Turning back the clock on the 2006 rationalisation exercise would "create instability in the market and would be an injustice," Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Thursday, but spoke of balancing it out.

Referring to 2006, Abela said that the PN government at the time had introduced virgin land equivalent to the size of Siggiewi into the development zone. "That created new realities, giving rights to people, children who inherited property on which they can develop. Can we as a government tell them that until yesterday you could develop and from today onwards we tore up that right? I believe we would be creating instability in the market and an injustice."

He said that the government is finding balance, as the Lands Department has land around the country. "For vacant properties that are not built, the choice is clear. Where there is private land, it is private, where there is government land we will make many efforts not to build where it is possible not to build, and instead create projects that would be of benefit for society," he said.

Abela said that they recently launched an initiative regarding properties in development zone prime areas, noting that they were in certain densely developed zones. "Instead we chose the side of the people over development that would bring income." In a number of localities, prime property will instead become green and open spaces, he said.

Abela also spoke of the importance of sustainable development.

During a political activity, Abela also said that when speaking about the environment, one must not fear being courageous. He praised Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg for his fight to save Hondoq ir-Rummien. "Paul had all forces against him. To those who asked us who the establishment is, the establishment were those who, when they ran the country, took a large piece of land and threw it for development. They made one miscalculation, that there was someone whose love for his country and the environment would not permit that atrocity that they wanted to see at Hondoq ir-Rummien," he said.

He said that Buttigieg is a concrete example of how local councils can make a major difference.

He spoke about the government taking a decision to change the local plan in order to never allow development there. "We are currently in the process of putting the stamp on that decision once and for all."

He also referred to Marsascala, and mentioned a planned marina project which the government has said isn't going to happen. "Our political adversaries created many doubts, saying that the election would pass and the government would slowly introduce a new plan from behind their backs for a marina. Since I gave my word to residents (that there won't be a marina) which I sacrosanct, I will keep my word."

He said they started the local plan revision process to ensure that also.

Turning to Bulebel Industrial Estate, Abela said that a process was going to start a few years ago for the estate to expand. He said that a discussion had emerged on whether the country should take a decision in favour of industry but against the environment, as if this industrial estate was to widen, then agricultural land would need to be taken up. "The local plan permitted that expansion, but time has passed, the discussion kept on going. For us the environment is a priority."

"In the 2022 election campaign, we put forward our environmental pledge and today I am in a position to confirm that the local plan that affects the Bulebel Industrial Estate will be modified so that one can ensure there would not be development affecting agricultural land. Agricultural land was and will remain agricultural land."