Ten Maltese environmental and heritage NGOs are raising alarm over the proposed amendments to the Development Notification Order (DNO), presented under the guise of “Class 24 Greening Projects.” Despite its misleading title, this legal change is not about greening but about giving authorities and developers free rein to construct limitless structures, facilities, and installations—without public scrutiny or appeal.

The document submitted by the organisations to the public consultation can be accessed here.

Under this proposal, Project Green and other entities would be granted unchecked power to build in Outside Development Zones (ODZ) and urban areas through a backdoor mechanism that bypasses established planning policies. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.

The proposed amendments allow for unlimited structures, installations, hard landscaping, and even permanent demountable facilities—without any height, volume, or material restrictions. This could pave the way for the proliferation of commercial structures in ODZs, the degradation of protected areas, and the destruction of Malta’s remaining green spaces.

One of the most alarming aspects is the provision that effectively nullifies all existing safeguards under the Local Plan and other regulatory frameworks. With the stroke of a pen, the Planning Authority is proposing lawlessness, eliminating crucial environmental and public oversight.

Instead of enhancing public spaces, these changes serve as a smokescreen for unregulated construction, trampling on Malta’s natural and cultural heritage.

We also remind the authorities of the tragic death of Jean Paul Sofia, where an unscrutinised Development Notification Order led to unsafe and unchecked construction practices. Despite the Board of Inquiry’s recommendation to eliminate such loopholes, the government is now attempting to expand this reckless system.

We call on the government to withdraw these dangerous amendments immediately and commit to genuine environmental restoration instead of greenwashing destructive policies.

Organisations:
Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
The Archaeological Society Malta
The Ramblers’ Association of Malta
Wirt Għawdex

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Għaqdiet allarmati bid-DNO proposta, u jwissu li tista’ twassal għal qerda ambjentali bla kontroll

Għaxar għaqdiet li jaħdmu fil-qasam tal-wirt kulturali u ambjentali jinsabu allarmati bil-proposti fid-Development Notification Order (DNO), li qed tiġi preżentata taparsi bħala “Class 24 Greening Projects.” Minkejja t-titlu qarrieqi tagħha, din il-bidla legali mhix dwar tħaddir imma dwar li jingħataw lill-awtoritajiet u lill-iżviluppaturi iktar mezzi biex ikunu jistgħu jagħmlu li jridu u jibnu strutturi, faċilitajiet, u installazzjonijiet bla rażan – mingħajr l-iskrutinju jew appell pubbliku. 

Id-dokument sottomess mill-għaqdiet għall-konsultazzjoni pubblika jinsab hawn.

Taħt din il-proposta, Project Green u entitajiet oħra se jkollhom poter mingħajr kontrolli biex jibnu f’żoni li mhumiex intenzjonati għall-iżvilupp (ODZ) u f’żoni urbani permezz ta’ mekkaniżmu li se jippermettilhom jidħlu mit-tieqa minflok mill-bieb biex ikunu jistgħu jinjoraw politiki tal-iżvilupp stabbiliti. Dan mhuwiex aċċettabbli u jeħtieġ li jiġi mwaqqaf.

L-emendi proposti jippermettu strutturi, installazzjonijiet,  hard landscaping, u saħansitra faċilitajiet permanenti li jistgħu jitħattew – mingħajr ebda restrizzjonijiet dwar l-għoli, il-volum u l-materjal użat. Dan jista’ jwassal għall-firxa ta’ strutturi kummerċjali fl-ODZ, id-degradazzjoni ta’ nħawi protetti, u l-qerda tal-ispazji ħodor li għad fadal f’Malta.

Wieħed mill-iktar aspetti allarmanti huwa l-provediment li effettivament ineħħi kwalunkwe salvagwardja li hemm fil-Pjan Lokali u f’oqfsa regolatorji oħra.  B’daqqa ta’ pinna, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar qiegħda tipproponi liġi tal-ġungla, billi telimina s-sorveljanza pubblika u ambjentali li hija tant meħtieġa.

Minflok iżidu l-ispazji pubbliċi, dawn il-bidliet se jservu bħala paraventu għal konstruzzjoni bla kontroll li se tkompli tgħaddi minn fuq il-wirt kulturali u ambjentali ta’ Malta bħal gaffa.

Infakkru wkoll lill-awtoritajiet fil-mewta traġika ta’ Jean Paul Sofia, fejn Development Notification Order oħra li ma ġietx sorveljata, wasslet għal prattiċi ta’ kostruzzjoni perikolużi u fatali.  Minkejja r-rakkomandazzjoni tal-Bord tal-Inkjesta biex jiġu eliminati lakuni bħal dawn, il-gvern issa qed jipprova jwessa’ din is-sistema ta’ traskuraġni.

Qegħdin insejħu lill-gvern biex b’mod immedjat jirtira dawn l-emendi perikolużi u biex jikkommetti ruħu għal restawr ambjentali ġenwin minflok politiki distruttivi li mhuma xejn ħlief eżerċizzju ta’ greenwashing.

L-għaqdiet:
Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
The Archaeological Society Malta
The Ramblers’ Association of Malta
Wirt Għawdex