MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg this evening said that he could not exclude the possible development of a yacht marina at Zonqor Point – the site identified by MEPA for the American University of Malta project – if the Local Plans remained unchanged. As such, he could also not exclude that the building height could increase to a maximum of ten stories as a result.

Mr Buttigieg was being quizzed in another meeting of the Parliamentary Environment Committee, chaired by PL MP Marlene Farrugia, who had strongly objected to the use of ODZ land for the project. 

The MEPA CEO also confirmed that the Sadeen group had not yet applied for the project and, as such, no Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out so far. He also explained that the choice of Zonqor and Dock 1 were not really final.

Mr Buttigieg was asked to explain why the government opted for the Zonqor and Cospicua sites when the site selection report had identified other suitable sites, including a 29,000 site in Tarxien.

Mr Buttigieg said the shortlisted sites were assessed on ecological and archaeological basis. At this stage this was a desktop study. After the site was chosen experts would come in and could decide that the site was not suitable after all.

John Cauchi from Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar said he saw no logical progression between the site selection report and the final choice. He said Fort St Rocco could be a good candidate site, especially when combined with nearby sites. Dock no 1 has less than half of the area then Forti Saint Rocco.

He described the whole exercise as “trying to put lipstick on a pit-bull.”

Mr Buttigieg said the Zonqor site near the swimming pool contained no agricultural land as it was too close to the sea. Building in Fort St Rocco would have had too great an impact on the fort and surroundings.

He also said MEPA was told that the developer would not consider using more than three sites.

The EIA, he said, will be taking the chosen sites as well as other shortlisted sites into consideration.

John Portelli, from the Malta Organic Agricultural Movement, labelled the study as a ‘convenience report’ made to justify the decision already taken. A bigger effort could have been made to find a site that was not ODZ.

Din l-Art Helwa President Maria Grazia Cassar said ODZ land should not be used for any reason. It was incorrect for sites to be chosen before the EIA was carried out.

AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola said the site selection report had identified a 29,000sqm site in Tarxien which was deemed as suitable for consideration. There were no planning, environmental, social or access restrictions. So why was the government insisting on building in Zonqor? “Is it because the agreement includes the possibility of a marina? Is it because there is a clause that allows the building of some ten floors? That is why the contract should be published.”

Colette Sciberras from Front Harsien ODZ asked if the Tarxien option was discarded because of a lack of sea view. Marlene Farrugia added that the impression people were given was that the agreement would fall through if Zonqor was not the selected site.

The MEPA CEO said he was not involved in the Heads of Agreement and did not know what its contents were. He insisted he had not been bound by any contractual obligations.

Replying to questions by PN MP Anthony Bezzina, Mr Buttigieg said no particular criteria had been set by the government apart from the requirement for the site to be on public land and larger than 25,000sqm.

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said all that was being said was being recorded and would l be analysed and considered by the government.

Asked if the government would give assurance that it would not repeat any future processes in the same way as in the AUM saga, Mr Cutajar hesitated, then said this was why this committee existed. He also said he did not know what was in the Heads of Agreement as he could not possibly be involved in all government dealings.

Environment Shadow Minister Marthese Portelli noted that versions kept changing. It was first said that the developer only considered Zonqor as a viable option. Now MEPA was saying that no criteria had been set when it carried out the site selection exercise. She said MEPA was bowing down to the OPM and OPM was bowing down to the developers.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said he had attended the meetings on Smart City, where the structure plan had been changed. The government at the time had also imposed on the planning authority and the NGOs were not consulted. Those who objected to these changes were branded as being anti-investment. On the other hand, the debate on Zonqor was a truly democratic one.

Government whip Godfrey Farrugia said the environment was being respected much more with this compromise, which had struck a balance between the the environment and sustainable development. He described the project as being important and noted that its size had gone down from 20 football pitches to five.

At one point Marlene Farrugia referred to comment made by MDA President Sandro Chetcuti, who urged developers to “make hay while the sun shines.” Dr Farrugia was heard saying that “he” could say what he wanted but “we will be there to protect the environment.”