Residents of Safi, Żurrieq and Kirkop have joined forces to oppose a huge building on ODZ land in Żurrieq by starting the Save L-Għadir ODZ campaign. The Local Councils of the three localities are also objecting to the project, which would see a large tract of pristine agricultural land lost to a private home for the elderly.
Moviment Graffitti is supporting the residents’ campaign and has filed its formal objection to this development with the Planning Authority. Objections by the public can be submitted by using this online form, hosting an objection written by the residents, until the 29th of May.
According to existing policies, the site in question can only be used for agricultural activity. There are also several other areas in the vicinities that can host homes for the elderly. The proposed project would destroy a significant part of the rural, environmental and cultural heritage of the area. It would ruin the natural green belt that serves as a lung to the surrounding villages, thus negatively affecting the quality of life of the residents of Safi, Żurrieq and Kirkop by blocking out much needed clean air.
Malta cannot afford to continue losing precious natural and agricultural land for speculative projects proposed under the guise of “old people’s homes” which try to exploit existing policy loopholes in order to rake in millions from the development of land that is outside of development zones (ODZ).
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Oġġezzjonijiet qawwija u oppożizzjoni wiesgħa għal żvilupp ODZ fl-Għadir
Residenti ta’ Hal-Safi, taż-Żurrieq u ta’ Ħal Kirkop ingħaqdu biex jopponu binja enormi fuq art barra ż-żona tal-iżvilupp fiż-Żurrieq billi bdew il-kampanja Save L-Għadir ODZ. Il-Kunsilli Lokali tat-tliet lokalitajiet ukoll qegħdin joġġezzjonaw għall-proġett, li se jwassal biex tintilef biċċa art verġni agrikola kbira biex tinbena dar privata għall-anzjani.
Il-Moviment Graffitti qed jappoġġja din il-kampanja u bagħat oġġezzjoni formali kontra dan l-iżvilupp lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar. Oġġezzjonijiet mill-pubbliku jistgħu isiru billi tintuża din il-formola online, li fiha oġġezzjoni miktuba mir-residenti, sad-29 ta’ Mejju.
Skont il-politika eżistenti, is-sit in kwistjoni jista’ jintuża biss għal attività agrikola. Hemm ukoll diversi żoni fil-viċinanzi fejn jistgħu jinbnew djar għall-anzjani. Il-proġett propost se jeqred parti sostanzjali mill-wirt rurali, ambjentali u kulturali tal-inħawi. Se jeqred strixxa naturali ħadra li sservi bħala l-pulmun tal-villaġġi tal-madwar, u b’hekk jaffettwa b’mod negattiv il-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti ta’ Hal-Safi, taż-Żurrieq u ta’ Ħal Kirkop billi se jibblokka l-arja nadifa li tant hi bżonnjuża.
Malta ma tistax tibqa’ titlef art agrikola u naturali prezzjuża minħabba proġetti spekulattivi bl-iskuża ta’ “djar għall-anzjani” li jippruvaw jisfruttaw il-lakuni li hemm fil-politika eżistenti biex jaqilgħu il-miljuni minn żvilupp ta’ art li tinsab barra ż-żona tal-iżvilupp (ODZ).
