Moviment Graffitti has described the recommended approval of an application to convert a disused explosives factory in Dingli into ten bungalows as another planning travesty.

The Planning Authority is set to decide on the controversial development this Thursday, which will see more unspoilt land taken up to for the construction of dwellings complete with a pool, car park and management block.

“This application is a shameless attempt to circumvent constraints on ODZ development. If approved, this may well open the door to similar applications in other areas of Malta,” said a spokesperson for the group. “The land in question lies within a Special Area of Conservation due to the high ecological value of the cliff habitat, and adjacent to two Special Protection Areas for the conservation of breeding seabirds which would be impacted by light pollution. It is also a scheduled Area of Ecological Importance and Area of High Landscape Value.”

The group also asked whether the site’s ODZ designation stands for something, in view of the constant and persistent tactics employed by developers to undermine the protection granted to the site by the ODZ status.

“The original permit for the factory even included an explicit condition which states that the premises are not to be used or furnished as holiday flats by tourists. The permit was granted on the basis that the hazardous nature of the factory’s production required a location away from residential areas.”

The group also highlighted the devious manner in which Infrastructure Malta connected the water supply to the disused factory ahead of the planning application, noting that the previous applications in 2017 were rejected on the basis that there were no such services to the site.

“Infrastructure Malta has funnelled public funds to service a private development, ensuring that the developers find the less obstacles possible in their bid to commercialise an unspoilt area. The applicant herself, Maria Sant, declared in the application that no trenching was required to connect the development to the water distribution network. This amounts to a written confirmation that IM have used public funds to get private developments greenlighted.”

In addition, a magisterial inquiry on misuse of EU funds has been ordered by Magistrate Josette Demicoli, who concluded that there is the possibility of a criminal act being committed. The inquiry is investigating Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi (Parliamentary Secretary responsible for EU funds), the Dingli Local Council and other government entities on the misuse of EU funds use to build a high rubble wall in the road leading to the proposed development. “Not only did the PA never intervene to halt works, but the board members voting in favour of the development risk becoming accomplices in a criminal act,” the group said.

The construction process will see heavy vehicles passing through narrow country lanes, destroying the serenity of the area, while the increased traffic from tourists and service vehicles will undoubtedly pose a threat to the area’s ecological and landscape value, rendering any legal provisions taken to preserve the area useless.

Moviment Graffitti also criticised the Environment and Resources Authority, who had first objected to the development but then changed its mind after the presentation of fresh plans. “The ERA’s U-turn is clear for everyone to see. The authority first stated that it “does not support the principle that [prior] development should serve as a pretext for committing sites to further development”, however it “noted the current built commitments on site” when making its endorsement. The authority is clearly saying that it is not obliged to act upon its own principles.”

The group also highlighted how the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage stated in no unclear terms that the “intensification of development would inevitably result in the formalisation of this significant rural and cultural landscape Outside Development Zone”, recommending the demolition and rehabilitation of the site.

The Dingli Local Council has also objected to the development.

Moviment Graffitti states that this application should be rejected, and calls for an end to the constant appeasing of developers hellbent on “turning the countryside into their personal cash machine,” with the use of public funds as in this case.

The fact that the project application has even reached this stage, in these circumstances, is a travesty, and it will only become much worse as a precedent for future ODZ development will be set if the permit is granted.

Attivisti jiġbdu l-attenzjoni tal-PA, IM u l-ERA dwar il-bini ta’ bungalows f’ODZ

Il-Moviment Graffitti jiġbed l-attenzjoni għall-fatt li jekk joħroġ il-permess biex fabbrika tan-nar issir għaxar bungalows, ser naraw traġedja kbira oħra fil-qasam tal-ippjanar.

Id-deċiżjoni tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar dwar dan l-iżvilupp kontroversjali ser tittieħed nhar il-Ħamis. Dan l-iżvilupp, jekk jiġi approvat, ser jisraq iktar art mhux mittiefsa għal kumpless ta’ residenzi b’pixxina, parkeġġ u blokk amministrattiv.

“Din l-applikazzjoni hija tentattiv ieħor biex bla ebda mistħija ta’ xejn jiġu evitati r-restrizzjonijiet fuq l-iżvilupp ODZ. Jekk tiġi approvata, ser tiftaħ il-bibien għal iktar applikazzjonijiet simili f’żoni oħra madwar Malta,” qal kelliem tal-grupp. “L-art inkwistjoni tinsab f’Żona Speċjali ta’ Konservazzjoni minħabba l-valur ekoloġiku għoli tal-irdum tagħha u ħdejn żewġ Żoni ta’ Protezzjoni Speċjali għall-konservazzjoni ta’ għasafar tal-baħar li jbejtu fil-gżejjer Maltin u li ser jintlaqtu ħażin mit-tniġġis tad-dawl. L-art hija wkoll Żona ta’ Importanza Ekoloġika u Żona ta’ Pajsaġġ b’Valur Għoli.”

