NGOs propose changes to Mepa powers

From the Times of Malta
Oct 28, 2008

Environmental organisations joined forces in the name of sustainable development and yesterday presented the Prime Minister with a report listing 74 recommendations for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

The seven non-government organisations launched the report, Towards Sustainable Development Planning In Malta, during a press conference and called for more accountability, improved planning procedures, better enforcement and environmental protection.

The NGOs were Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, the Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, the Ramblers Association, Save Wied Garnaw Action Group and the Light Pollution Awareness Group. Nature Trust and BirdLife also contributed to the report.

The 47-page document is divided into five main sections. The first looks at improving the legal framework and recommends that policies governing development outside development zones and in protected areas be strengthened and made legally binding.

The NGOs suggest the pre-screening of development applications so that those proposing illegal development are not processed; suspending a development permit until the appeal is decided; removing Mepa's power to sanction illegal development in protected areas; obliging Mepa to provide a public register on pending enforcement notices; updating building regulations and sanitary laws; increasing fines for illegal development; and making Mepa board members personally liable and accountable.

Another set of proposals is aimed at improving Mepa's organisational structures by appointing a full-time chairman and board members - including members on the Development Control Commission and Planning Appeals Board - to avoid conflicts of interest.

The NGOs also call for the role of the Environment Directorate and the Heritage Advisory Committee within the decision-making process to be strengthened.

The third section looks at improving development planning procedures by better addressing third-party rights, restarting public consultation if plans are considerably amended, and assigning Mepa the responsibility of commissioning Environmental Impact Assessments, which so far lies in the hands of developers.

Further proposals deal with ensuring Mepa makes use of its powers to fine developers of illegal buildings and setting up district management teams to monitor specific green areas.

Finally, the proposals seek to improve the public's role in development planning by making information more accessible.

After presenting the recommendations to the media the NGOs headed for Castille where they handed the document to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

He thanked them for their contribution to the reform, which he had listed as a pre-electoral promise, adding that last week he had concluded consultations with Mepa employees.

Speaking during a Nationalist Party activity last month Dr Gonzi said he was planning to announce details about the reform by the end of the year.

Mtahleb and Ras id-Dawwara 25 October 2008

Today’s walk (25th October) was fully subscribed and all participants were punctual so we could set off right on time at 9.00. The forecast did not foresee any showers but the air was still rather crisp then and several of us put on a light jacket. Half an hour later all had taken it off and rolled up their sleeves. The day turned out to be glorious.

Foreign walk leaders (or shall we say “semi-Maltese”) were Bertus Zuijdgeest, a Dutchman who has been living in Malta for the last seven years, assisted by our Irish friend Maura Marlow. At the assembly point, in the car park near Migra il-Ferha (Mtahleb) Bertus briefly introduced themselves, welcomed the participants and explained where the walk would take us and a few basic rules (like not to create a big gap from the one walking in front of you otherwise the group could stretch out too much) and some sound pieces of advice (like not to walk along the path near the cliff edge as it could be very slippery at this time of the year).

Along the route which took us to the spectacular Dahlet id-Dwieb (plural of ‘debba’, a mare) a participant, taking the cue from another member who had told us what he knew about the etymology of ‘Migra l-Ferha’, informed the group of the event, or legend, which had given origin to this place name. Unfortunately no one could do the same with names like “Ras id-Dawwara “, the promontory on the left of Dahlet id-Dwieb, or of the rocks a little further on known as Il-Qaws, or of “Imtahleb”. But even Prof. Aquilina does not offer any help in this respect (he says that it comes from ‘haleb’; but probably most of us would have guessed that). A friend has now offered to look up these place names in Prof. G. Wettinger’s works.

We walked to the other side of this inlet surrounded by impressive cliffs. From there we had a frontal view of the two giant caves at sea level. The dark openings of the caves framed from above by the whiteness of the cliffs and a clear blue sky, and from below by a calm blue sea was indeed a beautiful sight. We proceeded inland to take a good look at the biggish rock-cut cave with niches and a sort of stone bed (Is this Ghar Doson?) which reminds one of the cave at Ras il-Wardija in Gozo. Again no one knew whether this was part of our archaeological heritage or a more recent undertaking.

Then we started climbing up towards Mtahleb. At this point we had a good overview of all the cliff face from Ta-Baldu till Imtahleb. The highlight in that panorama is the Mtahleb chapel precariously balanced on the cliff edge, and the rock-cut caves which formerly were inhabited and some of which still serve for storage purposes.

We then crossed part of Wied Ilma (aka Wied ir-Rum [Valley of the Roman?) and Wied Markozz and along footpaths made our way back to the starting point. It was 11.15 when we were back.

The terrain here was quite easy-going except for some rough terrain and steep but not too long incline. We had two short breaks for a quick snack, to take photos and, above all, to take in the peace and beauty of this very scenic and remote part of the island

Walk Leaders: Bertus and Maura, assisted by Joe Agius.

