NGOs launch campaign Ġustizzja għal Artna to object to new planning reform

Several environmental NGOs launched a new campaign to resist the unprecedented threat facing Malta's environment, quality of life, and democracy if the new planning proposals are approved.

The campaign, Ġustizzja għal Artna, is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the draft bills 143 and 144, two bills which were quietly tabled in parliament earlier in July.

The campaign, published on Friday, comes days before the consultation process closes on September 7.  

Bill 143 would have given the Planning Authority (PA) the power more flexibility to revoke permits and deviate from existing planning laws and policies. Bill 144 proposes that construction projects can be suspended for up to 10 months across two rounds of appeals while an outcome is decided, but a permit will not be revoked. 

Last month, Planning Minister Clint Camilleri pledged to roll back some key elements of the recent planning reform in a Times Talk interview. 

The NGOs describe the bills as "structurally rotten" and devised to empower developers and "their friends in corrupt authorities".

"Bills 143 and 144 and the proposed legal notices are a direct assault on Malta's democracy and environmental protections," the campaign read.

"It was only thanks to the timely intervention of organisations, communities, and individuals that these malicious plans were temporarily halted. Widespread public anger forced the Government to pause its passage." 

The campaign demands the urgent introduction of a measure suspending works on developments approved by the Planning Authority while an appeal is ongoing, through an amendment to the existing law.

It also called for the publication of a White Paper to launch a genuine consultation on the broader planning reforms Malta needs.

"Ġustizzja għal Artna is launching a season of people's resistance to this total assault on the people's right to live in a country not ruled by greed. Details of initiatives and actions forming part of the campaign will begin to be announced in the coming days."

The organisations that are part of the campaign are:

BirdLife Malta

Din l-Art Ħelwa

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar

Friends of the Earth Malta

Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent

Għawdix

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust – FEE Malta

Ramblers Association

Wirt Għawdex

More information about the campaign can be found on www.gustizzjartna.org. Groups across Malta and Gozo, both formal and informal, are invited to join by emailing info@gustizzjartna.org.