Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/433160
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2014 7 News Development boundaries to be tweaked again – Falzon JAMES DEBONO IN an exclusive interview with Mal- taToday Michael Falzon, the parlia- mentary secretary responsible for planning and government lands, re- vealed that the new local plans will tweak development boundaries once again, adding lands, which were un- fairly left out in the controversial 2006 rationalisation. While excluding a major extension of development boundaries Falzon confirmed that boundaries may be extended in some cases. "The general political direction is that the new local plans will not dou- ble or triple the size of the develop- ment zone… We are saying clearly that as far as possible the develop- ment zone will not increase." But when asked why the govern- ment does not simply keep bounda- ries as these are today, Falzon justi- fied tweaking the 2006 boundaries by accusing the former government of being "creative" in including cer- tain lands and not others. "Even from an aesthetic point of view it would make sense to include lands which were left out unfairly," the minister said, while adding that "there is no intention to repeat the obscenities committed in 2006". In 2006 the rationalisation exercise in which an area the size of Siggiewi was added to development zones, was justified by the previous govern- ment as a way to fill "infill sites" (pre- viously ODZ land surrounded on two sides by existing development) which had been left out from the temporary building plans in 1988. In the same interview Falzon also revealed that the ecologically sensi- tive Bahar ic-Caghaq area is one of the sites being considered for land reclamation. The parliamentary sec- retary excluded any land reclamation projects in Gozo and on the entire stretch of shoreline between Birzeb- bugia and Cirkewwa. When asked directly whether Ba- har ic-Caghaq has been identified as one of the sites for land reclamation, Falzon replied that no area is being privileged over others but confirmed that this site is being considered. "We are not talking about Bahar ic-Caghaq only… Although Bahar ic- Caghaq is not being excluded there will be no concentration of land rec- lamation projects in this area." What Falzon could outrightly ex- clude is "having three or four land reclamation projects" in Bahar ic- Caghaq. Falzon insisted that land reclama- tion will not consist in "standalone real estate projects" but acknowl- edged that some investors would be looking at recovering their invest- ment through some real estate. In June MaltaToday revealed that the construction of an artificial is- land along the coast road opposite Qalet Marku is one of the preferred options among the 21 land reclama- tion proposals made by 17 compa- nies, which are currently being con- sidered by government officials. No policy currently exists to regu- late land reclamation but the new Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), which is set to replace the structure plan, includes a reference to land reclama- tion. Bahar ic-Caghaq was one of two sites, along with the area between Xghajra and Marsascala, identi- fied for land reclamation in a study by Danish consultants Carl Bro in 2005. But a subsequent report by Brit- ish consultants Scott Wilson ex- ploring different land reclamation shapes in these two sites excluded land reclamation in the Bahar ic-Caghaq area because of the ecological impact on posidonia meadows, which are protected by EU law, even if it concluded that development in this area was the most financially sustainable. Malta can still cite an "overrid- ing national interest" to justify development in breach of EU laws protecting posidonia meadows. The report concluded that land reclamation is not a "viable" way to dispose of construction waste and that land reclamation could only become financially viable if accompanied by real estate devel- opment. TIM DIACONO ALTERNATTIVA Demokra- tika chairperson Arnold Cassola yesterday called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to release details of the Armed Forces of Malta's rescue operation during the Lampedusa shipwreck of October 2013 – after a freedom of information request filed by MaltaToday was refused by the AFM and upheld by the Information Commisioner. Addressing a very poorly attended annual general meeting, Cassola also called on Muscat to publish two po- lice inquiries – one on the wrong- ful arrest and arraignment of Daryl Luke Borg over hold-up charges, and another on the dropping of charges against a man who had allegedly as- saulted four policemen at the Zabbar police station. "Muscat did the right thing by fi- nally publishing the Kamara inquiry," Cassola said, referring to the report by judge Geoffrey Valenzia into the death of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara in 2012, while in custody. "However, he should have done so as soon as he became Prime Minister and not as payback to the Opposi- tion for pressuring him into sacking Manuel Mallia," Cassola said. The Green Party leader yesterday dismissed criticism that his party is a political lightweight. "We've been active for over 25 years now and just because we say the truth does not make us naïve," Cassola said. "We're the voice of reason and we say things as they are." He pointed out that AD was the first party to have spoken out in favour of the environment, divorce, civil un- ions, and drug decriminalisation and on the need for party financing laws and a law that protects whistleblow- ers. "People used to consider us as cranks and tree-huggers but issues that we used to speak about 20 years ago have now become law," Cassola said. Hitting out at the past Nationalist administration and the Labour gov- ernment, Cassola berated the 'eve- rything goes' mentality exists among Maltese politicians. "Under the PN, Tonio Fenech's secretary was found guilty of bribery and Austin Gatt appointed Tancred Tabone, a person involved in the oil scandal, as Enemalta's chairman. Nei- ther of them resigned. "Under the PL, MP Luciano Busut- til advised a local council to award a tender to a client's company and he hasn't resigned. Muscat only sacked Mallia because public opinion had left him with no other option." He also criticised the lack of cred- ibility among Maltese politicians. "Eddie Fenech Adami had promised to close the Marsa power station by 2000, Lawrence Gonzi had promised to build the new Parliament building by 2012, Joe Mizzi promised to strike oil in Maltese waters and Konrad Mizzi's gas power station has become Konrad in Wonderland," he quipped. AD's executive committee was elected after the meeting. Luke Caru- ana was made deputy secretary-gen- eral, Monique Agius public relations officer and Clare Azzopardi Lane international secretary. Anna Maria Azzopardi and Marc-Andrea Cassar are committee members. Carmel Cacopardo and Ralph Cas- sar were re-elected deputy chairper- son and secretary-general respec- tively. Vacancy: Research and Innovation (R&I) Project Controller The Malta Council for Science and Technology requires the services of a full-time Research and Innovation (R&I) Project Controller. The selected candidate will monitor a number of assigned projects to ensure compliance with the nancial regulations of the funding source and the relevant grant agreements. The successful candidate would also manage the R&I Unit's nancial budget and disbursement requests. The ideal candidate should be in possession of MQF 6 qualication in Finance, Accounting, Technical and Management AND one year relevant work experience. Additionally, parts of the ACCA qualication would be an asset. Experience in the administration of EU projects and R&I projects will be considered an asset. You are kindly invited to submit your C.V. to mario.g.borg@gov.mt. Applications will be received until the 29th December 2014. ETC permit No.: 111/2014 The Malta Council For Science And Technology, Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR 1320, Malta www.mcst.gov.mt Bahar ic-Caghaq being considered for land reclamation Falzon outrightly excluded "having three or four reclamation projects" in Bahar ic-Caghaq AD 'voice of reason, not cranks and tree-huggers' says leader