Gozo News

Several residents’ associations jointly called on the government on Sunday to review existing plans and policies to take into account the realities currently facing residents.

At a press conference in Zurrig — the first of its kind organised by a residents’ group — they called for an immediate moratorium on construction in all rationalised areas and a freeze on pending applications until a new update study is conducted.

“We can no longer rely on a plan drawn up in 2006 that effectively allows large tracts of rural, and sometimes public, land to be taken for construction nearly two decades later,” the groups said in a statement. “Rationalisation has had a disastrous effect on our region, with buffer zones between towns destroyed and agricultural and parkland lost. This only benefits land speculators.”

Speakers from across the regions agreed that any rewrite of planning laws should prioritise the needs of the residents of Malta and Gozo and should be grounded in today’s realities.

They also heavily criticised the proposed amendments to the DC15 policy, which would allow the construction of additional storeys in many areas of Malta, flying in the face of calls from the public and civil society to reduce construction activity.

The association argued that “there are provisions in existing local plans that should be respected, but planning policies and guidelines – often produced in secret – have a negative impact on the interpretation of these plans and bypassed previously established strategic planning processes.

They added: “The blame lies with the authorities and their decision-makers who deliberately misinterpret local plans and secondary policies to support more construction.”

Residents from Zurrig, Grundi, Safi, Siggiewi, Marsaskala, Zeytun and Birzebbuga spoke of how local planning had a profound impact on their local area, creating a range of challenges, making residents feel isolated and frustrated, and negatively affecting their quality of life.

The meeting was introduced by Matthew Borg, treasurer of the activist group Il-Collettiv, and addressed by Justin Attard (Ghaqda Residenti taz-Zurrieq), architect Jorge Spiteri (Residenti Hal Safin), Adriana Cassar Camilleri (Residenti tal-Qrendi), architect Ruben Abela (Wirt iz-Zejtun), Jacqueline Rotin (Marsaskala Residents Network), Andre Schembri (Birzebbuga Historical and Cultural Association) and Russell Attard (Siggiwin Take Action).

Abela, an architect who worked as an Environmental Protection Agency official during the drafting of the local plan, said the work done by professionals in 2006 was destroyed by political interference.

He said the PA had lost a lot of power as a result and that local plans could not be amended without political support. In Zeytun, a promise to revise the local plan never materialized. Abela warned that the DC2015 policy “was misunderstood and will lead to an increase in floors.”

Architect Jorge Spiteri, also a former Palestinian Authority official, said local plans are usually revised every ten years, but this one has been in effect since 2006.

He cited examples of misleading applications from large developers to sneak in consent, such as the practice of breaking up large developments into piecemeal applications, and called for a moratorium on new applications in anticipation of upcoming policy changes to discourage speculative planning applications.

Justin Attard of Ghaqda Residenti ta-Zurrieq said that since the association was formed a year ago with the purpose of opposing Nigret’s rezoning application, its members began to discover the true extent of the damage caused by the local plan and its rationalization actions. This speculative behavior has caused untold troubles to residents, especially in Nigret and tal-Bebbux.

Attard warned that if the rationalised area around Zurrig was fully built up, the town would lose its character forever.

Jacqueline Rotting, a representative of the Marsaskala Residents’ Network, said regulations were needed to ensure construction did not damage the quality of life of residents and the town. She said the Marsaskala local plan was uglier and said the MRN was putting pressure on the local plan to be changed. This has resulted in no marina being built in Marsaskala.

Citing a survey by the association, Rotin said residents found life in Marsaskala stressful and most believed the bay should be protected and built in a sustainable way. She called for residents to be consulted on issues that affect them.

Russell Attard of Siggiwin Niehdu Azzjoni said building regulations were causing Siggiwi to become uglier. He opposed large projects to build hundreds of apartments in the town, which would contrast with the surroundings.

Attard said wealth can be inherited, but so can loss. In closing, he called on residents to unite and work together, transcending party politics.

Andre Schembri, secretary of the Birzebuga Historical and Cultural Heritage Committee, said that the lack of planning has led to an increase in local population density, affecting transportation, parking and other issues.

He called for a revision of the local plan for the Halfar industrial area, where the expansion of the industrial estate, including Wied Znuber, threatens undeveloped land. He also lamented the lack of open space in the town.

Residents groups from Marsa, Swatal, Sliema, Imgaba and Marsaxlokk also attended the press conference. The decision was also supported by Valletta residents and the NGO Din l-Art Helwa, which is campaigning against the DC15 policy amendment.

The groups will make a series of requests for planning reviews in the coming weeks and call on the authority to consult them on decisions that directly affect residents’ associations.

Photo: Collective