NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar agrees that MEPA review is needed

FAA coordinator Astrid Vella welcomes the PL's pledge to review MEPA's functions.

"The FAA has long called for a separation of the environment directorate from MEPA and its integration with the Resources Authority, but questions have to be asked. Not enough detail has been provided yet. Is this new environment authority only going to have one vote on the MEPA planning board, which could leave it in an even weaker situation than it is presently," Vella questioned

Vella stressed that "the devil is in the detail."

"The NGO is still extremely concerned about the lack of importance being given to the issue of over-development. This has been identified by the public as the major environmental problem facing the Maltese islands," Vella said.

"The PL's commitment to review Local Plans is positive however it contradicts the proposal to extend permits for an extra five years.  Given the fact that Local Plans may take four years to be drawn up, this could result in yet more over-development if permits issued while the Local Plans are being drawn up, are subsequently renewed, and continue to be valid in 15 years' time."

When contacted by MaltaToday, Michael Falzon of the Malta Developers Association said that the MDA still had to discuss the proposals and would be commenting at the appropriate juncture.

Offering his own personal opinion Falzon said, "I have always been against the current amalgamation. At the moment, the issuance of compliance certificates is a bureaucratic monolith. Allowing architects to issue compliance certificates is a very sensible idea. Architects are expected to work in a professional manner, which they will."