Wirt Għawdex

30/05/2026

🇬🇧 Yesterday, Wirt Għawdex held its last public lecture prior to the summer break. Once again, we thank Justine Somerville for kindly accepting our invitation to speak to us about Ġorġ Pisani's poetry. We shall be back with more lectures in Autumn!
Thanks to all our followers and supporters throughout the year!

🇲🇹 Ilbieraħ, Wirt Għawdex organizza l-aħħar taħdita pubblika qabel pawża għas-sajf. Nirringrazzjaw mill-ġdid lil Justine Somerville talli għoġobha taċċeta l-istedina tagħna biex tkellimna dwar il-poeżija ta' Ġorġ Pisani. Nerġgħu lura b'iktar taħdidiet fil-Ħarifa! Grazzi mill-qalb lil dawk kollha li jsegwuna u jagħtuna s-sapport tagħhom tul is-sena!

27/05/2026

Instead of acting to conserve our natural heritage, the authorities are actively facilitating its ruin.

NGOs flag failure to clamp down on illegal boathouse-turned-restaurant and kiosk

26/05/2026

A statement endorsed by twelve NGOs, including Wirt Għawdex, calls for action to tackle the problem of light pollution proliferating across the country.

A group of 12 NGOs called on the government to publish long-delayed light pollution guidelines

16/05/2026

What a fun night it was! We laughed, we gave it our all ... and we learned a thing or two!

Well done to the winners and thank you all for your participation.

Thank you to our sponsors: Delicata, Merlin Publishers, Midsea Books Ltd — and to Victoria Central for hosting us!

We'll see you in two weeks' time for Wirt Għawdex's next event: a talk in Maltese about Gorg Pisani's work by Justine Somerville.

📷 Vanessa Buhagiar Joseph Caruana Leanne Ellul Ryan Bajada

04/05/2026

A win for the environment! Together with several other NGOs, we had contested the EPRT's decision on the development in Comino and taken the case to court. The court has just rubbished the EPRT's decision.

Developer 'remains committed to a project that balances environmental restoration, responsible tourism and long-term investment'

03/05/2026

Press Release - Ġustizzja għal Artna
03 May 2026

LOCAL PLAN CHANGES WILL MEAN ERASURE OF TOWN AND ODZ PROTECTIONS

The undersigned 10 ENGOs, which are part of the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign, refer to reports of recent statements made by Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding the planning sector.

The Malta Independent and Malta Today reported the Prime Minister as saying that the Government and ENGOs had managed to move toward more of a convergence on a number of points in relation to the Planning Reform.

The ENGOs wish to clarify that there has been no convergence at all with the Government about the proposed Planning Reform. The few revisions that were proposed left a dangerous and unsalvagable reform which should not be presented again.

The ENGOs have recently also made several proposals about the suspension of appeals, the end of sanctioning in ODZ, enforcement against illegalities and the future of rationalisation sites which were not even acknowledged by the Government.

The ENGOs are also extremely concerned about the Prime Minister's announcement that he would revise the Local Plans if no consensus was reached on the Planning Reform, especially in light of the stated intention of addressing 'injustices and anomalies' created by the 2006 revisions.

The ENGOs note that the Government and the head of the Planning Authority Johann Buttigieg presented a devastating Planning Reform which would have affected the lives of 500,000 people without a single study or impact assessment. Is the same methodology going to be adopted when revising the local plans?

Recently the Government has also been carrying out partial reviews of the Local Plans to reward and accommodate certain developers, such as Tal-Franciz in Villa Rosa and the Tal-Malla illegal settlement in Xewkija, to the detriment of the public.

The ENGOs also understand that by addressing 'injustices and anomalies' the Prime Minister is not referring to the relief of our communities from rampant construction, but to further weaken planning regulations and possibly revise the development boundary so as to include more ODZ land into the development zone, rewarding some of the supporters and donors of the ruling party.

For these reasons the ENGOs believe that the Prime Minister and his political appointees at the Planning Authority do not have the credibility to carry out a review of the Local Plans which is beneficial to the environment of the country, and that such an exercise will likely lead to even more intensive environmental destruction.

