There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Maltese islands are becoming an increasingly overcrowded country where manifold needs and interests compete for the extremely limited resources that our tiny country offers. It is a fact that over 400,000 residents must welcome more than a million tourists who visit annually. All this and much, much more, have left an indelible blot on our landscape. Our few precious patches of open space and our "countryside" have been under siege from many acts of maladministration, an uncontrollable building frenzy and a nationalistic penchant to convert anything into some form of commercial value added.

It has taken us the best of 50 years to get our act together in conceiving, facilitating and implementing some form of coherent planning policy. For too long, long-term challenges were discarded and taken over by short-term, often undercooked, remedies in the field of planning. Indeed most of the ravages inflicted on our environment are now clearly irreversible. A shame of a legacy that we have wrought on future generations in this sector!

During the 2008-2013 legislature the Nationalist government made solid and concrete attempts to put a stop to our construction madness and instil some real discipline in the jungle called planning. The main driver behind the Gonzi plan was more discipline, clearer planning controls and a more sensitive approach to sanctioning the use of the remaining open spaces we enjoy. In a way it gave our environment some form of breathing space after decades of unrestricted construction and development. Unfortunately, this approach, anathema for some, did not go down so well. Something had to be done!

Joseph Muscat's new government quickly ushered a new regime in all things planned. Prime Minister Muscat has spelt this out quite clearly in selected circles, indeed even prior to the last election. This government is intent on reversing those acts and good intentions patiently built during the last legislation and it is evident that our environment is in for a fresh round of construction assault.

There are many controversial decisions taken in these last two years that have irked not only avid environmentalists but the population at large. The imminent changes in the development zones, the new approach to ODZ's and the upcoming illegal building amnesty coupled with the excessive addition of storeys on selected sites are just a few. The upcoming gigantic Xemxija development and the Sliema and Mriehel developments also come to mind.

If these were not enough just a few months ago Silvio Parnis, Labour Deputy and Commissioner for the South regaled us with another vision for our beleaguered environment. As if the environment in the South has not had enough of its fair share of "development", Mr Parnis unabashedly proposed that the unspoilt coastal tract separating Xaghjra from Marsascala should be put "to good use". He said that government should seriously consider giving this land to "il-privat" for the construction of hotels, tourist facilities and respective beach concessions. In that way, according to Parnis, the South will benefit from Malta's economic miracle which apparently kicked off two years ago!

Needles to say this proposal shocked many. The irony of the proposal goes beyond the environmental. The building of more hotels in the area puts short shrift to the fact that only a few hundreds of metres away lies one of Malta's better known hotels abandoned by its owners and apparently unwanted by anyone and everyone!

As is the style of this government there was no initial reaction to this proposal. No confirmation and certainly no denial. The silence and the cosy relations with the larger developers bodes very little to the survival of this coastal area. I must also admit that in the recent weeks this proposal has been taken out of view possibly because of the upcoming local elections.

 

Throughout this legislature, Muscat has been cagey on many issues not least that of the environment. There is no doubt that he has abandoned his pre-electoral pledges that the planning zones were sacrosanct and were not to be changed. All the solemn pledges on this and many other sensitive issues were unceremoniously ditched after the election.

Malta is once again at the crossroads in terms of planning. The uncertain style and approximate attitude adopted by government and implemented by its agencies unfortunately do not augur well for the future of Malta's remaining open spaces.

 

The author is a PN local councillor in Santa Lucija

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