Partit Demokratiku Leader Godfrey Farrugia and MP Marlene Farrugia have written to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee of Environment and Development Planning to discuss and analyze the governance of Malta’s and Gozo’s valleys in the said committee.
In their letter, the two PD MPs said that more needs to be done to protect the country’s valleys.
The letter is in full below:
Dear Hon Alexander Muscat
We refer to the recent Stop and Compliance notices issued by ERA on works carried out in Wied is-Sewda and Wied l-Isqof by Transport Malta’s contractors after a public outcry. It has been noticed that Wied il-Lunzjata is about to suffer same fate.
ERA has confirmed that the works “that have been undertaken have resulted in the destruction of the natural habitat suffered from the laying of construction material on the land which before was colonised by natural vegetation; leading to a physical change of the valley and the water course’s profile.”
We are hereby requesting that the Parliamentary Committee of Environment and Development Planning which you chair examine the governance of Malta’s and Gozo’s valleys management, more so with regards to the circumstances of the surfacing of adjacent country roads.
May we kindly remind you that:
1) Valleys are subject to the EU Water Framework Directive. The local Competent Authority recognised by the EU for surface water in the Maltese Islands is The Energy and Water Agency.
2) Biodiversity management, protection and enforcement is under the responsibility of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) mainly through the EU Habitat Directive, and other International Conventions.
3) Certain valleys are part of, or adjacent to, Natura 2000 sites. This means, according to the EU Habitats Directive, that any works – even outside the boundary of the Natura 2000 site – can have an impact on the Natura 2000 site.
4) The agency Ambjent Malta is also responsible for valley management.
5) The Planning Authority is responsible for the issuing of road resurfacing permits.
Dr Godfrey Farrugia MP PD
Dr Marlene Farrugia MP PD