BirdLife Malta has said that the future of its Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija is “under threat due to wrong development policies that are changing an area of dwellings across the street from the reserve into a massive block of 7-8 storey apartments.”
It stated that “two planning applications were approved in May after ERA did not see the need to object to this process, making it easier for the Planning Authority to give its blessing at planning board meetings.”
However, Birdlife Malta has vowed to fight on and will “challenge these development permits at the Environment & Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) and also in Court.”
In a press conference held on Thursday afternoon in front of one of the sites that was granted a permit, BirdLife Malta officials announced that they will be appealing the PA’s decisions to allow this development that will impact on (i) the reserve’s ecological status as a protected Natura 2000 site that provides the breeding grounds to several bird species and also acts an important stopover for other birds during their migration, (ii) apart from diminishing the educational value provided to thousands of visitors, including school children, yearly.
Simar Nature Reserve is the only site in Malta where species like Common Little Bittern, Common Coot and Little Grebe breed or have bred. The reserve acts as an important stopover for large flocks of herons during migration, BirdLife said.
“All this will become threatened with balconies higher than the trees such herons seek refuge in, and with an agglomeration of people crammed in an area which will bring with it, noise, light and traffic, to mention just a few of the impacts,” commented Mark Gauci, BirdLife Malta’s Head of Land Management.
BirdLife Malta said that it is committed to fight this all the way, challenging these development permits at the Environment & Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) and also in Court.
This action has the support of all ENGOs that participated – Friends of the Earth Malta, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Ramblers Association of Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust-FEE Malta, Ghawdix and Moviment Graffitti – along with thousands of people, in the XEBBAJTUNA! national protest held in Valletta on 27th May.
The requests of the environmental organisations will be discussed at a meeting with the Prime Minister on the 23rd of June.
Photo montage: Simar before and after