The fight to save the Comino nature reserve from the Hili Group's development will continue following the Planning Tribunal's (EPRT) "predictable rejection" of the appeal filed by ten organisations, together with several individuals, NGOs said Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the Planning Authority approved a 140-bed luxury hotel, 16 villas, and 44 swimming pools on Comino despite the EIA highlighting significant negative effects on the integrity of the habitats of Comino. If this project proceeds, Comino as we know it will be lost forever. One of Malta's last remaining relatively untouched natural sanctuaries risks being turned into yet another privately developed, urbanised zone, causing irreversible environmental harm.

The appeal before the Planning Tribunal argued that Hili's intensive development breaches the local plan and multiple policies, including those that designate Comino as a protected nature reserve, the NGOs said.

While the Tribunal recognised that the project will encroach on natural land, it nevertheless upheld the Planning Authority's decision, rejecting the appellants' arguments that the project breaches the Local Plan and relevant planning policies, which expressly prohibit new buildings and increased development intensity on Comino.

This appeal was made possible thanks to the public's generous contributions to a crowdfunding campaign, which will enable the organisations to pursue all possible legal avenues against this assault on Comino. Thankfully, the legal battle to save Comino from greed will continue. The next steps will be announced in the coming weeks, the NGOs said.

The appeal was filed by several individuals and the following organisations:

Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura

BirdLife Malta

Din l-Art Ħelwa

Friends of the Earth Malta

Għawdix

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust - FEE Malta

Ramblers Association

The Archaeological Society Malta

Wirt Għawdex