PN want Planning Authority to take action over 'illegal' Ta’ Qali gravel
PN MPs Rebekah Borg and Stanley Zammit also pointed out that concrete structures intended to serve as toilets have already been built without any permit
The Nationalist Party is claiming that works at the Ta’ Qali picnic area are "illegal" and that the Planning Authority should “take enforcement action against the gravel surfacing and other unauthorised development”.
The statement, signed by shadow environment minister Rebekah Borg and planning shadow Stanley Zammit, pointed to planning application PA/08356/24, which is currently at screening stage.
“No permit has been approved, meaning the public has not been consulted on whether the Ta’ Qali picnic area should be surfaced with gravel. Despite this, the Labour government chose to proceed with the works on site, in blatant breach of the law,” the PN statement said.
They added that the PA application only refers to a few gravel paths “yet the entire picnic area has been covered with gravel”.
The two PN MPs also pointed out that concrete structures intended to serve as toilets have already been built without any permit and have been in place since at least February 2025.
“The law is clear: the placing of material on land requires a permit. For the Labour government to carry out works requiring a permit before the application has even been approved is not only arrogant but outright illegal. The Labour government has broken rules which every citizen is obliged to follow. Ordinary citizens who do the same are fined or stopped immediately; but when the Labour government does it, the law is simply ignored,” the PN said.
On Wednesday evening, Times of Malta asked why works related to the ongoing planning application had begun despite there being no approval.
Jason Micallef, who heads the Ta’ Qali national park, said:
“Reference is made to the new public convenience within the Malta National Park in Ta’ Qali. Kindly note that following the amendments done in the legislation relating to public greening projects, public conveniences (toilets) are exempt from planning permits.”
Micallef was also asked about the other issues highlighted in the PN statement.
In their statement, the two shadow ministers said the Planning Authority should investigate the works, take enforcement action against the illegal gravel surfacing and other unauthorised development, and order the immediate removal of the gravel unlawfully placed in the picnic area.
They added that the PA should ensure the site is restored to its original state so that any future application can be properly considered through due process and public consultation.