Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1414808
9 ANALYSIS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 SEPTEMBER 2021 industrial needs, particularly of those sec- tors the country is attracting. All kinds of industries have different land-use needs. Vertical industrial devel- opment could intensify urban sprawl and undermine the distinction between purely industrial development, and office devel- opments. This is why industrial zones are still considered as "ODZs" and are not in- cluded in the development zone. Back in 2009, a part of Ħal Far site had been identified for the development of four land-based wind turbines, certainly a more environmentally beneficial impact than a racetrack. These plans were never followed through. The racetrack proposal just comes in the wake of other plans to change the industrial designation of areas like Burmarrad and Ta' Qali, to accom- modate office and retail developments. 2. Malta is small and even industrial zones are in proximity of protected areas and residential hamlets. A noisy racetrack may be more invasive to its surroundings than a factory It is true that the Ħal Far racetrack is being proposed on a site surrounded by industrial development which lacks any ecological features worthy of protection. Yet the racetrack inevitably results in noise pollution, and is less than 1km away from an Area of Ecological Importance and 600m from a rural residential ham- let. The Environment and Resources Au- thority will be duty-bound to assess these impacts before pronouncing itself on this development. Moreover the Planning Authority is bound to assess the wider implications on land use, of sacrificing a sizeable brown- field site which may well be put to better use. Once again the government gives the impression that it can dispose of its land as it pleases. It is unclear whether studies on the impact on these areas have preced- ed the decision to allocate the land for a racetrack. Instead, we are assisting to another case of piecemeal and project-driven chang- es to the local plans, instead of a holistic masterplan which prioritises future needs and long-term planning. 3. Governments are not there to please every lobby group under the sun, but are there to set priorities. It remains a mystery why €20 million should be in- vested on a racetrack to accommodate one hobby amongst many others Government is reassuring us that no taxpayers' money will be spent on the €20 million racetrack, as the money is being spent from a national development fund funded by the cash for passports scheme. But irrespective of the source, this is still public money which can be spent on many other priorities and worthy causes. In this case, the government is choosing to spend a large amount of money on one particular popular hobby, at the exclusion of others; and in the absence of any at- tempt to set an order of priorities based on environmental, social and health con- siderations. And all this on the eve of an election where government's primary concern seems to be that of securing the votes of enthusiasts. Moreover all sports and recreational ac- tivities are limited by land use consider- ations. Golf courses are a no-go in Malta be- cause of their impact on both land and water resources. There are many skiing enthusiasts and mountain climbers who travel abroad to practice their sports; but nobody would dream of building a moun- tain equipped with artificial snow to make ski enthusiasts happy! And despite the contribution to physi- cal fitness, many sports disciplines suffer from chronic lack of funds. In the end, governments are not there to please the loudest lobby groups or even to make hobbyists happier, but to prioritise and offer leadership. Being able to say no is also a mark of good governance. reasons motorsport's grab is crass governance out precious land industrial needs to electorally strategic lobby has 3 reasons why bad governance The industrial zone at Hal Far