The Nationalist Party has given further details on its ODZ protection proposal, which it says starts with the creation of a ‘holistic rural plan’.

It is changes to said rural plan that would require a 2/3rds Parliamentary majority approval, not individual planning applications, the party said.

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech had said, when the proposal was originally announced on 14 September, that “I, and a government led by me, would ensure that Outside Development Zones will be protected and would need a 2/3rds majority vote in Parliament to be touched. They would only be touched for community needs, like if there is need for a school, a hospital, or something of benefit for the general public.”

The proposal raised some concerns and caused confusion as to whether this would mean that every planning application on ODZ land would end up having to go through Parliament. One must keep in mind that applications on ODZ land do not all have to do with the construction of hotels, apartments, houses and the like. Many applications relate to farming, for instance, or the creation of rubble walls. More details as to how it would work were needed.

This newsroom sent questions to the Nationalist Party, seeking answers and more information about their proposal.

In response, the PN said that the starting point for preserving Malta’s remaining rural areas would be to set out a vision for Malta’s unbuilt area via a holistic rural plan, which will give new classifications to the land and the type of development allowed. “This would be done following widespread consultation with all stakeholders.”

“The Rural Plan would ensure that ODZ land is protected from speculative development, that agricultural land is protected for agricultural use, and that the development needs of even Natura 2000 sites – such as a ranger’s shed – are all taken into consideration.”

The party said that genuine developments will continue to be allowed and permitted by the Planning Authority (like rubble walls, country roads, reservoirs, agricultural structures, etc), but projects like those of Sadeen in Żonqor will not. “Such developments would require a change in the rural plan, which will require two-thirds majority support in Parliament. So it is the change in plan that needs to go to Parliament, not the planning application itself.”

“This will ensure that extensive rural land is only used in truly exceptional circumstances of national importance agreed to by both government and opposition.”

“In this way, the PN is making it clear that we refuse ‘more of the same’ politics. We are not saying one thing, to do another. We are not asking Labour to bind itself in a way PN won’t. We are showing, through facts, how we can tie even our own hands once in government.”

The PN mentioned that it had withdrawn from the Planning Authority due to the “excessive political influence by the Labour government, rendering as yet another institution an extended arm of the politicians, rather than serving its intended purpose, that of ensuring that development and planning in Malta ought to respect existing legislation. Our commitment to ensure that changes to the new Rural Plan require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, is not in conflict with this decision.​”

The PN expressed its concern over the current development taking place. The PN said that it, “like the vast majority of the Maltese and Gozitan people, is deeply concerned by the rapid construction activity that Malta has seen over the last few years. The public is fast losing countryside to enjoy, agricultural land to provide food security, and natural beauty that is also a cornerstone for our tourism industry. The concretisation of our rural areas is also causing increased flooding and loss of biodiversity. With all of this in mind, decisions need to be taken, and PN is not afraid of taking such decisions. We need to fight back.”

“The Labour Party claims the recent increase in construction is largely due to the 2006 Local Plans, which were essential at the time. In reality, it is the 2015 policies ushered through by a Labour government without any parliamentary approval that led to a huge rise of apartments being built. This was done without proper planning, so there have been several consequences, such as loss of parking and added pressure on our electricity distribution networks. There has also been an increased propensity to develop ODZ land for speculative projects, including through finding loopholes in policies, thanks to the Planning Authority being taken over by the Labour government, as happened with most institutions over the past few years.” It is for these reasons, the PN said, that it believes “we need the political will and political commitment to preserve Malta’s remaining rural areas.” The starting point would be the rural plan, it said.