Birżebbuġa local council against development of airstrip for model airplanes

Over a thousand objections have been raised against the development of an airstrip for model airplanes in Wied Żnuber, said the Birżebbuġa Local Council and the History and Culture Association of Birżebbuġa on Monday.The Bir&

By: independent.com.mt

Jul 22 2024
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Birżebbuġa local cou

The Birżebbuġa Local Council said that it is collecting objections towards the development as a reaction to the public consultation announced by the Planning Authority regarding a document the PA had published regarding changes to the local plan of Hal Far.

The Local Council continued that in this document, the PA is proposing that a piece of land of 39,800 square metres in Wied Żnuber, found between a Natura 2000 site and a factory area, is changed from an industrial zone to a zone “which is to be conserved” with the intention that 17,000 square metres of the land would be used for “low impact sports” and developed as an airstrip for model airplanes.

It said that several NGOs are objecting to this development “on the last natural open space remaining in Hal Far”. Some of the reasons provided for these objections include that the site is situated next to an ecologically sensitive area and that the site itself is of great ecological importance containing various protected fauna and flora, including the national plant and the national bird, which is one of the species of birds that uses the site as a nesting area.

The Local Council added that the size also has great archaeological value, and that the activity of flying model airplanes near or on a Natura 2000 site is not compatible with European Union requirements.

Scott Camilleri, the mayor of Birżebbuġa, said that the local council has remained consistent in its opinion about this proposed project. He continued that the council believes the natural site should remain natural as a whole, with the aim that a buffer zone is created between the industrial zone and the Natura 2000 site.

The History and Culture Association of Birżebbuġa said that the common good should be given priority in this matter, which has been ongoing for the past two and a half years. It added that the government should listen and respond to the wishes of the people, as Malta “cannot afford to lose more natural land”.

The association and the Local Council concluded by saying that they are continuing to collect objections, and added that an alternative and more suitable site should be identified for model airplane enthusiasts. The consultation process ends on the 24th of July, this Wednesday.

Those interested in getting involved as part of the public consultation can do so by sending an email to halfar.review@pa.org.mt or by visiting the following link: https://govcms.gov.mt/en/publicconsultation/Pages/2024/NL-0016-2024.aspx

The Birżebbuġa Local Council said that those who intend to object via the online consultation form or email can do so by using the following narrative.

“I object to the proposed partial review of the local plan for southern Malta of 2006, as amended in 2017, for Hal Far, as proposed by the Planning Authority, in the draft of the public consultation as part of the second phase of the partial revision process.

I object that the land of approximately 17,000 square metres will be replaced from industrial land to land that falls under the definition of “area of low impact sports with green open space” and becomes subject to the policy SMHF 04. This land should also be included as land which falls under the definition of “area to be conserved and restored” and become subject to the policy SMHF 05.

The 39,800 square metres of land has to be an area that is changed from an industrial place to an area of conservation and environmental restoration, without any option where this land can be considered for development and/or exploitation of any kind, and acts as a buffer for adjacent protected areas and is converted into an ODZ.”