Renewed calls to withdraw planning reform bills day after consultation launched

Updated 3.28pm

A group of 10 NGOs have renewed calls for two controversial planning reform bills to be withdrawn a day after the government launched a one-month public consultation on the proposals.

In a statement Friday, the organisations said they were “once again” calling on Prime Minister Robert Abela to “immediately” withdraw the bills in favour of a “genuine consultation process through the publication of a white paper”.

The NGOs said that while they were open to “genuine discussions on planning reform — something the country sorely needs — the current bills, particularly the bill amending the Development Planning Act, are beyond repair”.

Calling the submission of the bills – tabled on the eve of Parliament's summer break – “an exercise in dishonesty and deceit”, they said the process had only been halted by the “widespread and rightful public outcry” at the bills.

“However, the threat remains very real as the bills have not been withdrawn”.

Abela pledged to hold a consultation process on the bills last month amid pressure from demonstrators outside parliament.

The groups stressed that legal provisions for suspending construction work during appeals “should go ahead immediately” by amending existing laws, “but without any other changes that would downgrade the rights of appellants” — something they said had been “long promised by the government”.

Reiterating Moviment Graffiti’s criticism of the bills as a “developers’ wishlist”, the organisations said the proposals would “grant unchecked powers to the Planning Authority and pave the way for a wave of destructive development that would devastate our environment and quality of life”.

The NGOs warned that should the bills not be withdrawn, they would “escalate their campaign to stop what is effectively a developers’ coup”.

Urging the public to “prepare for the fight ahead”, the groups invited interested parties to register their details with Moviment Graffiti.

The statement was signed by Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Ramblers Association and Wirt Għawdex.

The Nationalist Party on Friday also joined the call for the bills to be withdrawn “immediately”, claiming the consultation process was just a “sham” as the committee involves only people from within the government’s own ranks.

“The government has already admitted that no agreement will be reached with NGOs and, even before the consultation has begun, it has stated that there will be matters which environmental organisations will not agree with,” the PN said in a statement, adding this was proof the government had no intention of amending the key points that sparked such controversy.

The Opposition insisted it “will not allow the government to hold a token consultation” to force through its plans.