Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/809226
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 APRIL 2017 9 News legal changes on ERA by 74% over last year to take part in a board. "With the agreement of the PA and the ERA, I am appointing a ministerial board to investigate this problem and to report back to both authorities and to me as to why this inequality exists," he said. "The chairman of the PA's former Natural Heritage Advisory Committee, Judge Joseph David Camilleri, will be chairing this board." MaltaToday's probe had re- vealed that the ERA, the author- ity demerged from the planning authority under Labour's plan- ning reform, was overruled by the dominant PA on 61 of its ob- jections to the planning permits for developments outside devel- opment zones (ODZ) over five weeks between 1 November and 6 December. The total of 88 ODZ develop- ments approved consisted of minor developments such as the development of new agricultural stores, the regularisation of il- legally built rural structures, the redevelopment or extension of farmhouses, and swimming pools and ancillary farm developments. During this period, the PA turned down 37 of these ODZ ap- plications (30%). The ERA, which is consulted over each of these applications, sent detailed memos on each case, in some of them objecting to the "piecemeal approach to develop- ment" which sees owners of farm- houses applying for more devel- opment once an initial permit is issued. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt He said there was nothing to suggest that the Commission had ever failed to implement "an objective standard of reasona- bleness" or t decided whether to grant permits arbitrarily or capri- ciously. "I cannot think of any particular situation where the Commission has acted on a collateral purpose or for improper motives," said Musumeci, who stressed that a nuanced approach must be tak- en when analysising such data and that a granted ODZ permit does not necessarily go against the spirit of planning policies. Last month, a MaltaToday study found that out of the 1,339 planning decisions issued by the PA, 736, or 55% were positive decisions up from 46% the pre- vious year and 30% at the start of the legislature. ypace@mediatoday.com.mt MIDI PLC CORDIALLY INVITES THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO VIEW THE RESTORED FORT MANOEL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS: • Regular scheduled guided tours around Fort Manoel in Maltese and English by qualified guides • Static presentation of the Fort's history and the restoration process • A series of lectures related to the Fort and Maltese history • Re-enactments and Band Displays • Sunday Mass at 12:15 - Chapel of St Anthony of Padua, Fort Manoel Lectures on Saturday 8th April 2017: 10:00 – 11:00 Who was de Mondion? - Professor Denis De Lucca 14.00 – 15.00 Preserving Collective Memory - The Notarial Archives - Dr Joan Abela 15:30 – 16:30 Sotto Le Loggie - The Lazzaretto - Corsairs at Manoel Island - Liam Gauci Lectures on Sunday 9th April 2017: 10:00 – 11:00 The Role of Women in WWII - The Case of Malta - Simon Cusens 11:30 – 12:30 The Lazzaretto & Quarantine Harbour - Vincent Zammit 13:15 – 14:15 Fort Manoel - Faces & Voices - Perit Edward Said 14:45 – 14:45 Majesty, Magnificence, Good Taste - Rituals in the Grand Harbour of the Hospitallers - Dr Emmanuel Buttigieg 16:00 – 17:00 The Men behind the Lines of Defence - French Military Engineers in 18th Century Malta - Fleur Brincat Band Displays: Saturday 8th April 2017 15:00 – 15:30 Tama Tnabar Drums 16:00 – 16:30 Marsa Scouts Pipes & Drums Re-enactments: All Day Saturday 8th April & Sunday 9th April Malta Command WWII Living History Group Entrance to the Open Weekend is free. Park & Ride available - please follow signs from the gate. FORT MANOEL OPEN WEEKEND AT MANOEL ISLAND Show of Arms Scuola d'Armi Group For more information please call on 2065 5200 or email openday@midimalta.com Sunday 9th April 2017 10:30 – 11:00 Msida Sea Scouts 15:00 – 15:30 Tama Tnabar Drums SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 2017 09:30 - 17:30 SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2017 09:00 - 18:00 Year Total ODZ Decisions Permission Granted Granted as % of Total 2017 429 269 62.7% 2016 320 154 48.1% 2015 332 118 35.5% 2014 295 81 27.5% 2013 307 86 28.0% 2012 494 119 24.1% 2011 440 79 18.0%