Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/776046
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2017 3 News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Busuttil conceded that his party, histori- cally having increased Malta's development boundaries in 2006 to great protest, might not have the best of records. But he pledged a forward-looking approach that does not tackle planning trivialities, but the issues that affect the country. "The skyline, the use of undeveloped land, whether we are go- ing to make our country another Dubai…. There is no doubt that Joseph Muscat and his Cabinet's plan is the 'Dubai-ification' of our country." There will be no plans to reform the de- merged Planning Authority under a future PN administration, but the PN would give existing authorities the tools and the capac- ity to decide fairly. Both planning and envi- ronmental authorities would also be given back their autonomy "so as to be able to take their decisions free from the political inter- ference that has all but hamstrung their op- erations under a Labour government." The PN is insisting that the Paceville mas- terplan be scrapped altogether. Busuttil also pointed out that the Townsquare project was approved by the Planning Board by one vote, with the chairman of the Environment and Resources Authority having been ab- sent. He made a public appeal to investors to "review their plans and listen to the people" and act out of their own volition to challenge exaggerated development plans. Among the proposals, the PN says it is promising a zero tolerance approach to- wards illegal development and to ensure good governance on environmental protec- tion with entities "sufficiently resourced with competent persons." The PN will draft a national high-rise pol- icy to achieve a skyline policy for the whole country, ensuring the established skyline is respected "without exception." Schemes to award retailers setting up shop in areas targeted for regeneration and a re- duction of property taxes for these areas, and further income tax reduction for leas- ing commercial property in these areas, are among the proposals. A new architectural policy will incentivise high energy efficiency standards, both in new buildings as well as in restored proper- ties in areas that desperately need regenera- tion, by reducing capital gains tax. A compensation process would address situations where new building heights over- shadow adjacent existing neighbouring solar energy installations. The possibility of State compensation for the affected party was also mooted. The document proposes the abolition of Prime Ministerial discretion on authorising ODZ development and replacing it with a vote requiring a two-thirds Parliamentary majority. "'ODZ' has become a cliché. It is time to give it a true meaning," the PN docu- ment reads, confirming an intention to move forward with the proposal to render deci- sions affecting ODZ land "truly transparent and open to public scrutiny once and for all." Major projects of national importance, whether coming from the public or private sector would, after successfully making it through the normal planning procedures and being approved by the PA, would then be submitted to parliament for approval. Saying the party was "acutely aware" of the controversy surrounding the environmental impact of fish farms – which the PN in gov- ernment was its main proponent back in the 1990s – the party said public anger "was fully justified" but committed to ensure that the industry's continued operation, "contingent on its meeting environmental standards and its relocation further offshore." The PN pledged to address traffic con- gestion "immediately upon election" with a "new multi-modal transport system" to be announced in a separate policy document. On water use, the PN wants to curb the "worrying statistics" that show Malta has a 92% dependency on external water sources by, amongst other measures, legally requir- ing new buildings to provide water cisterns for water collection and to reuse second class water. But the metering of boreholes into the water table was absent. Limiting air pollution and exposure to air and noise pollution would come through, amongst other measures, an audit of all government owned vehicles and plants for emission compliance and replacement with electric vehicles. "I have no doubt that the Prime Minister's environmental policy reflects his values, as this does mine," Simon Busuttil said. "The PN had always worked for wealth but there is other wealth that doesn't involve money. Natural beauty and health… There are some things that you cannot measure in monetary terms but which are crucial to the quality of our lives." magius@mediatoday.com.mt Busuttil presents PN's green pledge Simon Busuttil: "The skyline, the use of undeveloped land, whether we are going to make our country another Dubai…. There is no doubt that Joseph Muscat and his Cabinet's plan is the 'Dubai-ification' of our country."