Luqa council objects to Wied Garnaw development

Labour-led Luqa council opposed to ODZ development in vicinity of the Wied Garnaw valley

Wied Garnaw
Wied Garnaw

The Luqa local council has pronounced itself against the development of a private old people’s home in an outside development zone (ODZ) near the Wied Garnaw valley, located between Santa Lucija and Luqa.

During a meeting held last Wednesday the Labour-led council unanimously voted to object to the development.

“The council is not in principle against the development of an old people’s home but an alternative site should be found for this development which is not ODZ.”

The council expressed its concern that the development would create a precedent for even more development in the outskirts of Luqa.

Speaking on behalf of the Santa Lucija Action committee Catherine Polidano thanked the Luqa council for taking a stand on this issue.

The Santa Lucija local council is expected to discuss this issue next Friday.

In 2007 the Malta Environment and Planning Authority had refused the construction of 12 maisonettes on the same  agricultural zone that is now being identified for the development of a four-storey, private residence for the elderly.

The outside-development-zone (ODZ) application is considered as a major test case on the environmental credentials of the new administration, as any approval would represent a clear reversal of past policies to keep the area free from development.

The four-storey home for the elderly is being proposed on 4,472 square metres of ODZ land along Luqa Road, next to the Garnaw Valley reservoir.

Architect Robert Sarsero, a member of the environment and planning review tribunal that decides appeals against permits issued by MEPA, filed the application on behalf of applicant Neville Schembri, a director and shareholder in Healthmark Care Services.

Sarsero, a private architect and chairman of the Freeport, was appointed to the tribunal by the present administration after it reversed a ban made by the previous administration on private architects serving on planning boards.

An online petition, 2,000 signatures strong, is urging MEPA to refuse this application.