Commenting on government plans to extend the boundaries of existing development zones, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said the extension of development boundaries being proposed by government must be fully justified in every detail.

“Malta is already Europe’s most overdeveloped country and any change for the worse must be explained. The consultation period is far too short for a proposal of this magnitude. The whole country is a stakeholder and should be afforded ample opportunity to comment on changes that will change the Maltese landscape for all time,” Dr Vassallo said.

“The proposal comes like a bolt from the blue and in anticipation of the results of the publication of the 2005 Census, which will provide full data on housing vacancy and availability. No such details have been published in the Census summary made available so far,” Dr Vassallo continued.

“Any proposal to extend development zone boundaries should be weighed in the balance against the electoral relaxation of height limitations granted prior to the 2003 election. Malta has become an eternal building site for electoral reasons and no government seems capable of halting the inexorable destruction of the Maltese landscape. The country is ungovernable,” Dr Vassallo asserted.

“The publication of two sets of maps showing applications made for extension and the actual extensions approved by Cabinet have caused confusion, alarm and underestimates the actual damage proposed,” Dr Vassallo said. “The public is being invited to breathe a sigh of relief on realising that matters could have been far worse than what is being proposed. It is an old but still effective political tactic first advocated by Macchiavelli himself,” Dr Vassallo stated.

“Most of the applications filed are patently outrageous and fall completely outside the development zones and were known to be a hopeless gamble by the applicants concerned. They have been published simply for spin purposes,” he added.

“NGOs and civil society organisations, already swamped in dealing with the vast amount of planning applications all over the country, now have to deal with many dozens of separate issues all at once. This is not a single development proposal but a huge variety stretching the capacities of all stakeholders. The consultation period must be significantly extended if it is to be worthy of the name,” Dr Vassallo said.

“Not all people have access to the Internet and hardcopy plans must be made available to the public and a series of consultation meetings organised by MEPA,” Dr Vassallo added.

“Rather than comment immediately on the specific issues raised in the extension proposal, the Green Party’s Environment Committee has undertaken to file its submissions in the greatest possible detail to MEPA and will be contacting residents in the affected zones to make them aware of what is being proposed,” Dr Vassallo said.

“The Green Party has set up a special task force to deal with enquiries from the public and to coordinate action with NGOs. Its secretariat is available until 31 May during office hours on 2131 4037 and 2131 4039 as well as by e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected] and by mail at 10, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema or Alternattiva Demokratika – Ghawdex, PO Box 6, Victoria, Gozo and through our websites www.alternattiva.org.mt and www.adgozo.com ,” Dr Vassallo said.

“The country has never faced such a massive threat to its environment since 1988 when the Temporary Provision Schemes were established: arable fields, garigue areas, untouched valleys and urban landscapes are all being threatened simultaneously. Those who fail to take an interest in the matter will be asked by their children where they were and what they did about it when this additional destruction took place,” Dr Vassallo concluded.