1 comment.Simar Nature Reserve under threat again from another apartment block
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Simar Nature Reserve is under threat again, as BirdLife Malta notes that “yet another bungalow is proposed to become a 7-storey apartment block.”
In a statement on Friday, BirdLife revealed that a new application proposing to transform a bungalow at Triq il-Pwales in Xemxija into a seven-storey block of apartments in front of Simar Nature Reserve has been filed, with the decision due in October.
It said that this comes just a couple of weeks of after it had held a press conference in relation to the insensitive approval of two other planning applications of a similar nature.
BirdLife Malta had issued a photomontage showing what the area at Triq il-Pwales risks transforming into, if planning policies allowing two-storey dwellings to become 7-8 storey apartment blocks are given the go-ahead by the Planning Authority.
BirdLife explained that the new proposal, (PA/03475/23) filed by Innovative Design Architects, “masks the development as a simple addition of floors and modifications to a maisonette, however plans easily available online on the Planning Authority’s website show that this shall continue the mass transformation of bungalows into apartment blocks, a stone’s throw away from Simar, which was essentially portrayed in the photomontage.”
Noting ERA not having filed a position on the matter, BirdLife Malta said it wrote to ERA’s CEO Kevin Mercieca last month, specifically asking the environment authority to make its position known on the proposed development and to essentially safeguard the nature reserve which forms part of Malta’s Natura 2000 network.
ERA’s response, which was filed yesterday, “has simply insisted on light pollution concerns once the building is developed, failing to address other potential impacts including those during construction since the area is committed to development,” said BirdLife.
“Here again just weeks after we highlighted the issue publicly, we are seeing the realisation of what we initially feared. It is discouraging to see a nature reserve being subjected to such an intensification of development next door, with not much hope elicited from the responsible authorities in making the situation right,” commented BirdLife Malta’s Head of Land Management Mark Gauci.
The representation period for the proposed development expires on 14th July and objectors are encouraged by BirdLife Malta to please file their concerns via the Planning Authority’s website via this link.
BirdLife Malta said that it has in the meantime filed its objection to the development, raising concerns on the impacts the proposed development shall exert on the reserve during its construction and operational phases, threatening both the ecological and educational value of the protected wetland.
Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta’s Head of Conservation stated, “we will object to this and other developments that threaten what is essentially our natural heritage being taken away at the expense of money- making initiatives. ERA is succumbing to seeing this area developed just because it is anyway in a development zone. ”
He argued that “instead of acting on the issue, a planning application at a time, ERA is simply taking a back seat and letting this happen.”
Gozo has and enjoys 3 Ministers, 3 Members of Parliament and 1 European M.P. So we have enough Representatives to make headway in our local politics.
Therefore I do question “What is really their official position on this Ruthless and Complete Destruction of our Countryside and Way of Tranquil Life?” Are all of them adopting the famous policy of “Hear No Evil – See No Evil – Keeping Your Mouth Shut?”
Gozo is being eroded and destroyed. The peaceful Islands, it’s structural lovely buildings and Tranquillity, are now a thing of past yesteryear’s.
The Greed is taking over our way of Life.
The Seaside pavements are all now being taking over by Restaurant Tables and Chairs. Wooden Benches in front of the Sea for Citizens to rest upon were taken away to make room for yet more Tables and Chairs.
Xlendi & Marsalforn has now became “Jungles of Flats and Restaurants and Shops.”
It’s simply Madness and our Representatives should – Must and Have an Obligation to protect Gozo Citizens Way of Life.