Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/827430
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2017 News 7 RECORD INVESTMENT IN DISCIPLINED FORCES More than €90 million State of-the-art equipment Professional training Improvement in working conditions For the quality service you deserve Police www.homeaairs.gov.mt/nipproteġuk Keeping you safe Army Civil Protection Correctional Facility the electoral backburner? revision commenced by La- bour in 2013. The PN had already approved an environmental policy, which includes a commitment through which major ODZ projects will need approval of a two-thirds majority in par- liament after the conclusion of the planning process. The PN is also committed to introduce a skyline policy which would preclude high-rise buildings which impact on sensitive views and landscapes. The PN is also excluding a racetrack on ODZ land but has not overruled such devel- opment within development zones. It was the PN's junior part- ner; the Democratic Party which had first proposed re- storing White Rocks to the public. The Democratic Party has also distinguished itself from the PN by opposing a racecourse, something that gives the small party greater legitimacy as the guarantor of green issues in the coalition. As happens in other coun- tries run by coalitions involv- ing green parties, environ- mental issues are often the bone of negotiation between parties. With regard to land use AD is proposing giving local coun- cils the power to convene local referenda on ODZ projects, a "radical" revision of policies permitting development in the ODZ and reclaiming Manoel Island to the public. AD is also committed against the development of a racetrack anywhere in Malta and Gozo. It also refrained from a blan- ket exclusion of high-rise development by saying that the social and environmen- tal impact of each individual proposal must be considered adequately and high-rise de- velopments must be carbon neutral. Environment in the election In an election where corrup- tion prevailed over all other is- sues, it is no surprise that land use issues have been relegated to the back burner. But the perception that the government has changed the planning goalposts for the benefit of big developers is one of the reasons why the current government suffers a trust deficit on environmental issues. In this sense land use issues are part of the anti cor- ruption narrative. The Zonqor point issue also represented a turning point in this legislature, with govern- ment being overwhelmed by civil society activism. But the opposition also has a mountain to climb to make up for past mistakes. In this sense the input of its coalition part- ner could be crucial in recov- ering trust, even if some green voters may well opt for AD as a radical break with both PN and PL on this issue, at the risk of having no say in determin- ing who will be in power when the local plans are approved.