Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/653685
4 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 But Fenech insists that as the owners of the land they also have a right to make use of the property. "Just as we are fully cognizant of our legal obligations, and which we bind ourselves to fully fulfill, we are equally aware of the rights we have as property owners, rights which every Maltese citizen in similar circumstances enjoys." The botched proposal consisted of 116 rooms for tourist accom- modation proposed instead of the abandoned livestock farm in Wied Ghomor valley. The rooms were included in 48 separate units. The project was pro- posed over a 19,400 square metre site – the present structure, built over three levels, occupies a foot- print of 2,627 square metres and a total floor area of 4,147 square me- tres. Plans submitted to MEPA also foresaw a parking area for 70 cars. The plans also included residential units, pools, a chapel, a palazzo, a spa and a pizzeria. The Swieqi local council had ob- jected to the development. Mayor Noel Muscat said that the council would not accept the proposed de- velopment of a tourist village in an ODZ valley between Swieqi and neighbouring San Gwann, as the area was becoming increasingly over-developed. "We don't have any open spaces in Swieqi; we cannot afford to develop one of the last stretches of green space." The original permit to construct a "cowshed" on an existing farm dates back to September 1975. The built up area occupies 1,300 square me- tres and part of the building is four storeys high. A previous application proposing 42 maisonettes in the area, present- ed by previous owner Raymond Calleja, had been turned down by MEPA in 1997. The decision was reconfirmed in 1998 and 2000. The proposal was shot down be- cause the development proposed was outside the development boundaries and is located in a rural conservation area where only de- velopment essential to agriculture, or which enhances the areas' scenic and ecological nature, can be al- lowed. The developer had argued that the existing cow farm is a visual eyesore and the development of villas in the vicinity of the farm threatened its legality due to the rule forbidding livestock farms, which are situated fewer than 200 metres from residences. The owner even claimed that his own farm lo- cated in the valley bed was a threat to the water table and a source of pollution. MEPA rebutted these arguments, insisting that "if the existing build- ing constitutes an eyesore it should be removed and the site reinstated" to its natural state. MEPA also ar- gued that removing a livestock farm should not serve as a pretext for urban development in the coun- tryside. The developer asked for a recon- sideration of this decision but the decision was confirmed in 1998. Two years later the refusal was con- firmed by the Appeals Tribunal. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2016 News MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF STOCK SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Malta. Secure Investment Issue of €50,000,000 in Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks (subject to the over-allotment option up to a maximum of €30,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS TAL-GVERN TAL TAL TAL GVERN GVERN GVERN GVERN STOCK _______ (i) 1.5% MGS (Fourth Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2022, and _______ (ii) 2.5 MGS (First Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2036, or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be € 50,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications in the form of sealed bids (auction) for a minimum of €500,000 and multiples of €100,000 each open on Wednesday 30 th March, 2016 at 8.30a.m. and close at noon of the same day or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General. Bids on the prescribed forms are to be transmitted by fax on 2596 7210 or by e-mail at the e-mail addresses indicated on the application form or deposited in the Treasury Tender Box in Floriana. Application forms may be obtained from all Members of the Malta Stock Exchange and other authorized Investment Service Providers or downloaded from the Treasury's website at www.treasury.gov.mt. The Treasury will be issuing €50,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €30,000,000 as follows: 'We cannot afford to develop one of the last green spaces' - Swieqi mayor Speaker directs MP to Google TIM DIACONO SPEAKER Anglu Farrugia told Opposition MP Robert Cutajar that the answers to a parliamen- tary question he had requested a ruling about, are available online. Cutajar had requested the rul- ing after justice minister Owen Bonnici refused to table copies of eight specific minutes of the Mel- lieha local council's meetings. The Opposition MP said that local councils are obliged by law to publish copies of their minutes online. "I wouldn't have had a problem tabling minutes of meetings of a government entity, but a distinc- tion must be made with regard to local councils as they are autono- mous from government," Bon- nici responded. In his ruling, Anglu Farrugia said he does not have the power to interfere in the content of min- isters' answers to parliamentary questions "but I checked and I can tell you that they (the min- utes) are indeed available online."