Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, in a statement said that it applauds the Government’s decision to suspend bird hunting as a result of the recent killing of protected birds. “Regrettably it has to be said that a large sector of the Maltese population still regards Malta’s finite natural resources as a resource to be exploited, irrespective of laws and regulations.”
FAA added, “on the light of this, Government’s recent decision to allow more building in the countryside seems guaranteed to open the floodgates to more abuse. Some years ago, the highest authorities had admitted that MEPA’s farms and stables policy had been serious mistake which generated more buildings and abuse in the countryside, and pledged to rescind it.”
“Not only has this pledge not been honoured, but the new policy extends the permissible structures far wider than stables; agro-tourism accommodation is the focus of public attention however it is the tip of the iceberg as the policy also allows ’boutique wineries,’ olive oil production, beekeeping and honey processing, farm shops, visitor attractions, farm dwellings beyond agricultural buildings as well as stables.”
FAA stated, “he negative impact will be multiplied by the increase in roads which will have to be built or widened, as well as car parks, with the consequent increase in traffic in the countryside.”
“As usual, this new policy is not accompanied by any studies which prove that such structures are justified by a real demand. Scheduled locations , ie. Sites of Archaeological importance, Areas of Ecological Importance/Sites of Scientific Importance have not been ruled out,” FAA said.
The NGO said that it is in favour of support to genuine farmers, but the introduction of “farmer-entrepreneur” partnerships “confirms that the aim of this policy is not just to support the agricultural sector as claimed, as developers will be permitted to rent agricultural holdings from farmers in order to reach the required size of site.”
Furthermore, FAA said it is taken aback to see that instead of encouraging the re-use of old buildings, “the floor space allowed for newly-built accommodation – 400m2 is twice that of converted old buildings!”
“Claiming that entrepreneurs are to be bound by contractual obligations is no reassurance in Malta, where MEPA has a backlog of some 7,000 cases of abuse which are increasing daily, with no real commitment to tackle them. This encourages more abuse, as do the amnesties that have been issued at regular intervals – indeed the policy regulating Out of Development Zones (ODZ) and rural developments has decreed that illegal structures built in the countryside before 1994 can now be regularised.”
“This is an insult to honest residents who obey the law, only to see others profiting from illegalities. This week’s resignation of Joe Bugeja, Commissioner for Land since 2012, does not bode well for stamping out of abuse on public land, especially as regards the Armier and similar cases,” FAA said.
“Since this policy cannot be properly enforced, it becomes yet another means to continue the cementification of our islands at the expense of the countryside which is essential to residents’ recreation, physical and mental health,” FAA concluded.