Labour to divide MEPA in two, environment wing to join MRA

A Labour government would separate the Environment Authority from the Planning Authority and turn the Malta Resources Authority into an Environment and Resources Authority. The development wing of MEPA would become the Authority for Planning and Sustainable Development.

Addressing the press in front of the MEPA offices in Floriana, Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning unveiled Labour's plans for the current Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Insisting that the Nationalist Government's MEPA reform was a "failure" and that it has contributed to excessive bureaucracy which has stifled development while also not safeguarding the local environment, Muscat announced Labour's plans to split MEPA's dual functions.

He said that MEPA's environmental function would be transferred to the existing Malta Resources Authority, which would become the Environmental and Resources Authority, while MEPA would become the Authority for Planning and Sustainable Development.

"MEPA's current function must be divided to eliminate the conflict that exists between the two functions. This separation would enable greater balance between development and environment protection and allow for more sustainable development," Muscat said, adding that this division of functions was recommended by environmental NGOs and the Malta Developers Association independently.

Muscat added that Labour is also proposing the establishment of a Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Development that will afford the sector greater political scrutiny.

He added that a representative of the Environmental and Resources Authority would also sit on the board of the Authority for Planning and Sustainable Development.

"We see this method as the most preferred. As things stand today, the environmental wing of MEPA simply make recommendations that can be ignored," he said.

Among Labour's proposals, Muscat also pointed to the need for a greater consolidation of enforcement efforts across multiple departments to cut down on overlapping and maximising effectiveness.

Muscat added said that Labour is envisaging a revision of the planning tariffs.

"These would be revised within a matter of weeks into the new legislature," he said. Without saying by how much, Muscat insisted that the hike in tariffs had led to "development stagnation".

He also said that Labour is envisaging a situation where development tariffs would encourage the renovation

Moreover, a Labour government is proposing that architects would be allowed to issue compliance certificates on development.

However, Muscat stressed, the Labour party is not approaching this idea lightly, and insisting that architects will be held responsibility for the reliability of the permits issued.

He warned that there would be "sanctions" for those architects who do not follow the guidelines to issue such permits, as agreed upon with the Malta Developers Association.

Muscat is also proposing that local councils should be represented on boards discussing major projects affecting particular localities.

He said that what would make a project a  'major one' would not be a matter of opinion, but will be a matter of established protocol, which will also specify how the composition of application boards would change once local council representatives would join it.

A Labour government, he added, would set up a fund for environment NGOs to help them financially in carrying out research projects.

Muscat said a future government would appoint an NGO representative on both the Authority for Planning and Sustainable Development and the Environmental and Resources Authority boards from a list of nominees submitted by the NGOs themselves.

Questioned about Labour's stance on the politically-controversial Armier boathouses questions Muscat was evasive.

"We believe that the Armier issue totally different from other issues. We need to examine the issue carefully. Today we are not in a position where we have all the necessary information about it. We are wiling to study a realistic solution for Armier than is just for all involved," Muscat said.

Muscat also said that the Labour party is open to the idea that political party representatives no longer sit on development boards.

"I have no problem with no longer having political representatives sitting on planning boards. The parliamentary committee should provide the necessary political scrutiny."

However, Muscat said that this is a debate that should be tackled by a government and an opposition after the election.

"Government should not impose a change like this. It needs discussion between government and opposition. Otherwise, there is a risk that we appear as if we're cutting down on scrutiny."

Asked about the costings of Labour's proposals, Muscat said that given that Labour is simply proposing the re-structuring of two existing government entities, he said that the proposals would not mean additional subsidies for Malta's environmental and development sector.

Asked about ODZ areas, Muscat also said that Labour does not envisage any opportunity for development areas to increase.

He also clarified that the PL's proposal to extend existing MEPA permits means that they will be renewed for an additional five years.