FAA Newsletter - June 11th 2008
|
Dear
Members, We're
back after a traumatic week. The MEPA Board's unprecedented
processing of two mega-projects in one day with only two days'
warning had us scrambling to prepare our presentations, only to be
told that we had 5 and 8 minutes respectively to explain our stand
on Fort Cambridge and Mistra, projects that are going to last for
more than a lifetime. In
the case of Fort Cambridge, we emphasised the need for a Social
Impact Survey and stressed the negative impact that 23 floors would
have on protected vistas of Valletta. The Sliema Council
members made similarly strong objections and the MEPA Board deferred
the decision, recognizing the illegality of approving 23 floors when
the Project Description Statement only granted 16. In
the case of the Mistra project, we again made strong objections on
the grounds that the draft MEPA Planning Policy document 2006
states specifically that no buildings will be allowed on ridges due
to the massive impact they will have on the landscape and on the
fact that there are 9000 empty dwellings in the area and therefore
there is no need for the addition of another 868 on a ‘ridge’.
Additionally, the Halcrow Report states that traffic congestion on
Xemxija Hill has reached saturation point and cannot withstand the
increased congestion which this mega project would produce
particularly on the archaeological sites nearby. Included
in this newsletter we are attaching our Press Release regarding these
issues. Another
FAA Press Release, also attached with this newsletter concerns the
control of political finances for sustainable planning. As
highlighted by the Prime Minister in his Parliamentary speech, the
Government is committed to regularise political party financing. FAA
maintains that the issue of political party financing now being
considered by Government is one of the root issues undermining
MEPA's correct functioning. The issue, admittedly, is very
sensitive, however the present political situation offers the
governing party a window of opportunity, which may be hard to come
by at a later stage. If this opportunity is not seized, much of the
work carried out so far by environmental NGOs stands to be lost. We
are also including a link to a questionnaire about Gozo landscapes
that forms part of a research project in connection with a doctoral
study. It would be much appreciated if you could spare some minutes
to fill in this short questionnaire. Each response would remain
anonymous and strictly confidential. The
Institute for Environmental Studies is pleased to announce that the
course Wildlife and Habitats of the Maltese Islands is being
organised between the 18th and 27th June, 2008. The course is open
to all those who are interested and want to acquire basic
information on the terrestrial environment of the Maltese islands.
We are also attaching the flyer and the application form for this
course. A Certificate of attendance will be awarded to participants
who complete the course. Early booking is recommended to ensure
participation. Any participants who wish to attend are welcome to
contact Ms. Julie Tabone on telephone number +356 2143 1910. In
the course of last week, we also met with Dr. Ali, an architectural
consultant on skyscrapers from the University of Chicago, brought
over by MEPA to look into the implications of tall buildings in
Malta. Although Dr. Ali is self-avowedly in favour of high-rise
buildings, after scrutinising the Maltese context he admitted that
skyscrapers might not be suitable for Malta for a number of reasons,
including our landscapes, lifestyles and culture, as well as the
fact that, as he said, "high-rise buildings are inappropriate
for family living". It
is extremely ironic that MEPA should be in the process of
re-assessing its stand on tall buildings, studying the reform of
most of its functions, changing Chairman, and yet, in the midst of
all this, rushing into decisions the consequences of which we and
our descendants will have to live with for our lifetimes. And all
this on World Environment Day! The
FAA Committee
2, St. Mary Street, B’KARA
Fort Cambridge and Mistra, communities at risk In
an unprecedented move, MEPA is going to decide on not one, but two
major project that are going to seal the fate of a town, a seaside
community and a main thoroughfare, with irreversible impacts for all
Malta. The
Fort Cambridge project proposes to add around 370 apartments to the
Tigne peninsula; if the Fort Cambridge, Townsquare and the extra
MIDI blocks are approved, it will mean the addition of over 1,800
new apartments in about seven years within the square kilometre of
Qui si-Sana/Tigne, set in an area that has over 4,500 vacant homes.
