Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) said on Tuesday that it has again warned government over its repeated persistence in ignoring European environmental law against every advice.
"Following a refusal to abide by EU law and carry out the required strategic environmental assessment (SEA) on proposed developments outside building boundaries which were rushed through Parliament last month a carbon copy situation is now arising with respect to the golf course planned in North West Malta," said Dr Harry Vassallo, Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika.
The SEA Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes applies to the proposal to have more golf courses in Malta and Gozo. The scheme to plant a golf course on garigue habitat at Xagħra il-Ħamra falls within this plan therefore is subject to an SEA within the wider framework, according to AD.
AD Environment and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Mark Causon explained how a wide-ranging strategic environmental assessment (SEA) would take all factors into account when considering new plans and policies such as the golf course at Xaghra il-Hamra.
"One of the main differences between the two types of assessment is that an SEA looks at maintaining a chosen level of environmental quality while an EIA only concentrates on mitigating impacts in a number of ways or trying to minimise them. Another difference between them is that an EIA considers only a limited number of feasible alternatives while an SEA offers a much broader range of potential alternatives," said Mark Causon.
"The penalties for ducking EU directives on nature protection and correct procedures regarding environmental assessments are adding up." concluded Mark Causon.
See also:
Outside development zones proposal approved
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 26, 2006, 21:50 CET
AD dubs SEA certificate as "worthless"
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 24, 2006, 16:34 CET
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