Front calls for firmer commitment towards ending commercialisation of ODZ land

Front Ħarsien ODZ has called for a firmer commitment to ensure that no government-owned ODZ land is allocated for commercial development of any kind.

“We demand a firm commitment from all parties to ensure that no land which is presently ODZ is included in new development boundaries,” the eNGO said.

Front was making reference to the Nationalist Party’s new environmental policy, which it, for the most part, welcomed, describing it as “proposing improved environment governance compared to the current state of affairs, which is characterised by a governance deficit and lack of environmental sensibility.”

Front said that the PN’s environment document is positive overall but that some other proposals require clearer commitments.

Front called on the PN to substantiate its proposed “zero-tolerance approach to illegal development, particularly that which is carried out in ODZ areas” by committing itself to reintroduce the clause in the 2010 planning law which precluded the Planning Authority from regularising illegal ODZ development.

“The reintroduction of this clause is of a crucial importance as it would put an end to the build now, sanction later mentality.” 

Front added that it expected the PN to commit itself to restore Armier land to public ownership and to rehabilitate it as public open space, making reference to Simon Busuttil’s past declaration, where he said that he is no longer bound by 2003 and 2008 agreements by his party which committed government to hand over 230 tumoli of public land in Armier to Armier Developments Limited on 65-year lease against an annual €350,000 payment.

Among the PN’s proposals, Front welcomed the emphasis given in the document to safeguarding agricultural land and to water management but called for a firmer stance against boreholes which it said extract unsustainable amounts for water.