Il-Kollettiv Urges Government To Rewrite Planning Reforms With Transparency And Public Involvement
Il-Kollettiv is a Maltese civil society organisation committed to promoting social justice, equality, and the common good. Through advocacy, public engagement, and collaboration with grassroots groups, Il-Kollettiv works to ensure that national policies serve the wider interests of society and uphold democratic values.
Il-Kollettiv has called on the government to immediately halt the parliamentary process on the proposed planning reforms, which were introduced late last week, and to rewrite the legislation in a way that genuinely reflects the needs of both the public and the country.
While the collective agrees in principle that construction should not proceed while an application is under appeal, it argues that the proposed bill fails to treat residents and developers equally. The current draft, according to Il-Kollettiv, creates an imbalance that undermines the rights of residents.
The group expressed serious concern over a number of other provisions which, if enacted, would severely limit public participation in the planning process. These changes would not only exclude citizens from decision-making but also deny them the right to legal recourse. Additional clauses in the reform, Il-Kollettiv warns, would introduce significant legal uncertainty and grant disproportionate powers to ministers and Planning Authority (PA) board members, without adequate checks or avenues for redress.
“Some sections of this bill are deeply alarming particularly those that permit vested interests to override existing laws that protect both the environment and citizens’ rights,” said Il-Kollettiv Secretary Wayne Flask. “Such provisions have no place in a democratic society and must be withdrawn.”
The group also criticised the government’s decision to present the reforms in Parliament without prior public consultation. It called on the authorities to uphold basic standards of transparency and due process. Il-Kollettiv expressed disappointment that the government had not only attempted to push through a controversial reform quietly, but also resorted to using propagandists to suppress dissent and criticism.
“Government must show respect for civil society not only in recognition of NGOs’ expertise in planning matters, but also in the interest of open, democratic dialogue,” the statement continued. “Resident groups should be central to this process, actively involved at every stage.”
Il-Kollettiv emphasised its willingness to engage constructively on the technical details of the reform and urged the government to launch a full public consultation without delay. “Rushing legislation through Parliament and later reversing course after public backlash is a hallmark of poor governance,” the group said, “particularly when civil society and resident groups have been denied the opportunity to contribute to what is clearly a pro-development wishlist.”
The statement was jointly endorsed by resident organisations from Żurrieq, Safi, Mellieħa, the Marsaskala Residents Network, and Wirt iż-Żejtun.
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