‘Hands Off Manikata’: Pristine Garigue Opposite 1960s Church Could Become Multiple Blocks Of Apartments
Pristine and untouched garigue land in Malta’s rural Northwest could become blocks of apartments if a Planning Control application were to be approved.
The recently-filed application details the change of the Manikata Area Policy Map at Triq ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra from NWML15 Residential Villa Development to NWUS4 Manikata Residential Priority Area – for 2,677 square metres.
The PC application – the kind which is typically used to change zoning details – was filed by Charles Camilleri, together with Architecture 360.
Representations are already starting to come in from residents in the area, warning against the detrimental effects that such development could have on the quaint rural town of Manikata.
Apart from the environmental degradation which would come with its approval, the area in question is located directly across from the town’s church, which was designed by Richard England in 1962.
“Manikata has become nothing but a highway and an absolute nightmare for residents,” one resident said while objecting.
“There needs to be serious consideration of the impacts of significant increase of population, cars, dust, air pollution, noise pollution, light pollution – all major factors affecting our health and wellbeing, not to mention all factors at the edge of the Majjistral nature reserve!”
“It will be a disgrace and disrespect to the country if we allow them to go ahead with this,” another said.
PN MP Ivan Castillo has already voiced his concerns on the application, questioning whether we’ll learn as a nation and strongly stating that developers should keep their “hands off Manikata”.
“Many have expressed their anger over the application submitted to the PA for a massive piece of land to be changed into a construction zone right in front of the Manikata church,” he wrote on social media.
“This is never going to be acceptable. Manikata will stand firm. Too many abuses have occurred in this country and even in Manikata itself.”
While the area would fall within the development zone, it overlooks an entire stretch of land which directly touches upon the Majjistral Park.
And the application has also already garnered objections from a governmental level, with Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo also speaking out against it.
“The Manikata community has been in my heart since I began serving on the Mellieħa Local Council. Therefore, I cannot overlook the intensive and negative impact that application PC/13/23 would have if approved by the Planning Authority,” Bartolo wrote.
“Intensive development is not suitable for this special area, especially when one considers that it is only a few meters away from the Manikata Church, which enjoys a high level of protection. Residents will find me standing with them to defend the interests of the community.”
Objections are continuing to be filed in against the alteration, while it’s pending assessment from the PA board.
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