Mepa defends itself over golf courses

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority last night reacted with "surprise" to former tourism minister Michael Refalo's accusations of procrastination in deciding on a golf course.

It said the policy on golf course development was approved by the then Planning Authority in 1997, establishing the policies of the PA, Malta Tourism Authority and Environment Protection Department on such developments.

Together with the EIA regulations, the policy provided guidelines for prospective developers on applications for such projects, particularly with regard to site selection, and established criteria for assessing such proposals.

To date, the authority had received four applications for this type of development. One of them (PA 0002/02), located in Pembroke, was refused in principle at outline application stage. It was found in breach of Government Notice 583/96 because the project would have destroyed scheduled military monuments, a Level One protected area known to be highly ecologically sensitive and an area designated as a Level One site of scientific interest.

Mepa said the level of protection afforded to this site had been established in 1996 and not as Dr Refalo incorrectly imputed, after the application was submitted and due to objections from the AFM among others.

The decisions regarding the other three applications were still pending: PA 5277/96 at Ta' Cenc; PA4179/99 at Verdala and PA 5334/99 at Habel Bellu.

The application for Ta' Cenc, the authority said, incorporated an area already protected as a bird sanctuary as designated by LN 143/93. When the application for a golf course had been submitted in 2000, the then PA had identified the restrictions covering the site.

"It was the developers' own consultants who established that only a nine-hole golf course was possible after all other development proposals in the area were considered. These included a heritage park with a visitors' centre, horse-riding centre, villas, residences and a hotel expansion amongst others."

Mepa also rejected Dr Refalo's accusations of prejudice arising from an anti-golf stance harboured by some of its officials.

"Had this been the case, the authority would not have requested an EIA from the applicants for all the pending applications. EIAs are only requested when proposed developments do not in principle go against approved policies. The status of all applications, including golf courses, is available on Mepa's website for all to see."