Din L-Art Ħelwa to appeal PA's Manoel Island padel courts decision
NGO says PA's €25,000 sanctioning is a betrayal of promises about a public park for Manoel Island
Din l-Art Ħelwa intends to appeal the Planning Authority's decision to sanction 20 illegally built padel courts on Manoel Island, saying the ruling is a betrayal of the government's promise to transform the island into a national park.
The NGO said the PA had rewarded illegal development instead of ordering its removal.
On Thursday, the PA approved the sanctioning of the 20 illegal courts and gave the developer permission to build 10 more. The PA board imposed a €25,000 planning gain payment to sanction the illegal courts – just over €1,000 per court.
Most of the padel courts at the complex cost €36 per hour to rent, meaning the developer stands to make €25,000 in revenue from the 20 illegally built courts in around 35 hours of rentals.
The application, filed by Sharlon Pace on behalf of Gżira United FC, relates to the former Nicholl Ground, which had historically been used as a football pitch. The developer says the courts are essential to generate revenue for the club's long-term survival. Objectors say the commercial development conflicts with the government's commitment to turn Manoel Island into a public park.
Padel has surged in popularity over the past few years, with courts springing up in urban areas and replacing various five-a-side football pitches.
Din l-Art Ħelwa said the PA ruling about the Manoel Island courts "flies in the face" of repeated government pledges that Manoel Island would be returned to the public, after the state spent €43 million earlier this year to buy back MIDI's concession.
Taxpayers' money had effectively been used to "bail out and reward" an illegal commercial venture instead of safeguarding the island for public use, Din L-Art Ħelwa said.
The €25,000 penalty did little to deter illegal development and instead reinforced a culture of "build now, sanction later", the NGO said.
It warned that retaining the courts at the entrance to Manoel Island had compromised the possibility of preparing a comprehensive master plan for the future national park.
The project has been controversial since works began without a permit, prompting enforcement action and objections from environmental organisations and the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign.
Din l-Art Ħelwa said it would challenge the permit before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal.