We are publishing the answers of candidates on the 5th district to the question about their position on the planned miniature airstrip in the area of Wied Żnuber. The answers can be viewed here.
Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa, Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa sent the following question to PL, PN and ADPD candidates: Do you agree that the Wied Żnuber area where there are plans for a miniature airstrip for model airplanes, currently administered by INDIS Malta Ltd., becomes a designated ODZ to secure its future as undeveloped land?
All PN and ADPD candidates stated that they agreed with the residents’ and organisations’ proposal to designate that area as ODZ so that it remains undeveloped. All PL candidates failed to take a clear position by answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question.
The plan for an airstrip by the valley and the cliffs of the area was announced last month at the signing of an agreement between the government agency INDIS and an airplane model association. Residents, the Birżebbuġa Local Council and other stakeholders were not consulted about these plans, and the plans for the airstrip are under wraps till this very day.
Recent statements by the Prime Minister that no development will happen inside Wied Żnuber, and that part of the area around it might become ODZ, failed to quash fears arising from the airstrip development since the plan was not withdrawn.
The area earmarked for the airstrip is home to rich biodiversity including protected species of flora and fauna, as well as important historical remains such as a dolmen, old water canals and a military shelter. Moreover, the loud and incessant noise of model remote control airplanes would drastically increase light and noise pollution in the area and destroy the serenity of the valley and surrounding cliffs, to the detriment of biodiversity, residents and visitors.
Tomorrow, residents and organisations are gathering in Birżebbuġa parish square at 6pm for a symbolic activity in favour of the protection of Wied Żnuber and its surroundings.
Qegħdin nippublikaw it-tweġibiet tal-kandidati fuq il-5 distrett għall-mistoqsija dwar il-pożizzjoni tagħhom fir-rigward tal-pjan għal mitjar minjatura fiż-żona ta’ Wied Żnuber. It-tweġibiet jinsabu hawnhekk.
L-Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa, il-Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta and Din l-Art Ħelwa bagħtu din il-mistoqsija lill-kandidati kollha tal-PL, il-PN u l-ADPD: Taqbel li ż-żona fejn hemm ippjanat mitjar għall-mudelli tal-ajruplani f’Wied Żnuber, fuq sit tal-INDIS Malta Ltd., issir ODZ sabiex jiġi żgurat il-futur tagħha bħala art mhux żviluppata?
Il-kandidati kollha tal-PN u l-ADPD wieġbu li jaqblu mal-proposta tar-residenti u l-għaqdiet li dik iż-żona ssir ODZ sabiex tibqa’ mhux żviluppata. Il-kandidati kollha tal-PL naqsu milli jwieġbu ‘iva’ jew ‘le’ għall-mistoqsija.
Il-pjan għall-mitjar tħabbar ix-xahar li għadda waqt l-iffirmar ta’ ftehim bejn l-aġenzija tal-Gvern INDIS u assoċċjazzjoni tat-titjir tal-mudelli tal-ajruplan. Ir-residenti, il-Kunsill Lokali u gruppi interessati oħra ma ġewx ikkonsultati dwar dawn il-pjanijiet li d-dettalji tagħhom għadhom qegħdin jinżammu moħbija sal-lum il-ġurnata.
Stqarrijiet riċenti mill-Prim Ministru li mhuwiex se jsir żvilupp ġol-wied, u li partijiet ta’ madwaru jistgħu jsiru ODZ, ma naqqsux il-biżgħat tan-nies marbuta mal-mitjar għaliex il-pjanijiet ma ġewx irtirati.
Iż-żona mhedda minn dan l-iżvilupp għandha bijodiversità rikka, inkluż flora u fawna protetti, kif ukoll fdalijiet storiċi importanti bħal dolmen, kanali tal-ilma qodma u xelter militari. Barra minn dan, l-attività tat-titjir tal-mudelli tal-ajruplani ser iżżid drastikament it-tniġġis tad-dawl u tal-istorbju minn ħsejjes qawwija u kontinwi ta’ mudelli ta’ ajruplani mdaqqsa u teqred is-serenità tal-wied u tal-irdum, għad-detriment tal-bijodiversità, tar-residenti u tal-viżitaturi.
Għada, residenti u għaqdiet se jiltaqgħu fil-pjazza tal-knisja ta’ Birżebbuġa fis-6pm għal attività simbolika favur il-ħarsien ta’ Wied Żnuber u l-madwar tiegħu.
