Momentum has called upon the government to introduce the long-awaited planning reform in order to keep its promises with Żurrieq residents and protect the Nigret area from “inappropriate and unsustainable development.”
The third party stated on Thursday morning that it stands “in full solidarity” with Żurrieq residents, who have spent the last years sticking their necks out to defend the Nigret area. Momentum also gave a shout-out to the NGO Il-Kollettiv for being “at the forefront” of this situation and for “championing the rights of residents in the area.”
Momentum noted deep disappointment that the Planning Authority’s case officer recommended to approve the first residential development application in Nigret, despite over 300 objections being submitted by residents and concerned citizens against it.
“While the final decision has yet to be taken, this recommendation sends the wrong message to communities across Malta and Gozo who expect their voices to be genuinely heard in decisions that affect their quality of life and their environment,” Momentum stated.
It added that during this May’s election campaign, “Government representatives assured residents that their concerns would be addressed and that a solution would be sought” and that “Prime Minister Robert Abela promised not to allow the development of public land in Nigret and Tal-Bebbux.”
Momentum said that “People voted on the basis of promises made to them” and that “Those commitments must now be honoured.”
As a result, the third party noted that with the government pledging to introduce its planning reform within its first 100 days in office, including reforms related to the planning appeals system, “Around 40 days have already passed. There is no time to waste.”
Momentum’s founder and chairperson, Arnold Cassola, said that this “planning reform cannot remain another election slogan.”
“It must become a reality before more irreversible decisions are taken. Every day of delay risks allowing further decisions that could permanently change our communities and our countryside,” he said.
Cassola also said that “the Nigret case is about far more than one development. It is about whether citizens can trust that promises made before an election will still matter after the election.”
“Malta deserves a planning system that serves the public interest, not one that repeatedly places speculative development ahead of residents, the environment and future generations,” Cassola said.
Momentum thus called upon the government to fulfil five points: to immediately publish its promised planning reform proposals “and begin genuine public consultation”; to ensure that communities have a meaningful voice in planning decisions affecting their neighbourhoods; to strengthen the protection of agricultural land, open spaces, and areas of environmental value; to “end a system where developments opposed by entire communities can continue progressing without proper consideration of public concerns”; and to introduce safeguards to ensure that developments subject to legal proceedings cannot proceed for as long as court appeals are being decided.
This long-awaited planning reform was shelved after large protests and public outcry ensued over the proposed legislation, Bills 143 and 144, were tabled on Parliament’s agenda last summer. With activists calling these bills “a developer’s wish list” and demanding these bills to be scrapped and for the consultation process to start afresh, the government has since been seeking “convergence” on how to proceed on this planning reform.
Momentum concluded its statement by noting that “the government still has an opportunity to demonstrate that its promises were genuine” and that “the residents of Żurrieq and communities across Malta and Gozo are waiting for action.”