In a joint statement by six organisations on Thursday, they said that together with themselves, over a hundred individuals have filed a collective action for the revocation of the permit for the infamous “sheep farm” in the previously pristine Hzejjen valley in Bidnija.
This action was made possible thanks to the numerous contributions by the public to a crowdfunding campaign by Moviment Graffitti, where it said the necessary amount needed for the institution of legal actions against this “travesty” was reached within a few days.
The NGOs said that since this planning application (PA/07946/18) was accepted in 2019, environmental organisations, the media and the general public have been chronicling the construction of this massive structure in the middle of an entirely rural Outside Development Zone (ODZ), featuring ecologically important freshwater habitats.
“Many were left baffled at how a two-storey structure, with reception areas and a swimming pool on its roof, was approved by the Planning Authority (PA) on the pretext of it being a sheep farm,” the NGOs added.
The NGOs insisted that “it is clear that this permit was granted under false pretences. The PA’s case officer conveniently omitted to mention those policies which clearly and unequivocally state that there can be no development in such sensitive sites.” “They went on to say that there are “other suspicious omissions and discrepancies evident in the granting of this permit for development. This is not a genuine sheep farm but a pretext for building a commercial hotel in a protected valley, as has been proven by the subsequent application (PA/5895/22) asking for this structure to be transformed into a retail outlet with guest rooms.”
“We will not stand by while the PA treats the public with disdain and allows the destruction of the natural environment,” The NGOs stated.
The NGOs are: Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta, Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYA) Foundation, Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) and Din l-Art Helwa.
Photo by Julian Delia