[WATCH] American uni on ODZ land proposed as natural park in 2006

Selling off Zonqor for the 'American University'?

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A significant part of the area currently being proposed as a university campus was included in a natural park approved in the 2006 local plan for the south of Malta.

The local plan approved in 2006 included both a map (SM1) and a policy (SMIA 13) which earmarked L-Ghassa tal-Munxar in Marsascala and the coastal stretch between Il-Ponta taz-Zonqor (Marsascala) and Blata l-Bajda (Xghajra), as a natural park.

But despite its inclusion in the  approved local plan as a natural park, the site earmarked for the campus was deemed 'acceptable'  by the "coordination office" of MEPA Chief Executive Officer Johann Buttigieg.

This could either mean that the MEPA CEO’s office was unaware of the local plan policies regulating development for the area, or that MEPA is overruling the local plan it is meant to uphold.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has declared that the proposed park is “complimentary” to the ODZ campus development. Moreover the developers, Jordanian construction firm Sadeen Group, have also committed to part-finance the natural park.

But effectively it turns out that the developers will be taking part of the  proposed natural park, which already carries the seal of approval in a legally binding local plan. MEPA' s Planning Directorate normally recommends a refusal for any development deemed to be in breach of policies enshrined in the approved local plan. 

The local plan approved in 2006 designates the area known as L-Ghassa tal-Munxar and the coastal stretch between Zonqor point and Blata l-Bajda (Xghajra), as “National Parks primarily for informal recreation (e.g. walking, cycling) and the appreciation of the ecological, geological, archaeological as well as cultural-historical features of these areas.”

“Within these parks priority will be given to the conservation, protection and improvement of the natural and cultural-historical heritage. Positive provision will also be made for receational uses consistent with this objective.”

Only limited commercial development related to the needs of the visitors can be approved in the approved natural park and this has to be identified by the Management Plan to be prepared for each of the areas.

Despite designating the area as a natural park as far back as 2006, PN government did not proceed to approve management plans for the different areas of the natural park. In 2009 part of the site was even proposed for re-located caravans but this idea was scrapped after NGOs objected.

Nine years later under a Labour government the natural park is effectively being reduced in size to accommodate an ODZ campus.