Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/357188
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 AUGUST 2014 10 News JAMES DEBONO MOTORISTS using traffic-heavy Triq is-Salini which is presently be- ing widened at Kennedy Grove, will find a convenient place where to fill up, if a planning application is al- lowed to build a petrol station. The application has been filed by Luqa Developments Ltd, which wants to build the fuel station over- looking the Salini saltpans. But part of the land on which it is proposed to build the petrol station, was expropriated by the govern- ment, just two weeks after the ap- plication was filed. One of the directors of the com- pany is Piju Camilleri – a close aide of the late, notorious former Labour minister Lorry Sant. Two other di- rectors are Camilleri's sons Arvin and Ludwig. The notice for the expropriation of 2,479 square metres of land in Triq is-Salini for "a public purpose" was published in the Government Ga- zette on 26 March 2014, under au- thority of President George Abela. The notice shows that the owners of the land, which includes part of the land earmarked for the proposed petrol station, were offered €57,000 as compensation following an archi- tect's valuation. It was Transport Malta which on 8 April 2013 had requested the ex- propriation of this land to enable it to widen of the coast road, a spokes- person for parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon, who is responsible for government property, told Mal- taToday. But so far no compensation has yet been paid as "none of the owners of the land in question have submitted proof of their title over the proper- ty." The government spokesperson insisted that no compensation can be given unless proof of ownership is submitted. But in the application submitted to the Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority on 12 March 2014, Luqa Developments declared it was the sole owner of 2,736 square me- tres of land along Triq is-Salini. And the site plan submitted to MEPA, includes a part of the same land ex- propriated by government. The company's application envis- ages the development of a petrol station, a shop and four car washes set on what is at present pristine ODZ (outside development zones) site. Only the part of the site fronting the road will be impacted by the road widening, and plans submitted to the MEPA do not envision any development on the part which has been expropriated. The application states that the company wants to relocate an exist- ing petrol station from Valley Road, Msida, to Triq is-Salini. The government is presently drafting a new policy to regulate the development of petrol stations on ODZ land. The draft policy states that relocated petrol stations may be sited outside development zones, although environmentally sensitive areas are excluded. Planning 'gains' Luqa Developments has been on the receiving end of two other pol- icy changes by the current govern- ment. MEPA is presently consider- ing waiving a condition banning the construction of penthouses on land that the company owns in Hal-Ghaxaq. The land was contro- versially included in development boundaries by the Nationalist gov- ernment in 2006, on condition that no penthouses or washrooms would be allowed on the roofs of the new residences. Although a new MEPA policy on height limits is yet to be approved, a screening application to construct number of penthouses was present- ed on 16 April, 2014. Camilleri has also protested ve- hemently against a new policy pro- posed by the present government banning the development of new ODZ cemeteries, via his architect Charles Buhagiar – a Labour MP who happens to be chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council. Camilleri presented an application for the development of a new ceme- tery in Tal-Irmiedi, between Attard and Rabat. As works manager with the late Lorry Sant in the 1980s, Camilleri was an influential figure within the now defunct Planning Areas Per- mits Board, the body that issued building permits. According to businessman Joe Borg's testimony before the Permanent Commis- sion against Corruption, Camilleri would, with Sant's blessing, request plots and money in return for grant- ing building permits to individual contractors. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Luqa Developments, a company owned by Piju Camilleri's family, applies to develop a petrol station in Triq is- Salini, 14 days before part of the land is expropriated by government Coast Road: expropriated land earmarked for petrol station Coast Road expropriation The land next to the Salini salt pans (1) was expropriated for the purpose of widening the Coast Road but an application for the relocation of a petrol pump station (2) will see it being used also for the more profitable and private venture (3) 1 2 3