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Well done MaltaToday, for emphasising the severe implications of the rationalisation of the development zones. Rationalisation en bloc on such a large scale on such time frames can be nothing but scandalous. I, as an organic farmer, find it contradictory that such large areas of land be given up for urban sprawl when the same minister declares that he is advocating the increase of land devoted to organic farming.
I have long been advocating that agricultural land be made ‘sacrosanct’ with intense effort to make all Malta totally organic. Malta, being an island archipelago, has this potential. I have maintained that conventional agriculture cannot compete with imported produce, a fact substantiated by local farmers.
We talk of the branding of Malta as a unique tourist destination. The making of Malta as an organic/eco archipelago is the best branding we can give Malta on par with our history and unique national identity. But this can never be achieved by ruining our natural rural environment. Organic/eco Malta would include apiculture, vineyards, olive groves and pasture for cheese producing sheep. The minister speaks of the necessity of buffer zones for organic sustainability. The Manikata bypass will disqualify large tracts of land for organic farming by intrusion of car fuel pollution.
Government, please get your act together. Please find some hints below.
1) Forget about golf courses. We cannot afford the space or the risk. The land will be made irreversibly and ecologically redundant.
2) Think about implementation of modern transport systems. It is as if ministers have never travelled abroad. Think about electric metro, underground where possible, water taxis and, yes, cable cars even to Mdina.
3) Get rid of abusive stone quarries. They are blasting Malta to bits, interfering with natural underground streams and ruining Malta’s natural topography.
4) Put meters on bore holes, not least the illegal ones. Mine is legal, put one on mine first and don’t leave anybody out. Our underground water will not be there in a few years’ time and we will not afford the bill for oil required to convert sea water into drinking water. Tell the truth about nitrates.
5) Invest in alternative energy sources, now, before it is too late. Oil prices will not just sky rocket; the oil won’t even be available.
6) Make agricultural land untouchable to land developers. Development should be agricultural and organic thus enhancing and sustaining our rural/natural heritage.
7) Eliminate the urban sprawl from the countryside. No room for excuses of schools, hospitals and old peoples’ homes. These people are always welcome to visit the countryside. No need for them to occupy it with their grotesque buildings and multitude of polluting cars. Rationalise existing, unused buildings. Lots of them exist.
8) Scrap this en bloc rationalisation. Plenty are not rational at all.
9) Ignore the pressure from big businessmen whose only interest is to fatten their already fat purses.
10) Get rid of old melancholy cabinet politicians and invest in positively pro-active up-comers.
By such action our mainstay, tourism, will flourish up-market and our quality of life will be enhanced. People need more open spaces and exposure to natural landscapes to combat the pressures of life.
We need politicians with vision and courage. Malta can be sold to the world in this way. It is a great pity for Malta that on the political time scale, these are too far and few between. We need politicians with the skills and determination to bring Malta round. Indeed, where are all the heroes?
David Mallia
Mgarr
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