Keep your promise to Żurrieq residents: Reform planning before it’s too late.

Momentum stands in full solidarity with the residents of Żurrieq, who have spent the last years defending the Nigret area from inappropriate and unsustainable development , and with Il-Kollettiv, who have been at the forefront, championing the rights of residents in this area.

The recommendation by the Planning Authority’s case officer to approve the first residential development application in Nigret, despite over 300 objections from residents and concerned citizens, is deeply disappointing. While the final decision has yet to be taken, this recommendation sends the wrong message to communities across Malta and Gozo who expect their voices to be genuinely heard in decisions that affect their quality of life and their environment.

During the election campaign, Government representatives assured residents that their concerns would be addressed and that a solution would be sought. Prime minister Robert Abela promised not to allow the development of public land in Nigret and tal-Bebbux. People voted on the basis of promises made to them. Those commitments must now be honoured.

The new Government also pledged to introduce planning reform within its first 100 days in office, including reforms related to the planning appeals system. Around 40 days have already passed. There is no time to waste.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, leader of Momentum, said: “Planning reform cannot remain another electoral slogan. It must become a reality before more irreversible decisions are taken. Every day of delay risks allowing further decisions that could permanently change our communities and our countryside.”

Momentum calls on the Government to:

• Immediately publish its promised planning reform proposals and begin genuine public consultation.
• Ensure that communities have a meaningful voice in planning decisions affecting their neighbourhoods.
• Strengthen the protection of agricultural land, open spaces and areas of environmental value.
• End a system where developments opposed by entire communities can continue progressing without proper consideration of public concerns.
• Introduce safeguards to ensure that developments subject to legal proceedings cannot proceed during court appeals.

Prof. Cassola added: “The Nigret case is about far more than one development. It is about whether citizens can trust that promises made before an election will still matter after the election. Malta deserves a planning system that serves the public interest, not one that repeatedly places speculative development ahead of residents, the environment and future generations.”

The Government still has an opportunity to demonstrate that its promises were genuine. The residents of Żurrieq and communities across Malta and Gozo are waiting for action.

Żommu l-wegħda tagħkom lir-residenti taż-Żurrieq: Irriformaw l-ippjanar qabel ma jkun tard wisq.

Momentum jesprimi solidarjetà sħiħa mar-residenti taż-Żurrieq, li qattgħu l-aħħar snin jiddefendu ż-żona tan-Nigret minn żvilupp mhux xieraq u mhux sostenibbli, u ma’ Il-Kollettiv, li kienu fuq quddiem nett, jiddefendu d-drittijiet tar-residenti f’din iż-żona.

Ir-rakkomandazzjoni mill-uffiċjal tal-każ tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar biex tiġi approvata l-ewwel applikazzjoni għal żvilupp residenzjali fin-Nigret, minkejja aktar minn 300 oġġezzjoni minn residenti u ċittadini kkonċernati, hija diżappuntanti ħafna. Filwaqt li d-deċiżjoni finali għadha ma ttieħditx, din ir-rakkomandazzjoni tibgħat messaġġ ħażin lill-komunitajiet madwar Malta u Għawdex, li jistennew li leħinhom jinstema’ ġenwinament f’deċiżjonijiet li jaffettwaw il-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħhom u l-ambjent tagħhom.

Matul il-kampanja elettorali, ir-rappreżentanti tal-Gvern assiguraw lir-residenti li t-tħassib tagħhom se jiġi indirizzat u li se tinstab soluzzjoni. Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela wiegħed li ma jippermettix l-iżvilupp ta’ art pubblika fin-Nigret u tal-Bebbux. In-nies ivvutaw abbażi tal-wegħdiet li sarulhom. Issa l-gvern irid iżomm dawk l-impenji.

Il-Gvern il-ġdid wiegħed ukoll li jintroduċi riforma fl-ippjanar fl-ewwel 100 jum tiegħu, inklużi riformi relatati mas-sistema ta’ appelli tal-ippjanar. Diġà għaddew madwar 40 ġurnata. M’hemmx ħin x’taħli.

Il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, il-mexxej ta’ Momentum, qal: “Ir-riforma tal-ippjanar ma tistax tibqa’ slogan elettorali ieħor. Trid issir realtà qabel ma jittieħdu aktar deċiżjonijiet irriversibbli. Kull jum ta’ dewmien jirriskja li jippermetti aktar deċiżjonijiet li jistgħu jibdlu b’mod permanenti l-komunitajiet tagħna u l-kampanja Maltija.”

Momentum jappella lill-Gvern biex:

• Jippubblika immedjatament il-proposti mwiegħda tiegħu għar-riforma tal-ippjanar u jibda konsultazzjoni pubblika ġenwina.
• Jiżgura li l-komunitajiet ikollhom vuċi sinifikanti fid-deċiżjonijiet tal-ippjanar li jaffettwaw il-viċinanzi tagħhom.
• Isaħħaħ il-protezzjoni tal-art agrikola, spazji miftuħa u żoni ta’ valur ambjentali.
• Itemm sistema fejn żviluppi opposti minn komunitajiet sħaħ jistgħu jkomplu jimxu ’l quddiem mingħajr kunsiderazzjoni xierqa tat-tħassib pubbliku.
• Jintroduċi salvagwardji biex jiżgura li żviluppi soġġetti għal proċedimenti legali ma jistgħux jipproċedu waqt appelli fil-qorti.

Il-Prof. Cassola żied jgħid: “Il-każ tan-Nigret huwa dwar ħafna aktar minn żvilupp wieħed. Huwa dwar jekk iċ-ċittadini jistgħux jafdaw li l-wegħdiet li saru qabel l-elezzjoni xorta jibqgħu jgħoddu wara l-elezzjoni. Malta jistħoqqilha sistema ta’ ppjanar li taqdi l-interess pubbliku, mhux waħda li għal darb’oħra tpoġġi l-iżvilupp spekulattiv qabel ir-residenti, l-ambjent u l-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri.”

Il-Gvern għad għandu opportunità biex juri li l-wegħdiet tiegħu kienu ġenwini. Ir-residenti taż-Żurrieq u l-komunitajiet madwar Malta u Għawdex qed jistennew azzjoni.

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