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‘Developers’ rule is ruining Malta’ – Moviment Graffiti
Moviment Graffiti turns up at Republic Day celebrations holding placards against overdevelopment.
13 December 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
1 min read
Moviment Graffitti held a symbolic action on Republic Day highlighting the problem of environmental destruction and "the huge influence" developers continue to wield on Malta's policies.
In the last three decades Malta has seen a boom of construction development which took away huge chunks of its natural landscape.
"Though we have clearly reached a saturation point of built-up areas, the government and its institutions continue to push forward policies favouring the construction industry," the NGO said.
MEPA's draft document on ODZ regulations, if implemented, will open the floodgates to more development within the natural landscape and make congested urban areas even more unlivable. "These proposals, if approved, will allow new buildings in ODZ (in the name of 'agro-tourism'), change-of-use of existing structures in ODZ and the height-increase of existing tall buildings," it said.
The left-wing NGO said MEPA had for far too long been serving the interests of developers at the expense of the environment.
"Scores of development projects have been approved in an irregular manner, while eyes remain closed in front of development illegalities," it said.
The latest example is that of Mistra where, though the Ombudsman highlighted the irregularities in the issuing of a permit for this mammoth structure, the government and MEPA are adamantly refusing to revoke it.
"We believe that behind all this lies the financial and political power of Maltese developers. It is well know that they finance the two big political parties in Malta. Thus, one shouldn't be surprised that these parties continue to drag their feet in coming up with a party financing law. Governments in Malta change, but one thing certainly remains the same - Developers Rule."
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I said it before but you cannot stop progress and yes tall buildings are a way of the future for Malta. We cannot go wide so our other alternative is to go high. This is happening all over the world and Malta is no exception. We don't like it but that is the way it is if we are to save some of the little open spaces we have left. Maybe we can slow down the developers but we cannot stop them, especially if we have to accommodate the over population and the same time cater to the tourist that we depend on for a living. Nobody is asking for those high scrapers but they are necessary in order to save the only open spaces we have left. Cannot have the cake and eat it too. I too am against high rises but it seems we have no choice and the government and the NGOs know it.
