NGOs insist Mepa should turn down substation application to serve boathouses
Seven environmental NGOs insisted today that the Mepa Board must turn down an application by Enemalta to build an electricity sub-station in Marfa - serving people who built 'boathouses' without permits.
The board is due to decide on the application on January 6.
The NGOs are the Ramblers Association of Malta, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Din L-Art Helwa, Malta Organic and Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta and Birdlife Malta.
"Approving such an application would simply encourage more of the building abuse that Mepa claims it is trying to stamp out. As such, an approval of this application will go down in the annals of our history as one of the most irresponsible, illegal and unjust precedents that MEPA has ever set," the NGOs said.
"For a member of the European Union that prides itself on its sense of democracy and justice to allow prime land to be illegally seized, and subsequently have this occupation blessed by a government desperate for votes on the eve of not one but two elections, is a betrayal of every tax-paying citizen on these Islands," the NGOs said.
They said the area of 67,000 sq mt of land at Armier bay is illegally occupied by 800 illegal structures, "but if the squatters' political arm-twisting is successful, this will increase tremendously."
The NGOs explained that an agreement signed with the Nationalist government on the eve of the 2003 election could extend the existing 67,000 square meters to around 231,000 square meters or 230 tumuli of public land, against an annual rent of €350,000. The pledge was renewed by the leader of the Nationalist Party just before the 2008 elections when he committed himself to “consult with Mepa” on the pending applications. The squatters’ lobby has also made back-room agreements with the LP just before the last two national elections, the NGOs said.
In 2004, Armier Developments, the squatters’ company, submitted applications proposing the development of 1,589 rooms, five playgrounds and a bowls pitch, a minimarket, three restaurants, a two-storey garage, three community centres and a clinic in an area spanning Ramlet il-Qortin, Ta’ Macca u l-Armier, the Barriera tal-Ahrax quarry, Little Armier and the Torri l-Abjad zone.
Parts of these areas are supposedly protected as Areas of Ecological Importance (Habitat Directive), Special Protection Area (Birds Directive), Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance and Special Area of Conservation - International Importance.
"The existing squatters have in the past convinced Enemalta to supply electricity to their habitations. This was not enough – they have also convinced Enemalta to apply for a new substation in order to strengthen the supply to their 'boathouses', the NGOs said.
The Mepa case officer has recommended refusal by the Mepa board on the basis that this substation would benefit illegal development in the area.
In his report he said: "there is no reason, from a planning point of view, as to why the substation should be permitted, considering how the proposed structure is aimed at providing services to beach rooms that are used as illegal holiday homes proposed to be demolished through the Structure Plan policies".
The Planning Directorate is therefore advising the MEPA board to turn down this application.
Tony Zammit
Dec 8th, 06:14
When I applied for my Electrical meter I needed the home building permit.
“Was told”, NO building permit No Electrical, water meter.
So how did these people get this electric meter?
THIS IS PURE DISCRIMINATIOM…….
One way to get them out off there is by bulldoze them out. But it takes a backbone like DR Austin Gatt to do a job like this..
joseph azzopardi
Dec 8th, 05:12
No one here refered to the concern of local farmers who use eletricity to irrigate their fields. Mainly In summer these people suffer drastic consequences due to power shortage.
The problem of boathouses is there but one have to bear in mind that these people were promised by the present government that they will stay.
James McIntosh
Dec 8th, 13:02
What a Government gives out , a government can take away. This has happened all over the world and locally since Governments were formed.
It seems that in Malta the more acute the disregard of law the more reward there is for the same lawlessness.
Mark Cassar
Dec 8th, 04:52
Enemalta were convinced to submit the application by individuals of illegal development. Who is running Enemalta? MEPA should have thrown out this application when submitted, but somehow the application stayed and has gone to the board for approval. We are pandering to illegal activity and at every step we are letting things go on. It seems accountability and responsibility are two words which have fallen to the wayside once again.
Steve Sant
Dec 7th, 23:16
Well the elections are near thats approximately 3200 votes for them right.
Joe Grech
Dec 7th, 21:12
Shame on Mepa if it grants the application.
The government will do well to knock down all the illegal buildings at Armier and elsewhere. That's what real and proper administration means. Why should those who abused be rewarded? It's just not fair on the other law-abiding citizens. Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition please note. You will be judged by what you do on this issue.
mark johnson
Dec 7th, 20:41
Face it, Malta is a rancid rock and the damage has already been done. Now we are rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.
I ask you this: what if you went and built a boathouse now today in the middle of the road in armier?