The ENGOs are giving notice that since the Local Plans remain one of the few tools currently restraining predatory overdevelopment, their campaign of resistance will be extended to any revisions of the Local Plans. This will take place until the ENGOs are convinced that the process is being driven by persons of known integrity, is based on scientific studies and is taking due account of public participation.

Signed

BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Helwa
FAA Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent
Għawdix
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
Ramblers Malta
Wirt Għawdex

30/04/2026

On the very same day Ġgantija was betrayed by the Planning Authority, the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal stuck a dagger into Fort Chambray. A dark day for Gozo's heritage. But this only strengthens our determination to continue fighting for our Island.

Demolition, partial relocation of barracks can go ahead, EPRT rules

30/04/2026

As part of the Coalition for Gozo, we fought this hard. But when the authorities are dead set on dishing out a permit, this is the outcome. This is how our authorities choose to treat one of the most important sites of our Islands.

Heritage watchdog’s position in favour of application remained unchanged despite NGO criticism

01/03/2026

Wirt Għawdex has formally submitted to ERA its strong objection to the measures currently being proposed in relation to Dwejra. You may read our submission below. We remind the public that they may send their objection to [email protected] by the 3rd of March 2026, keeping [email protected] in copy. Include the clear message: “Lights at Dwejra must remain switched off between sunset and sunrise, and not allowed to remain switched on until midnight.”

************************************
Dwejra remains the finest surviving dark-sky location in the Maltese Islands, and is of exceptional scientific, environmental, and cultural importance. The guiding principle for its management should be unequivocal: no artificial illumination whatsoever between sunset and sunrise. This rule must apply universally, without distinction between permanent or temporary installations, new or existing, and without exception. Any introduction of artificial light during nighttime hours would fundamentally compromise the integrity of this unique site.

The proposals presently under consideration would severely diminish the viability of Dwejra as a location for astrophysical observation and research. Professional researchers, students, and educational institutions rely on the site’s pristine darkness for meaningful study. Many celestial bodies of interest set well before midnight; permitting illumination until that time would render serious observation impracticable. Such a measure is incompatible with established scientific understanding of light pollution and its impact.

Beyond the scientific community, the proposals would also curtail the ability of amateur astronomers and members of the public to experience an unspoilt night sky. Access to a naturally dark environment is not merely recreational; it forms part of our shared cultural and natural heritage. Furthermore, the ecological consequences cannot be overlooked. Artificial lighting disrupts nocturnal ecosystems and places additional stress on vulnerable species that depend on natural darkness for survival.

Wirt Għawdex also expresses concern regarding the intention to permit barbecuing activity within the extensive area beneath Dwejra tower, which has been excluded from protection. If the stated objective is to safeguard Dwejra’s environmental and heritage value, such use is plainly inconsistent with that aim and should be prohibited within this sensitive setting.

More fundamentally, the framing of this proposal as a protective legal instrument is misleading. Dwejra is already subject to a comprehensive legal framework. Off-roading is regulated under L.N. 196 of 1997, Subsidiary Legislation 552.02, and L.N. 74 of 2013. The Environment and Resources Authority also possesses substantial enforcement powers under L.N. 311 of 2006, including but not limited to provisions 14(2), 14(3), 14(5), 18(1), 18(2), and 18(3). In addition, Dwejra’s designation as a Dark Sky Heritage Area under policy GZ-DARK-1 of the Gozo and Comino Local Plan already establishes its protected status. What is needed is the consistent and rigorous enforcement of these existing regulations — not the introduction of measures that effectively dilute them.

In practical terms, the proposed legal notice weakens existing protections by formalising activities that would degrade the site, notably the authorisation of artificial lighting until midnight and the sanctioning of barbecue use within a sensitive zone. Such steps would undermine, rather than strengthen, the conservation objectives that Dwejra deserves.

For these reasons, Wirt Għawdex demands the Authority to reverse its position and to adopt a clear, uncompromising prohibition on artificial lighting at Dwejra between sunset and sunrise, while refraining from permitting activities incompatible with the site’s protected status.
************************************