MEPA chairman says value of planning aesthetics remains important

57% of respondents to a survey by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority believe the government is not doing enough for the environment, researcher Dr Marie Briguglio told a conference today.

The result was compounded by the admission that 73% felt that citizens themselves were not doing enough for the environment.

But many said that proper enforcement of environmental laws, through fines, were the most effective ways of sanctioning legal breaches, and 86% felt that protecting the environment could boost economic growth.

A positive development was that almost half of respondents said they recycle their waste, while one-third actually take their trash to a recycling site, while one in 15 composted their organic waste.

Parliamentary secretary for planning and administrative simplification Michael Farrugia today hailed his government's decision to divide MEPA's environment and planning units, after they were fused in 2009 under the Nationalist government's reforms. "It's only the first step in the MEPA restructuring process. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of good communication between MEPA and the public."

Farrgia said MEPA was currently reviewing many applications for permits, "most of which are innovative and will create jobs," he said. "We don't want more of the same, we want to be innovative but always keep in mind three important factors - the environment, the economy and the social impact.

"This government, for instance, has made it a priority to identify important ODZ areas. Furthermore, we need to make a choice whether to build horizontally or vertically but not both."

Farrugia also said that the government, along with MEPA, was trying to tackle the issue of vacant properties in Malta. "It has been well reported that there are many vacant properties in Malta, however many of these properties have a compliance certificate preventing them from being sold. MEPA is trying to solve such issues."

MEPA chairman Vince Cassar was also speaking at the conference and stressed the need for a modern process. "It is very important that MEPA, like any other organization, continues to modernize in today's ever-changing world. We want to make MEPA a more client-friendly entity, using a fast-tracking procedure and a process of screening. Furthermore, today we are consulting with the public, NGOs and local councils much more than in the past," he said.

"We want to implement a three-dimensional approach whilst applying integrated resource management. Splitting the environment and planning sectors will surely help to make the running of MEPA a much more efficient process," he said.

Cassar, an architect by profession, also stressed that MEPA was looking to give more importance to quality in the design of buildings.

"We want designs with quality. The importance on aesthetics is something that we've seemed to have forgotten over the years. This, of course, is something which MEPA is looking to improve," he said.