Albert Sciberras
Dec 7th, 20:19
How many of them have boat in them, as a boathouse is a place to keep a boat in, and items for fishing or related to the boat in it. Has anybody ever made any checks ??
Geoffrey Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:10
at this point i am just going to build another floor on my present household without even applying for a MEPA permit or any other permit!!
Since it seems to be so ok for some to build houses on the seafront on public land..for these illegal structures to get sold at a profit and resold over an over again, to get extended and the abuse goes on and on with the blessing of one government after another....
this country is just incredible...if in power or in a strong lobby group...everything goes!
no one has the guts to just give a week warning and bulldoze all these illegal developments down..once and for all...so since it is a free for all for them...it has to be a free for all for everyone else!
Joseph E Briffa
Dec 7th, 19:21
Under whose watch were the first settlers at Armier?
Joseph N. Attard
Dec 7th, 19:08
The Nationalist Party in government keeps forgetting that it stands to lose more votes than it reckons it will gain by failing to act to stamp out illegalities. There are thousands of outraged citizens out there whose feelings about the matter are strong enough to effect their vote.
Wilfred Camilleri
Dec 7th, 19:25
Don't pin this just on the PN. The PL is just as guilty! Outrage should be directed at both parties. It's only when the leaders of either or both parties state unequivocally that they will demolish all illegal buildings wherever they may be can voters make a decision which party to vote for.
M Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:18
Wifred Camiller@ very well said. it is the responsibility of both political parties and not of the government only. Hope that Rodrick Galdes on this occaiosn will vote against the building of the substation as he did in many other cases.
Joseph Calleja
Dec 7th, 21:18
Don't blame the PN or PL entirely. These so called Boat Houses are there to stay and one of the reasons is that a lot of them are owned by politicians and or their families. If like everybody says, these boat houses are illegal, How come they are afforded all utilities, including water, electricity and sewer? Can anybody really say where the raw sewage from these and all other boat houses on the islands of Malta and Gozo end up? Somebody had mentioned that some of that raw sewage is ending up in the sea water where adults, children and tourists like to swim. I believe that Dwejra was one of these places? Too many votes involved. Does anybody care? Don't depend on our government, but maybe Astrid Vella can answer that question.
Joseph N. Attard
Dec 8th, 00:29
Mr. Camilleri, please do not misunderstand me. The whole rot, like many other rotten things in the 1970's and early eaighties, started under a Labour Party government. But the fact is that the PN has not reversed these glaring illegalities and injustices. Indeed, it is reported that the PN has promised certain things to these land robbers before both the 2003 and 2008 elections. As Mr.Farrugia says, it is the responsibility of both political parties. But even if the PL tries to make political mileage out of the whole thing, the PN should not follow suit. I still maintain that it stands to gain more than it will lose be such a courageous decision.
Joe Gatt
Yesterday, 09:12
Joseph Calleja
Dec 7th, 21:18
These so called Boat Houses are there to stay and one of the reasons is that a lot of them are owned by politicians and or their families.
Complaints alone, in Malta will acheive no results.
Name and shame these Individuals, at Election Time,
VOTE Them OUT.
It is up to the Honest Maltese to clean up the Mess.
John F. Galea
Dec 7th, 19:06
unbeliveable, undemoctratic, disgusting, ridiculous. illegal. But its true. C'est la vie.
Edgar Gatt
Dec 7th, 19:03
The only way forward to stop this rot is a joint statement by the two political parties that these boat houses should be demolished. No use pointing fingers at Mepa. No political party is ever going to take such a step on its own, so stop dreaming all of you.
Jean-Pierre Aquilina
Dec 7th, 19:01
As far as I am aware, Enemalta demands proof that all construction works have been carried out according to the development permit issued by MEPA before supplying the building with electricity. And now Enemalta wants to build a substation to supply electricity to the illegal shacks built without a permit on public land, and all with tax payers money.
M Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:07
have you already forgotten that enemalta is just a puppet on a string.
Joseph Hollier
Dec 7th, 18:55
The elections are round the corner. They will do anything to gain power. If they have the interest of the country , they should reclaim this land for the general good.
alfred seguna
Dec 7th, 18:42
This is ridiculous.Spending our taxes money to support illegality.The mickey mouse Republic of Malta wasting time discussing to approve what they shouldn't even have let these things to arrive this far.They even are arrogant enough to supply plans how they want to embellish the area.BUT I think they are not stupid and the only ones to blame are those who promised them these things.Only these are responsible for this situation.These persons should buy land from their own pockets and give it free to these squatters.
