Industrial parks should not cause concern among farmers, residents

Contrary to what is being alleged by Alternattiva Demokratika on the proposals for Industrial Parks, I can confirm that one of the major criteria during site election exercise by MEPA was that the identified sites do not include fertile land.

It is clearly evident from the report published by MEPA on the site identification process that once the public consultation period expires and there is agreement with the owners regarding the government scheme to develop these sites into industrial parks, this development will not cause any negative impact on the residents or farmers who are in the vicinity of this development.

The sites that have been identified by MEPA are either adjacent to existing industrial activities or are sites that are already committed by industrial activity, which is causing a negative impact on residents and the environment.

This implies that provided an agreement with the land owners is reached on the conditions laid down by Government and the exercise of public consultation is terminated, MEPA will ensure and guarantee that these industrial parks shall be built in a comprehensive manner with the required infrastructural services in place and the necessary landscaping to embellish the parks.

This will be in stark contrast to existing industrial developments, such as Handaq, Mriehel and other industrial zones, where development often took place in a haphazard manner, with plots being built up in scattered areas and in a less than co-ordinated manner without the necessary infrastructure and services being provided to entrepreneurs, making the zones look shabby and resembling an endless building site.

In the development as proposed by MEPA and with the conditions as laid down by Government, Industrial Parks will be built within a specified period of time with an identified structure responsible for the management of the parks.

Entrepreneurs will be provided with all the necessary infrastructural services, including access roads from the very first day of operations. Although these industrial parks will be built to house in them small crafts businesses, small manufacturing concerns, light industry, warehousing and parking space for industrial vehicles, there is going to be an emphasis on quality and standards.

In this way, the proposed development process and criteria will ensure that there are no negative impacts on the neighbouring agricultural land and residents. Strict enforcement of standards will be in place to ensure that there are no emissions leading to pollution hazards.

The Mosta Technopark may serve as a good example as to how the proposed industrial parks will look like once they are completed.

This proposal for development is proof of the extent of Government's awareness of our country's sustainable development. The strict selection and development criteria and conditions will also ensure that this development will not be of any detriment to our environment and residents.

It is a proposal that will satisfy the needs of the numerous self-employed families and small businesses who are seeking a place of work from where they can operate, but can find none. It is the duty of Government to come up with a solution on the lack of industrial space for small enterprises.

Therefore I believe that this proposal will be placing a number of sites in the market for development into industrial parks with the conditions laid down by Government. These conditions are that the entire development of the site should be completed within a year from when the permits are issued.

Moreover, Government will retain the option to intervene if the units built are not sold or rented for commercial purposes - in other words, not put on the market. The rate at which Government may intervene in the market and allocate the industrial space to those who are asking for it is at the maximum rate of Lm6 per square metre per annum.

This is the only scheme which can guarantee that an area zoned for industrial use will be built up once the permit is issued and also guarantees that this space will be effectively placed in the market to ease demand.

This means that this scheme will be putting in the market approximately 2,200 spaces at 100 m2 each. This is the way forward, an innovative way of solving the acute problem of limited space for self employed and small businesses.

Edwin Vassallo is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Services.