Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/441179
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 JANUARY 2015 9 Malta in 2015 opers submitting their EOIs for the 45-hectare site, of which the White Rocks complex covers 38%, were informed that part of the site is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). While any development will need to adhere to rules governing the management of Natura 2000 sites, a spokesperson for Minister Chris Cardona insisted that this designa- tion does not preclude all sorts of development. "It should be remembered that Natura 2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activities are excluded. The empha- sis will be on ensuring that future management is sustainable, both ecologically and economically." The Habitats Directive of the EU designated the garigue adjacent to the abandoned White Rocks site as a Special Area of Conservation, which forms part of the EU's Natu- ra 2000 network. This stretch of karstland be- tween the existing complex and the Armed Forces' shooting ranges is accorded a level 3 protection which effectively precludes any residential or tourism related development: in 2001, MEPA rejected a golf course for the area. The coastal zone en- joys an even higher level of protec- tion, which precludes any develop- ment. The White Rocks EOI highlights all ecologically and historically sen- sitive areas on the site. Development on the White Rocks is still governed by a 1995 develop- ment brief limiting construction to the space occupied by the derelict complex. But the 1995 brief cov- ered 369,000 square metres; the area included in today's EOI occu- pies a considerably larger footprint of 450,000 square metres. The 1995 brief subdivided the White Rocks area in three zones: Zone 1 (38%) consisted of the ex- isting holiday complex and its fa- cilities; Zone 2 (39%) is the mixed garigue and rocky coastline; Zone 3 (23%) is agricultural land. Apart from an underground structure in Zone 2, which should be reha- bilitated, only Zone 1 was to be re- leased for development. The present EOI makes reference to the 1995 brief in highlighting the sensitive ecological and historical areas in the land. But while prom- ising to respect the 1995 brief, the economy ministry said that the EOI "should be seen as an exploration of innovative ideas" which have to be implemented within the framework set by the development brief. The sea as the next frontier Last year, the government re- ceived 21 proposals for land rec- lamation projects, after it issued a call for expressions of interest that closed in December. A decision on which of these projects will be chosen is expected in 2015. Junior Minister Michael Falzon has already made it clear that the government will not go for 21 land reclamation projects. "At this stage we have a clear idea on where we can start and it is clearly not our intention to go for 21 projects at one go," he has said. Falzon does not exclude that these projects will include a real estate component even if he ex- cludes "standalone real estate projects". The ecologically sensitive Bahar ic-Caghaq area is one of the sites being considered for land rec- lamation. But land reclamation projects in Gozo and on the en- tire stretch of shoreline between Birzebbugia and Cirkewwa are being excluded. According to Michael Falzon land reclamation will not con- sist in "standalone real estate projects" but he acknowledged that some investors would be looking at recovering their in- vestment through some real es- tate. In June MaltaToday revealed that the construction of an arti- ficial island along the coast road opposite Qalet Marku is one of the preferred options among the 21 land reclamation proposals made by 17 companies, which are currently being considered by government officials. No policy currently exists to regulate land reclamation but the new Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development, which is set to replace the struc- ture plan, includes a reference to land reclamation. Bahar ic-Caghaq was one of two sites, along with the area between Xghajra and Marsaskala, iden- tified for land reclamation in a study by Danish consultants Carl Bro in 2005. But a subsequent report by British consultants Scott Wilson exploring different land recla- mation shapes in these two sites excluded land reclamation in the Bahar ic-Caghaq area because of the ecological impact on posido- nia meadows, which are protect- ed by EU law, even if it concluded that development in this area was the most financially sustainable. Malta can still cite an "over- riding 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 accom- panied by real estate development. Taking the E out of MEPA The government is also expected to fulfil its promise to separate the environmental from the planning arm of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, MEPA. Following years where MEPA was already perceived as biased against the environment, the split may be welcomed by the public even if it could result in sidelining the envi- ronment even more. This will re- quire a change of the law approved in 2010, which tilted the balance in favour of environmental protection after decades of rampant abuses. In March 2014 a draft consulta- tion document for MEPA's new split authority envisioned the le- galisation of illegal developments in scheduled and ODZ areas – re- versing the 'ODZ is ODZ' policy of 2010. Article 70 of the Environment and Development Planning Act en- acted by the previous government in December 2010 prohibited the MEPA from regularising any ille- gal developments built in ODZ or scheduled areas. The sixth schedule of the Envi- ronment and Development Plan- ning Act also bans MEPA from regularising any illegal extension to ODZ development. Aerial photos taken in May 2008 were used to determine whether development had been carried out after this date, to assist MEPA in refusing any requests to 'sanction' these extensions. According to the consultation document, the deletion of the sixth schedule will be replaced by the imposition of daily fines: osten- sibly, this would mean that daily fines start being incurred from the day somebody applies to regularise their illegal development, to the date that MEPA issues permission. Fast track permits The radical shake-up of the plan- ning authority will see building permits being approved in two months if they conform to policy requirements. This would address one of the main public grievances against MEPA and may be a major vote winner among a segment of the population even if it could create more resentment among neigh- bours who will have less time to present objections. Under government proposals to split the environment and planning functions of the current author- ity, the fast track approach will be adopted for applications within de- velopment zones. A full planning procedure will still be required for developments carried out outside development zones. This would mean that develop- ments within building zones would be carried out in the absence of a public hearing and a case officer report. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Labour's planning machine REMINGTON MODEL 700TM AND MODEL SEVENTM RIFLES WITH X-MARK PRO® (XMP®) TRIGGERS Remington has determined that some Model 700 AND-ODEL3EVENRImESWITH8-0TRIGGERSCOULD UNDERCERTAINCIRCUMSTANCESUNINTENTIONALLY DISCHARGE4HEMODELSAFFECTEDWEREMANUFACTURED BETWEEN-AYAND!PRIL HAZARD : !NYUNINTENDEDDISCHARGEHASTHE POTENTIALTOCAUSEINJURYORDEATH IDENTIFICATION :/NLY-ODELAND-ODEL 3EVENRImESWITH8-0TRIGGERSAREBEINGRECALLED 4ODETERMINEIFYOURRImEISSUBJECTTOTHISRECALLYOU SHOULDTAKETHEFOLLOWINGSTEPS &INDTHERImESSERIALNUMBERWHERETHEBARREL MEETSTHERECEIVER AFORARIGHTHANDEDRImETHESERIALNUMBERIS LOCATEDONAUSERSLEFT BFORALEFTHANDEDRImETHESERIALNUMBERISLOCATED ONTHEUSERSRIGHT )DENTIFYTHESERIALNUMBERANDENTERITATWWW XMPRECALLREMINGTONCOM9OUWILLBEINFORMEDIF YOURRImEISAFFECTEDBYTHISRECALL 9OUMAYALSODETERMINEIFYOURRImEISSUBJECTTO THERECALLBYAVISUALINSPECTION A)FTHEFACEOFTHETRIGGERISRIBBEDYOURRImEDOES NOTHAVEAN8-0TRIGGERAND)3./4SUBJECTTO THISRECALL B)FTHEFACEOFTHETRIGGERISSMOOTHYOURRImEHAS AN8-0TRIGGERAND)3SUBJECTTOTHISRECALL ACTION REQUIRED : )FYOURRImEISAFFECTEDPLEASE STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TODIAGNOSEORREPAIRRECALLEDRImES2EMINGTONWILL REPLACE8-0TRIGGERSINALLAFFECTEDRImESFREEOF CHARGE CONTACT : &URTHERINFORMATIONABOUTTHETRIGGER REPLACEMENTPROGRAMMEISAVAILABLEBYVISITINGWWW XMPRECALLREMINGTONCOMANDSELECTINGYOURCOUNTRYFOR DETAILSORBYCONTACTINGTHEFOLLOWING DISTRIBUTOR NAME : FIELDSPORTS FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION, info@ fi eldsportsmalta.com Remington thank you for your cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience. WARNING PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL The radical shake-up of the planning authority will see building permits being approved in two months if they conform to policy requirements