Lesley Kreupl
Dec 7th, 18:02
I walked through Armier yesterday and can only say that it looked pretty third world to me. A real eyesore. To be fair it was relatively clean and tidy as it was deserted, but it is simply dreadful in summer with hundreds of people squatting there. I am not concerned about the water and electricity except for what it is going to cost the tax-payer, but could someone tell me what happens to the sewage? Is MEPA giving permission to encourage people to squat here and destroy the marine life in the area. Shame on you all sitting on the board!
I also wonder what the tourists staying in the Ramla Beach Hotel must think about their surroundings. What does the tourist authority and hotel owner say?
Mr. Walker, I think you and your staff need to start saying NO to GonziPN - this is not a case of votes, it is a case of destroying the environment!
M Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:16
Mr. Kreupl, this is a very old story which started more than 35/40 years ago. I agree with you that the MEPA need to start saying NO to the present government not on this case only but on many other cases. I do not know whether you was in Malta when the Laboutr Patry legalised a number of caravan and rooms which were illegally set up at the top of Ghadira. At that time no one uttered a single word. When the Nationalist government in the 90's tried to remove some of the rooms at armier bay, he did ot find any co-opeation from anyone. This is a poltical story which both political parties in Malta have their thumb in it. If they really want to eradicate this illegality they must meet together and support each other. If this is not done then both parties will be defending their poltical interest not to loose vote. Hope that if this is approved the Labour Party will issue a statement as it happenes in many other cases to critise the MEPA board decision. We have to wait and see what is going to happen.
s. caruana
Dec 7th, 17:54
Mhux taghmlu sub-station, imma startjaw il-gaffef u ergaw gibu kullimkien catt u ghatu lic-cittadin onest dik l-art li tiswa miljuni ta' Euros lura lill-poplu. Tal-misthija bini illegali gol-belt mas-swar,bini illegali r-ramla taz-Zejtun, gol-Gnejna u mbierek Alla ic-cittadin onest irrid jaghdi mill-burokrazzija kollha biex jaghmel olterazzjono fuq tieqa!! Sur Prim Ministru Ghax inti li tiehu kollox f'idejk, ara ma tahsibx li l-elezzjoni li gejja se tigi ggudikat fuq il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma biss, ghal kull vot li se tipprova takwista minn ghand dawn in-nies hemm id-doppju x'jintilfu. U int Dr. Muscat ghidilna ukoll x'se taghmel b' dawn l-irhula ta' korruzzjoni mifruxa ma' Malta, ma jinteresawnix biss l-kontijiet li qed tghid se trahas imma li l-kontijiet issiru ma kulhadd .
Paul Camilleri
Dec 7th, 17:36
One of the reasons brought forward by the illegal boathouse owners for the sanctioning of their illegal dwellings was that their premises had water and electricity supplied by government corporations (Enemalta and Water Services), hence government had acknowledged their position.
If Enemalta and Mepa approve such request they would be giving these illegal boathouse owners more rights to sustain and enforce their position. After all a simple "boathouse" does not need a heavy supply of electricity !!!!!!
Mr Francis Isherwood
Dec 7th, 18:20
And what about all the illegal buildings in St Thomas Bay, Lambordi, some even have electrical supplies without a meter??? where is the enforcement officer, he is supposed to visit his 'area' at least two times per week, and two new buildings have been built since last Christmas, and one has been extended to rival South Folks
Collen Isherwood
Mario Grima
Dec 7th, 17:21
What? The Mepa Board should turn down an application by Enemalta to build an electricity sub-station in Marfa - serving people who built 'boathouses' without permits. Are you kidding? And what about the electoral votes it may loose if such a decision is taken?
Anyone wants to bet on the outcome of this application?
Paul Caruana
Dec 7th, 17:16
Amazing, simply amazing....well done for the NGOs for pointing out the absurdity of this situation!
D. Xerri
Dec 7th, 17:15
What a terrible disgusting site of a whole illegal village of hundreds of structures STOLEN from the maltese to accomodate those who built illegally or bought illegal structures with the GonziPN`s Blessing at Mtarfa and Armier ! Its Clear that GonziPN has been weak for 23 years to act legally against those occupying these structures since all that GonziPN sees is Just VOTES to stay glued to those comfy chairs in Government ! After winning an election we usually see some theatrical farse of a few people being removed from illegal structures taken for entire years but then Nothing is Done against a whole community occupying thousands of square metres summer after summer for their amusement illegally taking that land away from every other maltese citizen who has the right to enjoy it too !
