Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538870
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 AUGUST 2025 NEWS Kollettiv welcome Camilleri vow to withdraw key clauses from planning reform IL-KOLLETTIV has welcomed the statements made recently by Planning Minister Clint Camill- eri, particularly with regards to the commitment to withdraw a number of clauses in the pro- posed planning reform bills. "It is clear that the government is now recognising the error of its ways in both the content of the laws, and the way in which they were rushed through. We take Camilleri's statements as sign of openness, and we hope the government committee will meet us in the same spirit. We agree with the principle of con- struction works being suspend- ed under appeal, as promised by the Prime Minister over the last two years, but equal and fair access to environmental justice for objectors must to be guar- anteed and not curtailed," sec- retary Wayne Flask said. On Monday, Camilleri said in an interview government was willing to amend key parts of the bills reforming the planning sector. "On the other hand, we reiter- ate that Article 143, which Min- ister Camilleri defined as 'unex- pected,' should be scrapped in its entirety. While the Minis- ter stated that the reforms are well-intentioned, careful read- ings of these two drafts clearly contradict this notion," said Flask said. The group noted Minister Camilleri confirmed the NGOs were right on a number of con- siderations in their feedback, also dismissing the narrative about frivolous appeals and the NGOs' alleged attempts to ob- ject to selected developments. "The real problem lies with those advising the government and its ministers, and also the quality of those engaged to write these laws," said Flask. "The government may have had all the best intentions, but the drafts penned by Robert Musu- meci, the architect of choice for many developers, are biased if not outright malicious, vaguely written, and display an igno- rance of the basic concepts of justice in a democracy." The group said serious re- forms require the involvement of serious, competent person- nel. "Musumeci's track record is the result of his evident conflict of interest, including the series of ineffective laws which he has drafted in the planning and construction sectors. All these have led to controversies and failed to protect lives on build- ing sites. Musumeci cannot be trusted with any amendments or rewrites of these laws," he said. Il-Kollettiv also emphasised the importance of resident groups in the consultation process, since residents across Malta and Gozo will be the ones to bear the bigger brunt of po- litical decisions such as these reforms. The NGO said it will be rep- resenting the interests of these groups during the upcoming talks with the government com- mittee, adding that citizens should be included in a debate which affects them directly. Planning Minister Clint Camilleri KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt AN application to build a stan- dalone crematorium in Gudja has been refused by the Planning Commission on the grounds that it lacked clearance from the required authorities and was sit- uated in an outside development zone agricultural area. Planning policies allow crema- toria to be developed in ODZ areas, provided they are located within a one-kilometre radius of the principal urban area as was the case in this application. However, such developments require clearance from the En- vironmental Health Directorate (EHD). When proposed on agri- cultural land, approval from the Agricultural Advisory Commit- tee (AAC) is also necessary. The committee advises the authority on developments impacting ag- ricultural land. In this case, both the EHD and AAC objected. The AAC op- posed the proposal because it was on agricultural land, while the EHD objected because the site was less than 183m from the nearest dwelling. The 1,700sq.m site earmarked for the crematorium also lies within a Valley Protection Zone and is designated as a rural pro- tection area. The development, submitted by Daniel Buhagiar, proposed a basement level containing an au- topsy hall and a cold room, and a ground floor with a reception area, witness room, ceremony hall, mortuary, cremulator and ash room. The Gudja local council, rep- resented by architect Jesmond Mugliett, also objected to the project. But the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) had cleared the project, citing "the site context and nature of the proposal." Malta still has no crematoria, despite cremation being legal- ised in 2019. A planning policy allowing crematoria in ODZ are- as but restricting them to within one kilometre of the principal urban area was approved last year. The PA is still considering an- other application for a cremato- rium on agricultural land next to the Addolorata cemetery. That proposal has been cleared by the EHD but objected to by the AAC on the grounds that it is located on agricultural land. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PA rejects ODZ crematorium in Gudja