[WATCH] Animal welfare complicating enforcement against Montekristo, junior minister hints

Planning Authority comes into force

Parliamentary secretary for planning Deborah Schembri has faced questions on the lack of enforcement at Montekristo Estates, which is subject to multiple enforcement orders.

Addressing a press conference on the launch of the new Planning Authority – to replace MEPA – Schembri also confirmed that a meeting was held at Castille last Sunday night to discuss the way forward with regards to illegalities at Montekristo.

The meeting was held in the wake of the latest incident in which a 5-year-old boy was injured by a lioness, following a similar incident in November last year. The meeting included the Attorney General and police representatives.

Schembri however hinted that enforcement action was complicated because the welfare of the animals, some of which protected, had to be safeguarded.

“We have to ensure that any enforcement is done in a legal framework and without causing more harm.”

Faced with MaltaToday’s questions on whether the Planning Authority was committed not to regularise any planning infringements on the site, Chief Executive Johann Buttigieg insisted that the authority has managed to prevent any further illegalities and that the illegal zoo had stopped operating as was confirmed by a site visit earlier on this week. 

It was only on Sunday that the zoo was re-opened, lacking permission. “We are in the process of removing the other illegalities,” Buttigieg added.

He also revealed that, in a separate case, MEPA has taken action against eight different stables which were illegally being used as residences.

Planning Authority comes into force

Buttigieg announced a new simplified procedure for the issuance of permits in development zones through which permits deemed to conform with policies will be issued by the chairman of the Environment Planning Commission. 

These permits will still be published in newspapers and assessed by a case officer as happened today.  But the decision will not be taken in a public meeting by the entire board.

Buttigieg also committed the authority to ensure that permits are issued in 100 days while Schembri announced that the Authority will be subject to fines if it does not honour the timeframe in which a permit has to be issued. 

Schembri also heralded the appointment of a new Design Advisory Committee that will be chaired by Dr David Mallia that will be assessing the designs of new buildings to avoid the creation of new eyesores.

“When I look around I sometimes see buildings which improve the environment and others which degrade the environment around us. We have to ensure that we leave a better country for future generations,” Schembri said.

PA chairman Vince Cassar appealed to the media to be more responsible when reporting on the planning authority.

“What the public thinks of the authority is based on what is reported in the media.  The media should continue scrutinising every permit issued by the authority but at the same time it should also report the reasons given by the authority for taking its decisions.”