Some photos below, courtesy of our intrepid photographer, Silvan Mugliett

And yet more photos below, this time courtesy of our older photographer, Joe.












And a couple more photos below, courtesy of Maura

Against the Flow 19 October 2008

Although the first walk after the summer break was quite challenging, at 0830 more than 80 ramblers were waiting impatiently at the meeting point, eager to start walking. After a brief introduction by the secretary, all the group headed towards Wied ic-Cawsli and eventually passed through Wied il-Kbir, stopping for a very short break near Ghar Hanzir. At this point, the valley system bifurcates into two, with the one on the right leading to Wied Qirda. We took the left fork, leading eventually to Wied Xkora.

Walking practically on the valley-bed, we passed through Wied Sillani and Wied Musa, and struggled through the final stretches of Wied Xkora till eventually we reached the final point of the Siggiewi by-pass, where we had a well-deserved rest.

Then we continued upstream, passing through lesser-known valleys such as Wied ta' Manduca and Wied San Lawrenz (the most difficult & tiring slope - in the vicinity of the Laferla Cross). Then we walked through a beautiful garigue area, leading to the Gebel Ciantar cliff edge overlooking Fawwara and the Migra Ilma areas.

Here we stopped for another rest, whilst observing the scenery.

Afterwards we descended again towards Siggiewi, passing in the vicinity of Wied Zikku, and visiting two wayside chapels on our way back -tal-Providenza and ta' Hal Xluq. Following an almost unknown footpath, we reached Wied Xkora again and headed directly towards the main village square.

This was quite a 'difficult walk' bearing in mind that we started practically at sea level and reached a point approximately 250m ASL, and also that the terrain was not that easy for long stretches of this walk. However, this shows the determination of our members!

Walk leader: Simon

Duration : About 5 hours

Distance : 17 kilometres


Some of the photos below are courtesy of Silvan Mugliett

Ghar Hanzir

Alex, explaining the way forward

Wied Sillani

Heading towards Wied Xkora


Explaining the way forward…!?


A defaced Coat-of-Arms on a building near Wied Xkora


Outskirts of Siggiewi


Former Chapel of San Lawrenz

Beatiful garigue at Gebel Ciantar


Gebel Ciantar with Verdala Palace in the background


The promised island…Filfla


A well-deserved rest on the cliff edge

Fawwara – Lunzjata Chapel

Ramblers having a rest


Gebel Ciantar


Descending in the vicinity of Wied Zikku


Tal-Providenza Chapel


Another short rest at Tal-providenza

Hal Xluq Chapel

Squatters

From The Malta Independent on Sunday
Oct 12, 2008

The Ramblers’ Association of Malta said in a statement that it notes with satisfaction that ENGOs and private citizens’ pleas regarding squatters are finally being heard. The general public cannot but be grateful to the Government Property Division of the Lands Department, and in particular to Parliamentary Secretary Dr Jason Azzopardi, for the recent eviction action taken against the squatters at Bahar ic-Caghaq and Ghajn Tuffieha. RAM of course expects that this reclaimed land will now be open for the public to enjoy and that similar action is taken against ALL other areas occupied by squatters, including Armier.

PR: Together for a Sustainable Future?

Together for a Sustainable Future?

Throughout summer of 2006, the authorities justified the Rationalisation scheme to use more countryside for construction purposes by claiming that this would seal shut the development zones and prevent further building Out of Development Zone (ODZ). Before and after this year’s general elections, the electorate continued to be promised more environmental awareness and respect, with emphasis on protection of the countryside. Six months down the road and this promise is far from materialising.

Over the last six months alone, MEPA approved not less than 318 permits to build structures in the countryside or ODZ, many of which are to be built on fresh agricultural land. Although MEPA regulations stipulate that only bona fide agricultural structures, parks and recreational facilities are normally permitted to be built in ODZ, the NGOs are dismayed to see that these permits included flats, garages and light industries. It is therefore hardly surprising that developers are still confident of obtaining permits to build in ODZ and that in spite of official declarations of “no more speculation in ODZ” such applications continue to flood into MEPA, with over 1,160* submitted to MEPA over the last twelve months, at an average rate of 20% of the total of applications submitted.

The rate of take-up of agricultural sites has further escalated recently with the setting up of small industry complexes such as the micro-industry park on fields at ‘Telgha t’Alla u’Ommu’, Naxxar and several other sites which consume a great many tumoli of previously arable land when the carcasses of unfinished showrooms and empty factories litter the island. This could have been avoided by a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) on the sector’s present facilities and future needs. Similarly agro-industries are also being permitted to re-locate to cultivated fields in an unregulated manner rather than being incentivated to re-use abandoned farm buildings.

The lack of revision of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, which actually facilitate ODZ projects, and the sixteen-year delay in setting up the Consultants’ Register and Code of Ethics, which could have taken place well before MEPA reform, also leaves the countryside more vulnerable to predatory mega-projects such as those at Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla l-Hamra and Mellieha Bay.