Residenti taż-Żurrieq, together with another seven resident groups and Il-Kollettiv, have condemned the Government's stance on the Tal-Bebbux saga, where public land used for agricultural purposes is being used as an accessory to private construction interests.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the groups singled out Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, an elected MP of the fifth district, which is one of the regions worst-hit by the rationalisation zones delineated in the 2006 Local Plans.
"Last year, Zrinzo Azzopardi 'withdrew' a private development on the eve of our press conference, a week before the MEP elections. Whatever went on away from public scrutiny throughout this year has resulted in exactly the same situation as last June," said Jan Camilleri, on behalf of Residenti taz-Zurrieq. "Farmers and residents are right to feel betrayed by one of their elected representatives."
The group criticised Zrinzo Azzopardi's claims that "his hands are tied" by the 2006 Local Plans. "The Lands Minister knows very well that Local Plans have been changed to accommodate similar private interests across Malta. It is a lie that Local Plans cannot be changed, as confirmed by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition's call for amendments to the North Harbour Local Plan for Paceville."
"Zurrieq, Mqabba, Qrendi, and Safi are among the towns who will suffer the brunt of construction activity, since the rationalisation areas are drawn up in a way as to remove the borders between our towns, creating a single urban agglomeration. When the Minister claims he has no power to save Zurrieq from its fate, to the point where an Authority under his remit is evicting farmers, it's because his hands are tied by private interests."
The group said it will be supporting the farmers in whatever way possible, and appealed to residents of Zurrieq and surrounding towns for their solidarity.
Il-Kollettiv secretary Wayne Flask reiterated a call for a planning reform that puts residents at its centre. In July 2024, thirteen resident and local conservation groups issued a set of wide-ranging proposals for this reform.
"It is becoming even more evident that residents and farmers are the eternal victims of the construction industry, with the government often acting as a willing accomplice. Our call for a halt to the rationalisation scheme would result in areas such as Tal-Bebbux and Nigret in Zurrieq, and tal-Amparell in Hal Safi, preserved from speculation.
Zrinzo Azzopardi is seriously underestimating the public sentiment in his constituency, the statement said, and if his priorities lie in facilitating private development then he should seek a career outside public service," Flask concluded.
The statement is signed by:
Residenti taż-Żurrieq
Residenti tal-Qrendi
Residenti ta' Ħal Safi
Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa
Marsaskala Residents Network
Marsaxlokk Heritage NGO
Sliema Residents Association
Wirt iż-Żejtun
Il-Kollettiv