Joe Vella
Dec 7th, 18:41
D.Xerri the problem is that the PN is always left to CLEAN-UP IL-HNIZIRIJIET tal PL. It was during the PL time hat the boat houses were build and provided with electricity. Amongst them there were those that sat on Th Government side in the House of Representatives
Wilfred Camilleri
Dec 7th, 19:15
Both political parties are guilty in this instance. Both parties must commit on Parliament to end this farce. Both parties are afraid to lose votes. I haven't heard either leader stating in public in clear terms that they will bring an end to this farce.
M Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:23
il-Gvern nazzjonlista ipprova iwaqqa xi uhdu min dawn id-djar imma kulhadd jaf li sab resistenza mis-sidien. IL-Labour Party tal-1996-1998 ma ghamel xejn lanqas sabiex dawn il-illegalitajiet jitnehhew. Anzi nafu li hafna min dawn in-nies li jokkupaw dawn il-kmamar ilegali itajru il-bandiera tal-labour fuq il-kmamar f;certa okkazzjonijet. L-istess jaghmlu dawk tal-ghadira li kien il-labour partu li taghom il-permess ghax huma min huma fil-maggoranza taghhom. Allura tajjeb li nghidu li ma hemmx dak jew dan il-gvern li huwa f'izball imma il-politikanti kollha li matul dawn l-ahhar 40 sena kienu fit-tmexxija.
Mario Spiteri
Dec 7th, 16:55
I want to build a room on one of the big roundabouts which abound on this island. It will be complemented with turf, shrubs and flowers....Hekk u hekk jien vot ghandi, daqs min bena illegalment fuq art pubblika.
C Galea
Dec 7th, 16:45
If this permit is given all it will mean is that whoever breaks the law one day he will be rewarded .
No more no less
M Farrugia
Dec 7th, 20:27
naqbel mieghek mija fil-mija ikser il-ligi u llum jew ghada b'xi mod jew iehor tigi ippremjat. Dur dawra ma malta u ara kemm hawn lukandi, restauranti blokok ta flats li inbnew mhux skond il-permess u qisu ma gara xejn. Hekk jitmexxa dan il-pajjiz dawn ghax gfhandhom is-sahha hadd ma jista ghalihom, u inti jekk taghmel xi haga hazina tal-MEPA jeqerduk bl-inkwiet li jaghtuk. Taf ghaliex ghax inti dajjef bhali.
Gordon Galea
Dec 7th, 16:19
For the sake of integrity - knock down the illegal boat houses and bill the squatters for the expenses, rather than sustaining them!
Wilfred Camilleri
Dec 7th, 16:17
Stop this nonsense and insanity. MEPA was not created to sanction and abet illegal activity such as building on public land without a permit. If MEPA approves this sub-station the government should fire the MEPA board and the chairman. If they proceed with this, then every Maltese person should start building sea front boat houses since it would be obvious that MEPA and the government don't practice what they preach and do not have the guts to do what is right!
Edward Mallia
Dec 7th, 17:10
Come on Mr. Camilleri. By this morning the government should have already fired the Mepa board and the chairman for their "performance" last Monday in granting an IPPC permit to the Delimara Extension to burn Heavy Fuel Oil, on palpably fake arguments. And please remember that we are in election mode already.
What is the betting on Minister Fenech putting down water and electricity charges by or soon after the next Budget? He has already said that now is not the time to put them up, possibly to safeguard the living standards of the poor "boathouse" occupants.
Wilfred Camilleri
Dec 7th, 18:51
Mr. Mallia, let's fight one battle at a time.
This is about people stealing public land for their personal use with the government's blessing. Both parties are guilty of this particular injustice because both parties do not have the guts to come out and state unequivocally that they will remove all illegal buildings on public land (not just selectively removing buildings to appear being tough) without compensation. Both parties should commit in Parliament that people occupying public land illegally have a fixed number of months to remove their belongings before the police and the AFM clear them out and raze their buildings. Anyone resisting such an order should be hauled to jail and charged with illegal use of public property and breaking the law. In other countries, people doing this would be forced to pay the cost of clearing the land and restoring the land to its previous state.
This is what this is about not the power station.
M Vella***
Dec 7th, 16:02
application by Enemalta to build an electricity sub-station in Marfa - serving people who built 'boathouses' without permits.ONLY IN MALTA THE CAPITAL OF FOOLS.
Simon Oosterman
Dec 7th, 16:38
Well said
Giovann Demartino
Dec 7th, 17:50
And YOU are our President!