Nine of Malta’s largest ENGOs have responded to recent statements by Gozo and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri relating to a down scaling of the amendments to the Development Planning Act.

The ENGOs emphasised that every provision in the amendments to the Development Planning Act “has the aim of eliminating an existing environmental protection.”

They argued that “none of the provisions are meant to protect the environment, and no safeguards are present to restrict the use of the more expansive and ambiguous provisions. Furthermore the amendments do nothing to approve the quality of our lives, our building or natural environment.”

The ENGOs also noted that the Minister essentially acknowledged that many of the provisions would have led to “unpredicted consequences.”

They insisted that “this is the clear result of the fact that no consultation with environmental organisations was held, and that no studies were carried out to assess the need or impact of these changes.”

“Indeed, it is clear that the intent of the reform was to move from a rules-based system established on policies to a system where everything was to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to accommodate vested or clientelistic interests,” said the ENGOs.

Even taking into consideration the Minister’s comments that “parts of the most egregious elements of the reform will be toned down,” the ENGOs said that the “cannot possibly accept a situation where the remaining provisions remain on the books. Due to the lack of provisions which improve environmental protection, the end result remains a net harm for Malta’s environment.”

The NGOs said that they remain extremely concerned about a number of matters.

The Planning Authority will maintain the ability to rezone areas and increase building heights arbitrarily. The ENGOs highlighted that “in particular the Minister seems to be receiving the wrong advice on the matter as the proposed amendments clearly allow ODZ areas to be turned into development zones.”

They noted that Local Plans, which provide crucial planning and environmental protection constraints, will still lose their standing and be overridden by more recent lower level policies “which allow loopholes in favour of developers.”

Moreover, the ENGOs said that the Planning Board will no longer be considering environmental and sanitary constraints when determining a planning applications.

They also said that new so called “vested rights” will obstruct future Governments from improving environmental protections as circumstances dictate.

“Given the situation, the only decent thing to do is to withdraw the reform and start from scratch. This should include proper consultation with stakeholders, studies showing the need and impact of the proposed solutions, and a strong commitment to improve Malta and Gozo’s environment, instead of fattening the pockets of those who are destroying it,” stated the ENGOs.

Failing this, the ENGOs reiterated that they are “ready to use every democratic means at their disposal to persuade the Government to withdraw this reform.”

The joint statement was signed by:

Ramblers’ Association of Malta

Din l-Art Helwa

BirdLife Malta

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust Malta

Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar

Friends of the Earth Malta

Wirt Ghawdex

Ghawdix.

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