Fid-dawl tat-tattiċi kostanti u persistenti li jużaw l-iżviluppaturi biex jheddu il-protezzjoni li joffri l-istatus tal-ODZ, il-grupp jistaqsi wkoll jekk il-fatt li s-sit huwa ODZ għadx għandu tifsira.

“Il-permess oriġinali għall-fabbrika jinkludi l-kundizzjoni espliċita li l-post ma jsirx appartamenti tal-vaganzi. Il-permess oriġinarjament ingħata abbażi tan-natura perikoluża tal-produzzjoni fil-fabbrika u għax tirrikjedi post ‘il bogħod minn żoni residenzjali.”

Il-grupp enfasizza wkoll il-mod qarrieqi li bih Infrastructure Malta qabbdet l-ilma mal-fabbrika abbandunata qabel il-fażi tal-applikazzjoni. Dan sar għaliex l-applikazzjonijiet preċedenti tal-2017 fallew peress li ma kienx hemm it-tali servizz fis-sit.

“B’hekk jirriżulta li Infrastructure Malta użat fondi pubbliċi għal żvilupp privat u biex tiżgura li l-iżviluppaturi jsibu l-inqas ostakli possibbli biex jikkummerċjalizzaw żona mhux mittiefsa. L-applikanta stess, Maria Sant, iddikjarat li ma kienx hemm bżonn qtugħ ta’ trinek biex l-iżvilupp jiġi konness man-netwerk tad-distribuzzjoni tal-ilma. Dan jikkonferma bil-miktub li IM użat fondi pubbliċi biex żvilupp privat jiġi approvat.”

Barra minn hekk u fir-rigward ta’ dan il-każ, bħalissa għaddejja inkjesta maġisterjali dwar l-użu ħażin tal-fondi tal-UE mill-Maġistrat Josette Demicoli, li tgħid li dan huwa probabbilment reat kriminali. L-inkjesta qed tinvestiga lil Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi (is-Segretarju Parlamentari responsabbli mill-fondi tal-UE), il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħad-Dingli u entitajiet governattivi oħra dwar l-użu ħażin ta’ fondi tal-UE biex jinbena ħajt tas-sejjieħ għoli fit-triq li twassal għall-iżvilupp propost. “Huwa diġà gravi li l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar ma intervjeniet qatt biex twaqqaf ix-xogħlijiet. Jekk il-membri tal-bord jivvutaw favur l-iżvilupp jirriskjaw kompliċità f’reat kriminali,” qal il-grupp.

L-iżvilupp ser jgħaddi vetturi tqal minn mogħdijet dojoq fil-kampanja u jeqred is-serenità taż-żona, filwaqt li ż-żieda fit-traffiku mit-turisti u l-vetturi tas-servizz ser jheddu l-valur ekoloġiku u naturali taż-żona. Dan irendi kull dispożizzjoni legali għall-ħarsien taż-żona inutli.

Il-Moviment Graffitti jikkritika wkoll lill-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi, li l-ewwel oġġezzjonat għall-iżvilupp imbagħad, kif rat il-pjanijiet il-ġodda, bidlet il-ħsieb. “Il-U-turn tal-ERA huwa ċar għal kulħadd. L-Awtorità l-ewwel iddikjarat li “ma tappoġġjax il-prinċipju li l-iżvilupp preċedenti għandu jservi bħala skuża għal aktar żvilupp”, madankollu fl-approvazzjoni għarfet “il-bini li diġà hemm fuq il-post”. L-awtorità b’hekk qed tgħid b’mod ċar li mhix obbligata taġixxi fuq il-prinċipji tagħha stess.

Il-grupp enfasizza wkoll li, skont is-Sovrintendenza tal-Patrimonju Kulturali, “dan l-iżvilupp kbir ser jirriżulta fil-formalizzazzjoni ta’ pajsaġġ sinifikanti rurali u kulturali li jinsab barra miż-żona tal-iżvilupp”, u qalet li l-post għandu jitwaqqa’ għar-rijabilitazzjoni tas-sit.

Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħad-Dingli wkoll oġġezzjona għall-iżvilupp.

Il-Moviment Graffitti jisħaq li din l-applikazzjoni m’għandhiex tintlaqa’ u li l-entitajiet tal-gvern għandhom jieqfu jaġevolaw mill-fondi pubbliċi lill-iżviluppaturi, li għamlu l-kampanja Maltija r-riżorsa personali tagħhom.

Fid-dawl ta’ dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi, il-fatt li l-applikazzjoni waslet sa dan l-istadju, jindika traġedja, u jekk joħroġ il-permess, is-sitwazzjoni ser tkompli tiggrava għax ikun inħoloq preċedent ieħor għal iktar żvilupp fuq art ODZ.