Spring and autumn headlines

Highs, lows and points to watch

The MEPA Website, while lacking in other areas, is up-to-date when it comes to making environmental legislation available to the public. Both the Department of Information and the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs need to make all legal notices available online. The public has a right to access this basic information at source.

A 2003 draft legislation for the Strategic Environmental Assessment directive to become Maltese law has not yet seen the light of day. It is possible that implementation of SEA would throw a serious spanner in the works of the Xaghra l-Hamra golf course proposal.

Promise of the year

"The government intends to wage war on buildings outside development zones early in 2006 with tougher regulations and better enforcement. The enforcement unit needs to have larger administrative capacity and act in co-ordination with the police to reopen access to public land where it has been shut off " Minister George Pullicino, November 15, 2005.

Earlier this year the Ramblers Association claimed that the drop in tourism was linked to the closure of countryside pathways. Malta is the only EU country that lacks legislation dealing with accessibility to the countryside. While protesting that it is not responsible, the Environment Ministry has pledged it will take steps to keep Malta's footpaths open.

Another admonition came from Nature Trust calling on MEPA's Development Control Commission to toughen up on Outside Development Zone applications being resubmitted after refusal. Before the year was out the Environment Minister hinted that the practice of sanctioning was to come to an end.

Planning seems to have been stood on its head following an "unbelievable political decision" for trade permits to be issued without prior scrutiny. A short circuit bypassing checks and balances, this practice allows an apparently untouchable Appeals Board to give the green light for a permit which has already been refused by the Development Control Commission.

Natura 2000 for Ta' Cenc?

Thanks to AD Greens, the public has been alerted and urged to comment at the crucial review stage for the EIS of this massive tourist project (20 football pitches) proposed for much of the remaining area at Ta' Cenc. Objections must be filed with the Sannat council by Friday.

One of the aims of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan is to expand biodiversity protection under the SAP BIO programme. Ta' Cenc would be an excellent place to start. What is Malta doing toward the EU target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010? Doubts have been raised over whether the area would be open to all since the EIS makes reference to restricted access.

At another proposed Natura 2000 site in Salina, unpermitted dredging commissioned by the Ministry for Infrastructure had to be halted by MEPA enforcement officers last May. Nature Trust alerted the enforcement team and reported the incident to the EU. Happily, later in the year we heard of another Natura 2000 candidate, Wied Moqbol, that was saved when an application to extend a quarry's operations into the valley was turned down.

The Prime Minister chose the feast of Mnarja (June 29) to drop the environmental clanger of the year with his pre-EIA declaration of the decision to site a golf course at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra. Din l-Art Helwa immediately expressed concern that the area is of very high scenic value, an important garigue area and one of the last open spaces.

BirdLife said the project risks opening up the west of Malta to unprecedented development and urged Government to "upgrade existing charms rather than copy and paste from other Mediterranean destinations." The GRTU volunteered that a golf course would bring "new opportunities for business".

Graver worries surfaced later in the year when it was established that the underwater aquifer water reserve could risk damage from such a project in breach of the EU Water Framework Directive. In August 30 farmers filed a protest. MEPA came up with the rather lame plea that "The area consists of degraded agricultural land and garigue so utilising it for a golf course would avoid using fertile agricultural land somewhere else."

After a summer of public discontent, the Prime Minister appeared to be shamed into backing down. By November Dr Gonzi had regulated his tone somewhat: "Government wants to improve the tourism product but is not prepared to do so at all costs. We do want to see another golf course but we don't want to see another tourist village".

Dare we hope that this latest outlook will hold strong in the face of development pressures at Ta' Cenc? The orchids will still be blooming at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra this April with any luck. Happy New Year.