-Għasri.
How can one explain the issuing of permit number PA00268/15? The application mentioned the maintenance of a reservoir, when in fact enforcement officers found no reservoir.
What environmentalist Alan Deidun wrote about this is interesting and illuminating: “The end result of the obscene permit granted at the Siġġiewi site is that a former field has been roofed over and soil cover has been lost, under the presumption that an existing reservoir was being restored, when in actual fact there was no such reservoir, according to enforcement. The applicant is left with a terrace with a great view of the Salib ta’ l-Għolja promontory. Furthermore, the applicant has connected the property to the sewerage system, raising more than an eyebrow about the real motive behind the development.”
To add insult to injury, the architect of the applicant is no more than the government’s consultant on the reform of the Planning Authority.
The Nationalist Party is also not consistent in defending our natural heritage. Although it campaigned against the use of land at Żonqor Point it came out in favour of a racetrack which will gobble up 716 tumoli of land, 50 times more what is to be used at Żonqor Point. I think we should shy away from massive projects like these (race tracks and golf courses) which gobble up massive pieces of land in ODZ.
I sincerely hope that the Planning Authority will see that the following is enforced, “The building shall not be used for habitation and recreational purposes” when granting full development permission in PA00632/17. This involves a pre-1967 rural structure perched on a cliff overlooking Rdum il-Ħawt in Nadur.
Where there is fodder rats are sure to find a way in and likewise where there is money, corruption is sure to thrive. So it is important to have clear laws with no loopholes. Developers have the best technical people working for them such as architects and lawyers. The Planning Authority should be on the side of the natural environment.