Eight organisations and several Pembroke residents have joined forces and filed an appeal with the Planning Tribunal against the Environment and Resources Authority’s (ERA) approval of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the DB Group’s project on the ex-ITS site. This massive and intensive project, in a predominantly residential area and adjacent to two Natura 2000 sites, had attracted a record amount of objections – 17,000 objections over four objection periods – and staunch opposition from all directions, including residents, local councils, business groups, and NGOs.
“We will not stand by and let ERA rubber stamp a deeply flawed, unsubstantiated and incomplete assessment” said a spokesperson for the appellants. “ERA continues to consider the excavation of a tunnel which is not included in the application as a mitigating factor, but refuses to consider the negative environmental impacts of the tunnel. The assessment is based on untested assumptions and is rife with inconsistencies. Once more ERA has abdicated its responsibilities as an environmental watchdog which safeguards the substantive and procedural rights deriving from both local and EU law. We will challenge this.”
1. Din l-Art Ħelwa
2. Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA)
3. Friends of the Earth Malta
4. Green House
5. Moviment Graffitti
6. Rota
7. The Archaeological Society Malta
8. Żminijietna – Voice of the Left
Residenti u għaqdiet iressqu appell kontra l-approvazzjoni mill-ERA tal-EIA tal-proġett tad-DB
Tmien organizzazzjonijiet u diversi residenti ta’ Pembroke ngħaqdu biex iressqu appell mat-Tribunal tal-Ippjanar kontra l-approvazzjoni tal-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi (ERA) tal-Valutazzjoni tal-Impatt Ambjentali (EIA) għall-proġett tad-DB group fuq l-eks sit tal-ITS. Dan il-proġett vast u intensiv, f’żona fil-biċċa l-kbira tagħha residenzjali u maġenb żewġ siti ta’ Natura 2000, kien irċieva ammont rekord ta’ oġġezzjonijiet – 17,000 oġġezzjoni fuq erba’ perjodi ta’ oġġezzjoni differenti – u oppożizzjoni qawwija minn kullimkien, inkluż residenti, Kunsilli Lokali, gruppi tan-negozju u NGOs.
“M’aħniex se noqogħdu kwieti waqt li l-ERA tapprova, mingħajr skrutinju, evalwazzjoni estremament difettuża, mhux sostanzjata u nofs kedda”, qal kelliem għall-appellanti. “L-ERA qed tkompli tikkunsidra l-iskavar ta’ mina li mhijiex inkluża fl-applikazzjoni bħala fattur mitiganti iżda tirrifjuta li tikkunsidra l-impatti ambjentali negattivi tal-mina. Il-valutazzjoni hija bbażata fuq xenarji li ma ġewx ittestjati u mimlija inkonsistenzi. Għal darb’oħra l-ERA abdikat mir-responsabbiltajiet tagħha bħala awtorità li suppost tissalvagwardja d-drittijiet ambjentali b’mod sostantiv u proċedurali skont il-liġi lokali u l-liġi tal-UE. Dan aħna nisfidawh.”
1. Din l-Art Ħelwa
2. Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA)
3. Friends of the Earth Malta
4. Green House
5. Moviment Graffitti
6. Rota
7. The Archaeological Society Malta
8. Żminijietna – Voice of the Left
