Watch: Nadur Residents Make Last-Ditch Plea Against ‘Monstrous’ Block Of 51 Apartments Approved For Field
Nadur residents have launched a fundraiser to appeal the approval of a massive residential development that the Planning Authority has approved for a field in the Gozitan town.
“Gozo is again under threat – a major development of 38 apartments and 63 garages permitted in Nadur will eat away at precious farmland, causing sewage to run into our crops and the water table, and causing massive parking issues while also posing safety issues,” a statement by NGO Flimkien Għal Ambient Aħjar reads.
“In 2021 a group of young residents drummed up 1300+ objections – in spite of this PA 00085/21 was approved. We are still fighting, and now they need YOUR help.”
In a new video, two Nadur residents appealed to the public to help them appeal the PA’s decision to approve the development of Titan Development Ltd – owned by Victor Hili and Joseph Grima.
“They’re going to build this monstrosity of a building, in my street, Qortin Street, which doesn’t belong here and all of the residents don’t want it here, Corrine Zahra said.
“We should be proud of our culture, heritage and land – we’re tiny so why are we approving such cases? Please help us fund the legal expenses. We don’t want this here and I’m sure if it was in your street you wouldn’t want it either.”
Jamie Buttigieg insisted that his family actually owns the land which is set to be developed.
“When I was young, I used to spend a lot of time here, working the fields with my father, uncle and grandmother, and now there’s someone trying to build all over it,” he said.
Buttigieg confirmed that if the appeal fails, he is ready to fight it at the constitutional courts.
Residents and FAA have raised several concerns about the project, including the lack of suitable drainage infrastructure, the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment, traffic problems, and the restriction of public access to Natura 2000 site of Qortin.
They also warned that the project fails to complement the existing surroundings, breaches a policy obliging transitioning between Development Zone (DZ) and Outside Development Zone (ODZ), and runs counter to the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (SPED) objectives for Nadur.
The proposed development would also mean a large-scale excavation in the area, leading to the loss of flora, fauna and garigue, and running counter to policies and promises made by the government regarding the protection of Malta’s environment.
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