Press Release: Ramblers say "No" to Mellieha ODZ villas

Ramblers say "No" to Mellieha ODZ villas

The Ramblers Association of Malta has grave concerns about the proposed building of ninety-eight bungalows on the slopes of Marfa Ridge as an extension to the Mellieha Bay Hotel. RAM strongly objects to any development in this area. Besides being, without any doubt, outside the development zone (ODZ), the northern side of Mellieha Bay is protected by MEPA as a coastal zone of natural beauty, a buffer zone to sea cliff habitat, and an ecologically and scientifically important area.

In the light of the Prime Minister's recent statement that "ODZ is ODZ", the development application for these villas should be rejected outright by the planning authority.

RAM appeals to the Prime Minister to hasten the MEPA reform process and pass the necessary legislation which will put a definite stop to all speculation in areas outside the designated development zone. This type of development is not only detrimental to our natural heritage and its enjoyment by us Maltese, but also accelerating the decline of Malta as a traditional tourist destination. It is the very negation of existing regulations and of how sustainable tourism should be promoted. This application is nothing less than a get-rich-quick scheme disguised as a tourism development, by erecting buildings in the name of tourism in ODZ areas, then turning them into expensive residential accommodation a few years later.
ODZ land is for all the public to enjoy quietly and peacefully. RAM calls for common sense, apparently in short supply at MEPA, to prevail.

Cirkewwa and Qammieh 27th April 2008

This walk was a repeat of the 1st April 2007 walk, with a slight variation at the end. Instead of heading back up the cliff from Rdum il-Qawwi, we continued walking past Ras il-Qammieh, and headed up the cliff from a series of steps leading to the road on the top. Some pictures below.

Walk Leaders: Romano assisted by Simon.
Duration: about 3 1/1 hours.

Some of the group

The boathouses

One of the routes up the cliff

Finding the way

Rambler in action

The "beach"

Enjoying a well-deserved rest

View from Ras il-Qammieh

Heading back up the cliff

A curious sign!

Press Release about MEPA Reform

RAM is very pleased with the news that the Today Public Policy Institute (TPPI) has presented an important MEPA Reform document to the Prime Minister. We are confident it contains well thought-out suggestions, which should hopefully lessen, if not stop, the endless onslaught on what is left of the Maltese countryside. We have seen this assault increasing over the years, and, as our President Lino Bugeja rightly said, "nothing is sacred any longer".

RAM calls on the Prime Minister to take on board these suggestions for the sake of the victims of this ongoing rape: us Maltese citizens, our countryside, and our tourism industry.

RAM would, however, like to put forward some of its own suggestions for reform.
As everyone knows, despite the pre-election declaration that "ODZ is ODZ", any person can still apply for "development" in an Outside Development Zone. Not only; if an application is rejected, then that same person can apply again, possibly with minor amendments, in a few months' time. Even if an ODZ application is rejected the first time around, this does not mean a definitive victory for environmentalists; the developer can in fact keep applying, until finally the objectors, often public-spirited citizens working in their free time, are worn down. An application like the one for the development of Ramla l-Hamra, rejected in October 2007, is up again for reconsideration next June, just eight months later. Along with that for the Ta' Cenc villas and bungalows, of course.

Regulations applicable for development in an ODZ area should be effectively tightened up, to the extent that only applications for agricultural or public projects (such as waste treatment plants) shall be accepted. Indeed, an application for an ODZ project, once rejected, should not be considered again. If, because of legal requirements, the need is felt to accept the same ODZ application for reconsideration, then this should only be allowed after a suitable period, say five years.

In need of substantial beefing up is also enforcement in ODZ. As everybody knows, at present this is practically non-existent.

We still maintain that our government set up MEPA to rectify past mistakes, not to perpetuate them. Any breach of the ODZ regulations should not be condoned, whether it concerns boathouses, supermarkets, cemeteries or any other constructions.

RAM would also like to see the Prime Minister setting up a unit of concerned citizens, specifically for the purpose of lodging reasonable objections to development applications. This group should be chosen from among people of proven environmental credentials and unblemished track record. The group would be funded from MEPA funds, and be totally independent of MEPA. Nor can it be otherwise since MEPA has consistently proved that its structure is totally inadequate for this purpose.

Qala - Nadur Gozo Walk 20 April 2008

Some photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chribonn/RamblerSWalk20080420QalaNadurWalk

Ramblers’ landscape objections at Mistra Heights

From the local press:

The Ramblers Association of Malta (RAM) is objecting to an environmental planning statement presented to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority by the developers of a proposed high rise complex on Xemxija ridge. The association says the statement is “deficient”.

In comments sent to Mepa, the association said the impact assessment of the new skyline on rural landscapes “has been found to be lacking”. The plans for the site, where Mistra Village used to stand, have also been criticised by Din l-Art Helwa.

The Ramblers Association said that at least two strategic viewpoints which had been ignored by the developers’ EPS since the only views assessed were taken from angles which would make the development look less imposing. The two view aspects pointed out by the association are on the main road at the highest point of Selmun Hill and from the belvedere at Selmun which would be a highly sensitive spot in terms of negative effects on how the environment is experienced visually.

RAM said both are favourite spots with local and foreign ramblers. The number of tourists who come for rambling holidays in Malta “cannot be under-estimated and make up a substantial portion of tourist arrivals who sustain the local industry especially during the low season. Popular walking routes with such tourists include the ridges of Mellieha, Mizieb and Wardija among the main ridges that will be adversely affected by the negative visual impact of the proposed highrise development.”