Seven Environmental NGOs, Ramblers Association, Nature Trust (Malta), Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, the Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Din l-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta) and Birdlife Malta have issued a joint statement regarding the application to MEPA for an electricity substation to be built at Armier.

“For a member of the European Union that prides itself on its sense of democracy and justice to allow prime land to be illegally seized, and subsequently have this occupation blessed by a government desperate for votes on the eve of not one but two elections, is a betrayal of every tax-paying citizen on these Islands.”

“As is very well known, approximately 67,000 sq mt of land at Armier bay is illegally occupied by squatters, who built their “boathouses” on seafront public real estate. There are now approximately 800 illegal households, but if the squatters’ political arm-twisting is successful, this will increase tremendously.”

“As background, an agreement signed with the Nationalist government on the eve of the 2003 election would extend the existing 67,000 square meters to around 231,000 square meters or 230 tumuli of public land which amounts to no less than .08% of Malta’s land surface, against an annual rent of €350,000. The pledge was renewed by the leader of the Nationalist Party just before the 2008 elections, by committing himself to “consult with MEPA” on the pending applications. The squatters’ lobby has also made back-room agreements with the LP just before the last two national elections.”

“In 2004, Armier Developments, the squatters’ company, submitted applications proposing the development of 1,589 rooms, 5 playgrounds and a bowls pitch, a minimarket, 3 restaurants, a two-storey garage, 3 community centres and a clinic in an area spanning Ramlet il-Qortin, Ta’ Macca u l-Armier, the Barriera tal-Ahrax quarry, Little Armier and the Torri l-Abjad zone. Parts of these areas are supposedly protected as Areas of Ecological Importance (Habitat Directive), Special Protection Area (Birds Directive), Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance and Special Area of Conservation – International Importance. “

“The existing squatters have in the past convinced Enemalta to supply electricity to their habitations. This was not enough – they had also convinced Enemalta to apply for a new substation in order to strengthen the supply to their “boathouses”. PA 06521/07 was submitted in 2007. The case officer has, rightly so, recommended refusal, on the basis that this substation would benefit illegal development in the area. To quote, “there is no reason, from a planning point of view, as to why the substation should be permitted, considering how the proposed structure is aimed at providing services to beach rooms that are used as illegal holiday homes proposed to be demolished through the Structure Plan policies.”

“The Planning Directorate is therefore advising the MEPA board to turn down this application. The respective board is due to decide on the application in a meeting scheduled for 6th January 2012. Seven environmental NGOs, namely Ramblers Association of Malta, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Din L-Art Helwa, Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta and Birdlife Malta are strongly urging the board to refuse this application. Approving such an application would simply encourage more of the building abuse that MEPA claims it is trying to stamp out. As such, an approval of this application would go down in the annals of our history as one of the most irresponsible, illegal and unjust precedents that MEPA has ever set,” the statement concluded.

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