Żurrieq farmers, backed by numerous organisations and residents, have formally written to the Lands Authority to immediately withdraw the consent it granted to a private developer for the submission of Planning Control application PC/00068/22, a statement endorsed by several NGOs said Tuesday. This seeks the destruction of government-owned agricultural land in Tal-Bebbux to make way for more buildings.

The land in question has been farmed for generations and remains a source of local food production, the statement said.

The farmers argue that it is unacceptable that land owned by the state - land which still serves an essential agricultural purpose - is being made available for private profit, at the expense of farmers, communities, and future generations.

At a time when Malta is increasingly dependent on imported food and facing a global climate crisis, the decision to eliminate productive, cultivated farmland for development is deeply troubling.
This reflects a broader and alarming trend: a government that remains eager to serve the construction lobby, consistently prioritising greed over environmental sustainability, social justice, and the long-term wellbeing of the population.

Thousands of formal objections have been submitted by the public against this application. This is a matter of national concern. The Lands Authority is being urged to acknowledge the overwhelming public opposition to this project, the irreversible damage it would cause, and the wider implications of allowing public land to be abused in this way, the NGOs said.

Farmers, supported by organisations and residents, are calling on the Lands Authority to revoke its consent and halt the planning process before more harm is done. This land should be protected for its social and agricultural value, not sacrificed for yet another wave of unnecessary and unsustainable development.

The signatories of the letter are calling on the Lands Authority to act responsibly and take this opportunity to defend the public interest, uphold the rights of farmers, and reject a development model that continues to place greed before the common good.

Letter signatories Robert Bondin Carter, Annalisa Schembri
With the support of Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, Għaqda Residenti taż-Żurrieq, Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYA), Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Il-Kollettiv, Moviment GraffittiNature Trust - FEE Malta, Ramblers' Association of Malta, The Archaeological Society Malta