A united front of NGOs are once again calling on Prime Minister Robert Abela to immediately withdraw the two planning bills presented in Parliament at the end of July, and instead launch a genuine consultation process through the publication of a White Paper.

As long promised by the Government, provisions for suspending works during planning appeals should go ahead immediately by means of an amendment to the existing law, but without any other changes that would downgrade the rights of appellants.

The presentation of these bills was an exercise in dishonesty and deceit. Disguised as a much-needed reform of the planning appeals process, the Government attempted to rush through legislation that would dismantle nearly all existing safeguards in the environment and planning sectors, while seriously undermining the public’s right to appeal.

It was only thanks to the widespread and rightful public outcry that this attempt was temporarily halted, forcing the Government to delay Parliamentary debate until after the summer recess. However, the threat remains very real as the bills have not been withdrawn.

While the undersigned NGOs remain open to genuine discussions on planning reform – something the country sorely needs – the current Bills, particularly the Bill amending the Development Planning Act, are beyond repair. These Bills reflect a developers’ wishlist, not the common good. They would grant unchecked powers to the Planning Authority and pave the way for a wave of destructive development that would devastate our environment and quality of life.

If these dangerous Bills are not withdrawn, the organisations will escalate their campaign to stop what is effectively a developers’ coup. The public is urged to prepare for the fight ahead. Anyone who wishes to stay informed and join the fight can do so by filling out this form.

Organisations
Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust – FEE Malta
Ramblers Association
Wirt Għawdex

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L-għaqdiet itennu t-talba tagħhom lill-Gvern biex jirtira l-abbozzi tal-liġi dwar l-ippjanar, u jħeġġu lill-pubbliku jħejji ruħu għall-ġlieda li ġejja

Front magħqud ta’ NGOs reġa’ qed isejjaħ lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela sabiex immedjatament jirtira ż-żewġ abbozzi ta’ liġijiet dwar l-ippjanar li tressqu fil-Parlament fl-aħħar ta’ Lulju, u minflok jniedi proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni ġenwina billi tiġi ppubblikata White Paper.

Kif ilu jiġi mwiegħed mill-Gvern, id-dispożizzjonijiet sabiex ix-xogħlijiet jiġu sospiżi waqt li jkun għaddej l-appell għandhom jiġu implimentati minnufih billi tiġi emendata l-liġi eżistenti, iżda mingħajr ma jsir ebda tibdil ieħor li jnaqqas id-drittijiet tal-appellanti.

Il-preżentazzjoni ta’ dawn l-abbozzi saret b’mod diżonest u qarrieqi. Filwaqt li ġew ippreżentati bħala riforma meħtieġa ħafna fil-proċess tal-appelli tal-ippjanar, il-Gvern ipprova jgħaddi malajr liġi li għandha l-għan li teqred kważi kull salvagwardja eżistenti fil-qasam tal-ambjent u tal-ippjanar, filwaqt li tnaqqas b’mod serju d-dritt tal-pubbliku li jappella.

Kien biss grazzi għar-rabja mifruxa u ġustifikata tal-pubbliku li dan it-tentattiv ġie mwaqqaf temporanjament, u l-Gvern kien imġiegħel jipposponi d-dibattitu Parlamentari sakemm jerġa’ jiltaqa’ wara l-waqfa tas-sajf. Madankollu, it-theddida tibqa’ reali ħafna peress li l-abbozzi għadhom ma ġewx irtirati.

Filwaqt li l-NGOs iffirmati hawn taħt jibqgħu miftuħin għal diskussjonijiet ġenwini dwar riforma tal-ippjanar – xi ħaġa li l-pajjiż verament għandu bżonn – l-abbozzi preżenti, b’mod partikolari l-abbozz li jemenda l-Att dwar l-Ippjanar tal-Iżvilupp, ma jistgħu qatt jiġu kkunsidrati. Dawn l-abbozzi jirriflettu lista tax-xewqat tal-iżviluppaturi, u mhux il-ġid komuni. Huma jagħtu setgħat bla kontroll lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar u jwittu t-triq għal mewġa ta’ żvilupp distruttiv li se jikkawża ħsara kbira lill-ambjent u lill-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħna.

Jekk dawn l-abbozzi perikolużi ma jiġux irtirati, l-għaqdiet se jeskalaw il-kampanja tagħhom biex iwaqqfu dak li fil-fatt huwa kolp ta’ stat mill-iżviluppaturi. Il-pubbliku huwa mħeġġeġ iħejji ruħu għall-ġlieda li ġejja. Kull min jixtieq jibqa’ infurmat u jingħaqad fil-ġlieda jista’ jagħmel dan billi jimla din il-formola.

Għaqdiet
Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust – FEE Malta
Ramblers Association
Wirt Għawdex