Din L-Art Helwa supports PN’s ODZ proposal

Din l-Art Ħelwa agrees with the Opposition’s plans that would see ODZ apllications require a two-thirds majority approval in Parliament.

The NGO said that the introduction of the new Policy for Rural Areas in 2014 “has done nothing to slow down development in the countryside.”

Yesterday, the Nationalist Party called for all land outside development zones to be fully protected, unless two-thirds of Parliament vote in favour of specific projects as exceptions.

To prevent an opposition party from permanently stifling a vote, PN leader Simon Busuttil said that such Bills will be subjected to a two-thirds vote for a maximum of two readings, after which the government will be able to pass it with a simple majority.

The two-thirds proposal was first put forward by a group of environmental NGOs – including Din l-Art Helwa - last summer in the wake of plans to build an educational institution on ODZ land at Zonqor Point.

“Beside the wholly objectionable decision to construct a new educational institute on rural land at Zonqor, which led to the largest ever environmental protest rally held in Malta, both small and large applications for development in ODZ land are constantly streaming in. The countryside is being eaten up by piecemeal and unnecessary development,” Din l-Art Helwa said.

The NGO reiterated that since all ODZ permits involve a violation or a change of a development boundary these should be approved by Parliament.

Din l-Art Helwa had proposed that all prospective ODZ permits, whether approved by the Planning Authority or by the Tribunal, should be sent to Parliament through the Parliamentary Committee for Planning and the Environment, for final endorsement as this would add a level of scrutiny to ODZ development.

“The PN proposal for a two-thirds majority takes this a step further, and Din l-Art Helwa therefore supports this proposal in principle.”