Over 1,000 people have objected to ”outrageous” proposed ODZ development in Gharb. Moviment Graffitti has said that the ”volume of objections is a clear indication of residents’ anger at such projects.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the pressure group said that over 1,000 Gozitan and Maltese residents have objected to an application to change the zoning of 5,387 sqm of agricultural land that is currently designated as ODZ to a residential development zone in Gharb.

Local residents, the Gharb Local Council and Din l-Art Helwa, have all raised objections to the application.

Moviment Graffitti argued that ”this application is a total non-starter due to its outrageous re-zoning of ODZ land to residential development request, not to mention the flagrant disregard for a number of planning and development laws.”

It also pointed out that ”if given the green light, the application would set a very ugly precedent and pave the way for further devastation of the Gozitan landscape and rural setting, spelling disaster for Gharb and other quaint Gozitan villages.”

”The Birbuba area in Gharb serves as a green enclave and a much-needed open space, offering a respite from the uglification that has come to taint our landscape. Besides being prized for its tranquil, quaint setting and rural authenticity, the land is also used for agricultural purposes,” the pressure group said.

It stressed that ”the rezoning and eventual urbanisation would spell disaster for the agricultural community, since it would facilitate the further loss and take-up of agricultural land for residential development, sealing the fate of the local agricultural industry.”

”The rezoning of land Outside Development Zone to residential development is clearly prohibited by the laws of Malta and runs counter to a number of planning policies, meaning that the application’s request is technically unlawful,” it said.

Nothing can ever justify the change in zoning from ODZ to residential development. ”The Planning Authority is therefore bound to refuse the application on these grounds, and we are retaining the authorities directly responsible for breach of law if their decision is in favour,” the group said.

The application goes one step further, and besides the rezoning of ODZ request, it even proposes a new road.

It stated that, ”presently, given the fact that traffic is very minimal, there is absolutely no evidence that the new proposed access road is required to alleviate traffic problems, nor is there any evidence that this land is required to support current or foreseeable future housing needs.”

The purpose of the road would be to facilitate access to any eventual residential development and cater for new traffic in the area that would result from such a development. ”If anything, this only serves as confirmation that the application is only fuelled by the greed and private interests of some developers,” Moviment Graffitti said.

Applications such as this are ”clear evidence of the impunity enjoyed by certain developers, who will go to all lengths to satiate their insatiable greed,” it said.

The pressure group also argued that, ”obscene rezoning and development applications such as this are becoming the norm due to the systemic dysfunction of the planning system.”

”The planning system has intentionally been designed to serve the needs of developers, with the result that it totally disregards the needs of the people whose quality of life keeps on deteriorating.”

The Gharb Local Council has also voted unanimously against the application, stating that “the residents and the locality have always been the first priority above everything else ensuring that the health and peaceful life of the residents, including the tranquillity, beauty and clean area is enjoyed in the locality.”

Moviment Graffitti urged the Planning Authority to take due consideration of the Local Council’s position and heed the call of over 1,000 concerned citizens who have objected to this application and demanded its outright refusal.

All residents across Gozo ”are tired of the pollution, noise, chaos and environmental destruction that unbridled development has brought in every town and village,” it said.

Moviment Graffitti concluded that, ”we retain that authorities and politicians must shoulder their responsibility and take immediate action to safeguard our country from this incessant environmental destruction, so that we can truly say that this is the Malta we want for our children.”

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