Għarb Local Council Silent On 5,000sqm Retirement Home Proposed On ODZ Land
The Għarb Local Council has still not taken a stance on the new retirement home that is being proposed on 5,000sqm of ODZ land in the village.
Residents of the locality gathered for another meeting in the last few days, with many locals, expats, and members of NGOs attending.
The development is being led by none other than Perit Alex Bigeni, who has regularly been involved in development applications on ODZ land.
“The group decided that an action plan will be drafted and implemented to ensure that the quality of life for all Għarb residents will not be adversely impacted by the desire of a couple of developers to increase their profits,” one of the residents informed Lovin Malta.
The residents also voiced their concern that the local council, led by Mayor David Apap Agius, has so far not taken a clear stand against the project.
“People remembered the similarities to the Birbuba ODZ road project when the local council only decided one day before the representation deadline to oppose the project.”
The people attending also expressed that they would have expected the local council to be at the forefront to oppose the project.
Sandra Gauci, deputy leader of the ADPD, gave a passionate speech during the meeting about the construction atrocities in Malta and Gozo that are driven by greed.
She stated that the pretext of constructing a home for the elderly is a plain whitewashing exercise to take up ODZ land, while also pointing out the similarities to other projects.
Gauci also pointed out during her speech that Perit Bigeni is often involved in such developments planned for Malta and Gozo’s designated ODZ.
Residents expressed their concerns about the detrimental effects that this project would have on Għarb, including an increase in traffic, parking problems, loss of agricultural land, environmental damage, and noise pollution.
The proposed development application outlines plans to build a retirement care home on the outskirts of Għarb, at the end of Triq Molina, leading to Wied il-Mielaħ.
The development plans to consist of 94 rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, clinics, a day centre, and a chapel.
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