Government property division suggested Zonqor Point, Fort San Leonardo for AUM

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority opted for Zonqor Point because the development of the American University of Malta at the site would have the “least environmental impact”, compared with Fort San Leonardo.

Replying to questions during the parliamentary select committee for the environment, MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg said his office had turned to the Government Property Division requesting the possible sites in the south of Malta conforming to what the government was requesting.

The only two options presented by the Government Property Division were Zonqor Point and Fort San Leonardo.

Explaining that the structural plan as is today allows the development of buildings in ODZ areas as long as they’re tied to educational and health projects, Buttigieg said MEPA had come up with the least environmentally harmful proposal.

According to Buttigieg, there were occasions when MEPA told government “not to even consider” certain projects because they would not be environmentally viable.

“In this case the government said it wanted the project and the amount of land requested by the government can’t be found in development zones,” he said.

The comment however raised the ire of Opposition MPs Ryan Callus and Marthese Portelli who said that MEPA “should not act as an extension of some government department”.

Buttigieg confirmed that MEPA had chosen the site between two options, with backbencher Marlene Farrugia commenting that Buttigieg “was acting according to government’s direction”.

The committee met this evening to discuss the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED). Buttigieg confirmed that the document had not been taken into consideration because MEPA was still regulated by the structural plan.

Buttigieg confirmed that MEPA’s report on Zonqor Point will be passed on to Callus on Thursday.

The questioning on the Zonqor Point project was however halted when parliamentary secretary for lands Michael Falzon said he will not allow “a political hijack” of the meeting which should have been focusing on the SPED which is out for consultation.

However, Farrugia said the questions being put forward were legitimate as “decisions taken in the recent days went against the what the SPED was saying”.

Buttigieg defended MEPA’s choice saying that the authority’s role was to give government the best advice in the most objective manner: “We are paid to give government a service.”