These apartments will bring with them the additional traffic of
about 4,000 cars, while the shops and offices will attract hundreds
of daytime commuters in violation of Policy NHHO 03, as the North
Harbour Local Plan admits that Sliema and St Julians have been
developed beyond capacity. The developer’s Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA) confirmed that the area already suffers from
traffic jams at peak times; more traffic will obviously result in
gridlock and a vast increase in toxic car emissions, to be inhaled
by the residents already facing rising rates of cancer and
respiratory problems. Flimkien
għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) maintains that the approval of
this application will certainly not honour MEPA’s commitment to
protect and enhance Malta’s residential areas, as increased
daytime traffic will trap children and old people in their homes,
while movement and noise generated by night visitors to commercial,
catering and entertainment premises will disturb residents’ rest. Wind
funnelling and open balconies at heights over ten stories are a
serious worry for residents due to the risk of accidents. The
proposed bank of tall buildings will block air and sunlight reaching
residences even streets away. A recent Richmond Foundation
Conference recently raised the issue that over-urbanisation
contributes to mental illness and social isolation; are we to
inflict this on our communities by approving projects simply to
enrich developers? Another
of the serious concern to FAA remains the threat to Malta’s
precious heritage. Specially designed as a new generation of
low-lying forts, Fort Cambridge will be completely obliterated by
the massive proportions of the blocks, which will be seen from all
over the Island. This violates the MEPA principle of key
protected vistas, just as it violates Valletta’s World Heritage
skyline which will be punctuated by an increasing number of tall
buildings which fall within its buffer zone. This will not
only risk its world heritage status but also make the Islands less
attractive to tourists and film companies, therefore impacting key
sectors of our economy. All
the above scenarios are repeated in the Mistra mega-project
application which is to be discussed in the afternoon. FAA
maintains that it is not possible to justify a project to create 868
new apartments in an area having 9,000 empty properties. MEPA
and ADT are well aware that both the Halcrow Report and the T10
study clearly state that Xemxija Hill is already overloaded with
traffic and cannot support any increase. It is for this reason
that neither a Tall Building nor any project that develops the site
more intensively than the previous Mistra Village should be
permitted considering the road’s limitations. Alternatives
have already been explored and found to be unfeasible, therefore
granting a permit which would increase traffic through Xemija Hill
would be highly irresponsible of the MEPA Board. Again
the Mistra project would have a great negative impact on the
landscape, both from sea and from land, especially as it is to be
built on a ridge which is not allowed according to FAR regulations.
The development will also imperils our heritage as the EIA stated
that the unique Underground Flour Mill would be placed at risk by
the building works which will involve the road that forms the
ceiling of the mill. Approval
of these projects which have not taken into account the full
energy/water efficiency 2007 regulations, will not only further
deteriorate our climate change prospects but also expose the
taxpayer to major fines for not conforming to EU Energy Directives.
With emissions from particulate matter at some 38 times higher than
the highest international recommended levels, Malta’s air
pollution problems will also be aggravated. Yesterday
the MEPA Board published the outline of its highly positive
proposals for MEPA reform. Approval of these projects in clear
violation of scores of local and international regulations on the
eve of MEPA reform will certainly ring hollow. It is of course
not for the Prime Minister to interfere, but in taking on MEPA, he
took on a leadership role. As such all the nation looks
to him to ensure that regulations are not broken and that
residents’ quality of life comes before developers’ profits.
04.06.08
2, St. Mary Street, B’KARA
Control
of political finances for sustainable planning Flimkien
għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) is gratified that not only
has the Prime Minister highlighted the importance
of sustainable development
and the need for MEPA reform in his recent Parliamentary speech, but
has also confirmed the Government’s commitment to regularise
political party funding. Over
the past few weeks, FAA
has actively put forward several solutions towards a better
environment which could be implemented
even before MEPA’s structures and
regulations are overhauled, a process which will take time.
These measures include the reconstituting of the DCC boards with a
reduced complement on a full-time basis, while building up the
departments of enforcement, heritage and nature protection as well
as strengthening the MEPA Auditor’s Office. FAA
maintains that the issue of
political party financing now being
considered by Government is one of the root issues undermining MEPA’s
correct functioning. The issue,
admittedly, is very sensitive,
however the present political situation offers
the governing party a window of opportunity,
which may be hard to come by at a later stage. If this opportunity
is not seized, much of the work carried
out so far by environmental NGOs stands to
be lost. No
one can deny that the main political parties have, over the years,
undertaken considerable financial obligations tied to electoral
campaigns, property ownership and building
of headquarters as well as the ongoing burden of the party media.
These financial obligations, without any attempt to regulate the
acquisition of finances have, at times, ended up on the construction
industry’s doorstep, which in turn has put a lot of undue pressure
on the property market, and more seriously on the planning process,
to the detriment of the public interest. This much has in fact
already been expressed to some degree in the press, however FAA is
concerned that the authorities may not fully
recognise the fact that a part of
MEPA’s problems may possibly stem from such political financing. FAA
maintains that all the favourable pointers indicate that the time is
now ripe to ensure that MEPA officials are able to get on with
their
work without
any undue pressure, which would permit MEPA to finally become
a truly reformed and just environment Authority rather than being
regarded by some as
a mere provider of permits. Now is
the time for Government to regularise party financing, and eliminate
any risk of MEPA being drawn into political/developer financing once
and for all.
24.05.08
Landscapes of Gozo Questionnaire
We would immensely appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to fill in this short questionnaire. This is part of a research in connection with a doctoral study and each response would remain anonymous and strictly confidential. The questionnaire can be found at the following link. http://landscapes.gozo.sgizmo.com
Click here to download a larger image of the flyer
Click here to download the application form for this course
|
