Malta cannot afford further loss of agricultural land – AD

Alternattiva Demokratika said MEPA's new Outside Development Zone Policy encourages the uptake of more agricultural land through its proposals encouraging the construction of new structures Outside the Development Zone.

Calling for a wholesome revision of MEPA's draft ODZ policy, AD said it expected that the consultation document emphasises that ODZ illegal constructions are to be pulled down.

"AD further hopes that the consultation document will not be used to justify a proliferation of workshops (sprayers, panel beaters ....) or villas outside the development zone."

The Greens said that it would have been "much better if the consultation document advocated the re-use of legally existing structures prior to proposing policies encouraging new construction on green land outside the development zone."

"Malta cannot afford the uptake of more agricultural land for construction purposes. Nor can it afford the shifting of the speculative industries from the urban to the agricultural zones," AD said.

Moreover, the policy fails to quantify and localise the areas outside the development zone where structures originally constructed for agricultural purposes and are currently not in use.

The document including 38 different policies proposes the consolidation, with substantial amendments, of current policies applicable to agriculture buildings and the area outside the development zone.

 "In particular the document does not identify whether any particular area in Malta and Gozo contains any significant number of abandoned agricultural buildings."

In its submissions to MEPA as part of the consultation process relative to ODZ policies, the Green Party explained that the document makes various policy proposals on the re-use and re-development of existing structures outside the development zone.

MEPA's new policy also introduces proposals for the construction of structures which previously were not permissible in terms of current land use planning policy.

"AD considers it essential that a stock take of agricultural buildings which have fallen into disuse or are abandoned should have been carried out. Likewise no study identifying the extent of illegal constructions outside the development zone has been made available. A Policy applicable to the Area Outside the Development Zone is of little use without such basic inputs."

The Green Parrty noted that it would have been helpful if a clear picture as to the impacts of the decline in the pig and poultry industry were documented.

"If such studies have been carried out they should not have been retained for MEPA's internal use but should have been made public in order to inform consultees as to the considerations taken into account in drafting the proposed policies."

It would also have been appropriate for MEPA to justify its agri-tourism proposals, AD added.

The Greens also pointed out that the proposal to permit the construction of ten rooms not exceeding 400 square metres in area was "excessive."

Drawing a parallel with Italy, AD said that in the neighbouring country agri-tourism has been encouraged and supported by the state for at least 25 years  and the average size of an agri-tourism establishment is of ten beds, approximately translating to half the size recommended by MEPA's consultation document.

While insisting that the re-use or re-development, including the change of use of existing agricultural buildings which are currently either under-utilised is positive and should be encouraged, AD said that this should apply to the proposed uses compatible with agriculture and agri-touristic projects.

AD also said that the consultation document fails to propose policies which stem the fragmentation of agricultural holdings into smaller units.

"If the strategic importance of agriculture to the Maltese economy is to be addressed further fragmentation of agricultural holdings has to be reversed. The consultation document goes in a completely opposite direction through encouraging and facilitating fragmentation of agricultural holdings."

AD's submissions were presented by Deputy Chairman Carmel Cacopardo and agricultural spokesperson Simon Galea. The consultation process draws to an end this week, with the deadline for submissions set for tomorrow.