Environmentalist slams the way Parliamentary Environment Committee is being run

Prominent environmentalist Claire Bonello has slammed the way the Parliamentary Environment Committee is being run, arguing that the environment lobby “cannot understand why discussions to increase development zones in ODZ and agricultural land leapfrog over other discussions to preserve some measure of ODZ land.”

In a letter to the committee Chairman PL MP Alex Muscat, Bonello expressed concerns over the Parliamentary Environment Committee’s plan to discuss the Partial Review of the Ta’ Qali Action Plan before the public consultation closes, adding that the committee will not have the full picture by that time.

Lawyer Claire Bonello, on behalf of Futur Ambjent Wiehed and other eNGOs highlighted that the committee meeting is set for Wednesday 9 October.

“I find it extremely irregular to appoint a sitting of the Standing Committee well before the time for public consultation is closed on the topic. The public consultation period lapses on the 25th October - a full two weeks after the sitting of the committee.

“If the committee sitting is held before, there is the very clear risk that the committee will not be aware of all possible representations - making a mockery of the committee’s role as an expert, parliamentary entity to ensure a modicum of scrutiny of change of plans. Doesn’t the Committee want to be informed of all possible expert representations made by all possible stakeholders,” she asked.

“In this case, this is a very sensitive issue as the proposed change to the plan effectively means the urbanization of a green area and intensification of use - another incremental step in the urbanization of the ODZ and agricultural land leading from Attard to the bottom of Saqqajja Hill.

“I should think that this deserves greater scrutiny than this rushed pretend consultation at a premature stage. It is felt that the sitting before the committee will simply be a box-ticking exercise,” she said.

“It is of extreme concern to note that despite repeated and constant reminders for the committee to discuss the Public Domain applications supported by over 5000 citizens - which application has been filed a full three years ago, this discussion never makes it to the Committee’s Agenda.

“We cannot understand why discussions to increase development zones in ODZ and agricultural land, leapfrog over other discussions to preserve some measure of ODZ land,” she said.

“We note that the partial review of the Dingli Local Plan - to increase heights - has slalomed through the whole consultative process in 9 months. We cannot understand why our applications cannot be seen to with the same alacrity.”

She noted that discussion of the report regarding Public Domain designations which should be prepared by the PA and discussed by the committee is a mandatory obligation at law with specified deadlines and not a discretionary issue.

“The inertia of both the PA and the committee is resulting in the stultification of the whole Public Domain process which shows clear contempt of citizens and volunteers who give up time and resources to make representations, attend sittings and send constant reminders. It seems that this is to absolutely no avail as the only issues which are given attention or priority are those resulting in increased and unsustainable development whilst we are always told one excuse or another,” Bonello said.

She requested that the Public Domain discussion be put on the agenda in a timely manner and have the Ta’ Qali Plan Review discussed after the close of public consultations.

Environmentalist and politician Arnold Cassola also reacted, saying that: “We have all noticed that this parliamentary committee has become a sham, with its Chair just intent on justifying, getting through and facilitating any initiative concocted by the government and its building industry associates.”

Michael Briguglio also weighed in on the subject. He said that he believed the committee should meet more regularly and should provide ample time for discussion. “Besides, meetings should be structured to give due space to the presentation and discussion of scholarly/technical evidence on issues at stake.” He expressed his agreement with Bonello on the issues at hand.

“May I also remind you that the petition presented by Inħobbu lGżira regarding Manoel Island was presented to the Parliamentary Petition Committee last February and has not yet been discussed. The petition attracted a record 7,571 signatures in a few weeks. A subsequent petition comprising 916 signatures has also been presented to the Committee,” he said.