AD appreciates the work government and environmental organisation Nature Trust are undertaking to rehabilitate the Magħluq marshland in Marsaskala. AD candidate for the Marsaskala local council and AD Chairperson were addressing a press conference in Marsaskala today. They said that such cooperation between government and environmental organisations is essential on a host of other environmental issues.
Daniel Desira emphasised that environmental protection is not only intrinsically valuable, it also has a direct impact on the quality of life of residents. He said that he will be vigilant on the abuses connected with the overdevelopment of Marsaskala, in particular the noise and dust resulting from construction. It is essential that there is proper enforcement of regulations during construction. It is patently obvious that enforcement is not high on the government’s agenda.
Lack of enforcement is also felt when it comes to fish farming. The distance of the farms from the shore and the size of the farms is an ongoing issue. The impacts of smells and pollution of the sea by fish farms should be tackled and controlled. Residents of Marsaskala should be guaranteed a sea which is clean.
Efficient public transport is essential for residents, insisted Daniel Desira. I will work to explore together with the operator of public transport alternative routes so that residents are better served.
Issues with the Sant’Antnin waste plant regarding smells should be tackled immediately. AD is also of the opinion that Local Council offices are located in an alternative site and is against taking up part of Ġnien Sant’Anna for the offices. Open spaces are important and should be protected.
Carmel Cacopardo concluded by emphasising that Marsaskala residents deserve respite from the impacts of overdevelopment. In the past weeks and months we spoke of the issue of the Jerma site and against massive development of the site, proposing a public open space instead. We also spoke of the need to protect historical heritage in Marsaskala. The protection of residents and of ecological and historical heritage are the priorities of Greens in our localities. The quality of life of us all depends on these policies.
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Il-kwalità tal-ħajja prijorità – Marsaskala
Alternattiva Demokratika tapprezza l-ħidma flimkien bejn il-Gvern u l-għaqda ambjentali Nature Trust biex ikun rijabilitat il-Magħluq. Dan qaluh Daniel Desira kandidat għall-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Marsaskala u Carmel Cacopardo, Chairperson ta’ AD huma u jindirizzaw konfernza tal-aħbarijiet illum. Hemm ħtieġa ta’ kooperazzjoni ta’ din ix-xorta fuq iktar materji ambjentali.
Daniel Desira enfasizza li l-ħarsien ambjentali m’għandux biss valur fih innifsu, imma li ‘fuq kollox, jekk dan isir sewwa jkun rifless ukoll fuq il-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti. Hu għalhekk li hu jkun viġilanti fuq l-abbużi konnessi mal-iżvilupp esaġerat li għaddej f’Marsaskala, in partikolari dwar l-istorbju u t-trabijiet ġejjin mill-kostruzzjoni. Il-ħtieġa li jkunu osservati r-regolamenti u li ma jsirx xogħol storbjuż fil-ħin tal-mistrieħ hu essenzjali.
In-nuqqas ta’ infurzar jinħass ukoll fil-ħtieġa li l-gaġeġ tal-ħut tal-fishfarms ikun rilokati iktar ‘il barra kif ukoll li dawn ma jiżdiedux fin-numru. Dan biex jonqsu l-impatt kemm ta’ irwejjaħ fuq iż-żoni residenzjali kif ukoll tal-ħmieġ tagħhom fil-baħar.
L-effiċjenza tat-trasport pubbliku hi essenjali biex ir-residenti jagħmlu iktar użu minnu, insista Daniel Desira. Hemm ħtieġa ta’ rwol iktar attiv mill-Kunsill Lokali biex ikunuesplorati rotot alternattivi ħalli r-residenti jkunu moqdija aħjar.
L-irwejjaħ mill-impjant ta’ Sant’Antnin m’għandhonx jistennew l-geħluq tal-impjant 7 snin oħra biex ikunu indirizzati. Alternattiva Demokratika kienet minn tal-ewwel li semmgħet leħinha biex l-uffiċini ġidda tal-Kunsill Lokali ma jinbnewx fi Ġnien Sant Anna. Għandu jinstab postieħor għalihom. Ma nistgħux nibqgħu nnaqqru mill-ftit spazji pubbliċi li baqa’.
Carmel Cacopardo ikkonkluda billi enfasizza li r-residenti ta’ Marsaskala ukoll jeħtieġu protezzjoni mill-impatti ta’ żvilupp esaġerat. Fil-ġimgħat u x-xhur li għaddew tkellimna fuq is-sit tal-Jerma u fuq il-ħtieġa tal-ħarsien tal-wirt storiku f’Marsaskala. Il-ħarsien tar-residenti u tal-wirt ekoloġiku huma l-prijoritajiet tal-ħidma ħadra fil-lokalitajiet. Hija biss din il-ħidma li jista’ jkollha impatt sinifikanti fuq il-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħna lkoll
