Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/777084
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 JANUARY 2017 News 7 er of MEPA but promises immedi- ate action to give the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) the proper tools to truly perform its functions as the guardian of the en- vironment. But the document does not address the present situation which sees the ERA being continu- ously over-ruled by the PA in the granting of hundreds of planning permits. One way to address this institu- tional deficit is by giving the ERA the same advisory powers grant- ed to the Planning Directorate, through the issue of a final report on each permit application. In this way decision making boards will have to justify any decision where the ERA's recommendation is over- turned. The document refers to a land- scape policy which establishes a vision for a natural environment "which is well curated and eco- logically restored." The document vaguely hints that such a policy will also seek to "unify our ODZ areas". While such a policy suggests an extension of non-developable ar- eas, this can only come through a revision of development bounda- ries which could be a double edged sword in the absence of a clear commitment against the inclusion of any new land in development boundaries. Another awkward policy is that of giving "economic value" to pub- licly-owned ODZ land. While this is meant at eliminating the cur- rent 'incentive' for the government to give up ODZ land for specula- tive projects on the ground that it is 'cheap' if not 'freely available', as happened in the case of Zonqor, such a policy falls short of a blanket ban on ODZ development on such land, even if this possibility is cur- tailed by the need of a two-thirds majority in parliament and the re- moval of the "feasibility" clause in the SPED. While the policy includes an entire chapter dedicated to water manage- ment, which refers to the introduc- tion of unspecified measures "to re- duce water consumption and "curb abuses", the policy does not refer to the unsustainable extraction of water from boreholes. One would have expected the policy to at least rule out the free extraction of water from groundwater sources for non- agricultural activities such as the production of mineral water or soft drinks. The document does refer to the need to "improve the quality of groundwater and surface water, to promote better capture and use of rainwater, and to significantly re- duce the use of groundwater," but it does not explain how. One possible solution suggested by the document is to provide "distribution networks for treated sewage effluent," but this is not accompanied by a pricing mechanism for water presently ex- tracted for free from boreholes. While committing a future Na- tionalist government to adhere to EU directives with regard to the re-use and recycling of waste, the document is reluctant to commit the party for or against incinera- tion. On this contentious issue the party is committed to embark on a national consultation process: "to identify the most appropriate waste disposal options, including the waste to energy option being cur- rently studied by this government". While the party speaks about incentivising the restoration and regeneration of historic and sched- uled buildings in urban conserva- tion areas, it falls short of com- mitting itself for the reversal of planning policies such as the devel- opment guidelines issued in 2015, which have facilitated the construc- tion of additional storeys on the fa- cades of old buildings in UCAs and the destruction of townhouses in other areas to pave the way for more apartment blocks. Moreover it was the local plans approved by a PN government in 2006 which com- menced this process, which was ag- gravated by policies approved by the present government. Not even mentioned Although the document dedicates a chapter to biodiversity it fails to make any reference to hunting and trapping, a contentious issue which poses a dilemma to a party the majority of whose voters favoured the abolition of spring hunting but which has lost support in strategic pro-hunting localities such as Gozo and the south west of the island. While the spring hunting issue has been resolved by the referen- dum, and politi- cal parties will be expected to respect the result, the government's decision to ignore the EU commission by allowing trap- ping poses a problem for the PN. Also omitted is any reference to il- legal development in shanty towns such as Armier. Party leader Simon Busuttil has already declared that he is not bound by pre-electoral agreements with the boathouse owners signed by his predecessors and has invited the government to discuss a common stance on this is- sue with the opposition. While this may well be the only way to resolve the situation, which may cost either party thousands of votes, the issue, neglected by the present govern- ment, is bound to crop up before the next election. One major omission is any refer- ence to the new local plans being devised by the present government in 2013 but which have been appar- ently postponed to after the general election. By doing so the government has raised the stakes, inviting electoral pressure from land owners who stand to gain from relaxed height limitations and any tampering of development boundaries. The PN may at least exclude from new de- velopment boundaries the inclusion of any land which is presently out- side development boundaries. In the absence of such a com- mitment, the PN itself may end up being subjected to the pressure of land owners whose appetite is being whetted by the decisions of the pre- sent government. The party also shies away from any commitment to reverse policies approved by the present govern- ment, such as the policy guidelines regulating development in rural ar- eas approved in 2015 – which have resulted in an onslaught of minor developments in pristine areas, in- cluding the resurrection of long de- molished buildings. the vague and the unmentioned The PN is committed to scrap the Paceville masterplan which envisioned 18 high-rise developments