Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/376810
James Debono A letter issued by the Government Property Division on 15 Decem- ber 2012, just three months before the general elections, granted part of the Qui-Si-Sana coastline to a developer who wants to develop a lido. This emerges from a case officer's report, which calls on the Malta En- vironment and Planning Authority to refuse the planning application presented a few days after the gen- eral election by hotelier Michael Stivala, to develop the site for the placing of sunbeds. A decision on this application will be taken by MEPA on 9 September. Curiously this detail was never revealed before, despite questions sent by MaltaToday to former parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia on whether the govern- ment had ever given its consent to this development as claimed in the planning application. The only answer given at the time was that it was standard policy for the government to issue its consent to any private application on pub- lic land, and that a final decision is only taken following the issue of a planning permit. But the Planning Directorate is now calling on MEPA to reject Sti- vala's application to use the area granted to him by the previous gov- ernment, for the hire of sunbeds. According to the case officer the development would be in violation of the structure plan policy CZM3, which seeks to protect and secure public access of the coastline and of local plan policies, which only allow minor extensions to existing developments on the coastline. Since no existing facility exists on this site, MEPA cannot approve any development on it, the case officer contends. According to the DPA report the development will also result in the further loss of natural coastline en- vironment. The application foresees the crea- tion of a lido through the laying of polyethylene sheeting over the rocky coast and the use of screed to make up the level terraces. A ramp leading to the sea is also being pro- posed. The 943-square metre site lies between two existing lidos: the Plevna Beach club and the Lido. The local council is opposing this application, insisting on the need to secure public ownership of the coastline. The Environment Protection Di- rectorate deemed the development acceptable because the interven- tions are reversible. Curiously, the Local Plan Unit also noted that the site is designated by the local plan as an area where leisure activities can be permitted. However, MEPA's Natural Herit- age Advisory Committee objected to the loss of rocky coastline. But ultimately it is Structure Plan policy CZM 3 that precludes the development of more private beaches in Malta: "all the coastline will be brought into public owner- ship within a specified period". The policy was never implement- ed, but it was strategically invoked by case officers when faced by ap- plications, which denied public ac- cess to the coast. The policy also states that access around the coastline immediately adjacent to the sea or at the top of cliffs and bays, harbours, and creeks "will be secured". Michael Stivala runs the Bayview Hotel on the Gzira Strand, and is a council member of the Malta De- velopers Association and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Associa- tion. The decision will have a bearing on another application, presented by Preluna Hotel owner Joe Preca for a beach concession in Ferro Bay. Moreover the same policies regu- late development on both areas. But the present government in- tends to change the Structure Plan approved in 1992 with a set of vague policy objectives known as the Strategic Plan for the Envi- ronment and Development (SPED). This could remove the policy in- voked by MEPA to refuse coastal developments. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday, Sunday, 7 September 2014 News Qui-si-sana beach concession issued by Pn government