Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/433160
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2014 13 for the use of potassium perchlorate. Falzon points out that in June the government had already introduced legislation to further limit the use of potassium chlorate and describes the use of perchlorate as a safer alterna- tive to the use of far more dangerous chemicals. "In no other country is the use of perchlorate restricted. Moreover in Malta we even exclude totally the use of ammonium perchlorate, which is legal in most if not all of Europe. The choice is between encouraging the use of safe chemicals like perchlorate and more dangerous substances." According to Falzon studies on the dangers posed by perchlorates are "based mainly on the vast amounts which are burned when space vehi- cles are launched." When asked how the government plans to tackle the issue of the ille- gal beach rooms at Armier, Falzon could only exclude one option, that of "waking up one morning and driving a bulldozer to demolish everything." He recalls how in 1992 the PN ad- ministration tried and failed in its attempt to use force to resolve this is- sue. Subsequently no further attempt was made to find a solution for the issue. "This is a complex issue and there is no easy solution. We have to find a solution, which has eluded every- one else. What is sure is that before March 2013 nothing was done to find a solution for this problem." Another controversial policy is that regulating the development of ODZ petrol stations. The parliamentary secretary de- fends the need for a policy regulating petrol stations in these areas. "When it comes to relocation of petrol stations we have to keep in mind that some of these petrol sta- tions are presently located next to ho- tels packed with students who come to Malta to study English, and petrol stations next to eight-storey flats." The Malta Environment and Plan- ning Authority board's proposal to introduce a 3,000 square metre cap- ping for ODZ petrol stations was not included in a draft policy presented to parliament's standing committee on development and planning. Why didn't the government accept the MEPA board's proposals in the draft presented to parliament? Falzon insists that this issue is still up for discussion but he hints that there are already enough safeguards in the draft policy to minimise the en- vironmental impact and respect the rural context, like the prohibition of such development next to public wa- ter extraction zones and on Grade 1 and Grade 2 sites or ecological sites. But Falzon would not commit himself on implementing the 3,000 square metre limit proposed by the MEPA board. He confirms that as things stand now the policy does not include the 3,000 square metre limit proposed by MEPA. "If necessary we are still in a posi- tion to change the draft but even as things stand the policy will not result in a sprawl of development in the countryside." Recently MEPA presented propos- als for new design policy guidelines aimed at avoiding the creation of apartments, which are too small for those living in them. But the new policy also allows an increase in building heights in cor- ner sites. It also permits additional storeys over and above the existing height limitation when a building is fronted on both sides by already existing buildings, which are them- selves higher than the existing height limitation. Is this another balancing act between pro development poli- cies and protecting neighbourhoods from overdevelopment? Falzon insists that the new guide- lines are "innovative" and "coura- geous". "Everyone used to talk of doll-sized residential apartments, now we are doing something concrete to prevent their construction. Nobody did any- thing on this before." Rather than favouring over-devel- opment, the policy also sets clear pa- rameters against the development in backyard gardens of old buildings. "I can assure you that this policy did not make me popular with develop- ers." The new policy also sets the maxi- mum height in metres, setting it out as a number of storeys and a pent- house. "For the first time development in all urban conservation areas will be treated in the same way as develop- ment in Mdina and Valletta…the skyline and context will always be respected and no one will have an automatic right for three storeys plus penthouse, for example." But Falzon justifies allowing more storeys on blocks already surrounded by others exceeding the height limita- tions. "If you already have blank walls, would it not be better from an aes- thetic point of view to create a uni- form building level?" In June Falzon presented to parlia- ment a petition with 104,293 signa- tures calling for minority rights to be safeguarded from referenda seeking to impose the views of the majority. The petition had been presented to him by the Federation for Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists, the FKNK. Falzon claims that he was simply doing his "duty". "They asked me to present a peti- tion signed by a third of the electorate on their behalf…. It would have been rude and arrogant to ignore these people." But Falzon makes it clear that since then he has kept himself "completely out of the scene." Neither will he do any political follow-up on the peti- tion. "I am not responsible for hunting and trapping and I will not interfere in parliamentary procedures." He even says that if faced with a pe- tition organised by BirdLife against illegal hunting, he would have no dif- ficulty presenting it. But doesn't the fact that he had presented the petition mean that he agreed with its central demand; i.e. to curtail referenda which impact on minorities like hunters? "We have to decide whether we live in a democracy or not. This means defending the rights of everyone, including minorities to present peti- tions to parliament." But Falzon makes it clear that he would respect the outcome of the ref- erendum on spring hunting. "When I led the party's electoral process I have always respected the will of the electorate. Whatever the result I will respect the will of the people…" Did you agree with the Prime Min- ister's decision to suspend the au- tumn season following a spate of il- legalities? "It was a government decision and I am part of this government. There- fore I respect this collective deci- sion." Interview Michael Falzon promises that he will not shrink from taking tough decisions on development boundaries, land reclamation and illegal development, but will he increase Malta's environmental deficit? (tough) decisions Michael Falzon: We cannot increase the size of the country in any significant way, not even through land reclamation