The Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa has formally written a letter to the Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding the pending issue on the Wied Żnuber area in Ħal Far. This letter follows three previous letters sent on 24 February, 11 March and 10 May, (followed by several gentle reminders) with no reply.

In this letter, the Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa is once again urging the Prime Minister to officially withdraw the plan to develop an airstrip for model airplanes in the Wied Żnuber area, according to an agreement signed on the 12^th February 2022, days prior the general election. This plan must be withdrawn for the following reasons:

·       This site is found in Wied Żnuber, limits of Ħal Far, next to a Natura 2000 site. This portion of natural land is of a great ecological and archaeological importance;

·       This site forms part of the industrial area managed by the government agency Indis. Malta Ltd., and is wrongly being described as disturbed. On the contrary, this site is still in its natural state and consists of tilled fields and garrigue; 

·       The public and other interested entities were never consulted on this development on public land;

·       No form of study regarding the environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was performed prior the signing of the contract;

·       Due to its archaeological and ecological importance, this site was well preserved by the British, but wrongly in recent years was included with the Ħal Far industrial zone. The Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa firmly believes that we are still in time to correct this massive mistake;

·       In the past years, there were several attempts to develop this site that never materialised. Therefore, this destructive development must be withdrawn immediately;

·       The activity and air movements generated by model airplanes next to Natura 2000 site goes against the main principles that establishes the same sites according to the 92/433/EEC directive of the EU;

·       This site must be excluded from the industrial area and declared ODZ to continue fulfilling its important role of acting as a buffer zone between the industrial zone and the Natura 2000 site;

·       This last remaining natural site in the area must remain accessible to the public;

·       The Prime Minister is encouraged to abide with his electoral promise announced on Thursday 17^th March 2022 in Birżebbuġa, when he clearly declared that no development is going to take place in Wied Żnuber and that the area surrounding the valley bed will be declared ODZ. Albeit this clear promise, the project has not yet been officially withdrawn;

·       The Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa respect the ‘Ħal Far Model Flying Association’ and urges the Prime Minister not only to withdraw this project, but to relocate it so that these model aircraft enthusiasts can practise their interest;

·       Finally, in this case, the Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa urges the Prime Minister to direct his efforts towards the common good of the general public instead of allowing any other unethical intentions that might leave irreversible damage on the natural environment of the country.