Cami Appelgren appeals to locals to crowdfund €2,000 by this afternoon to #SaveDwejra
It’s another busy day for local environmental activist Cami Appelgren, as the island’s nature superhero is on a mission, together with various organisations, to #SaveDwejra from a restaurant development near the historical Dwejra site in Gozo.
Dwejra is a Natura2000 site, a Dark Sky Heritage Area, and a designated Special Protection Area under the Wild Birds Directive. Recently, an application for extensions to a restaurant at the site that was previously refused by the Planning Authority was overturned by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal, which has ordered the authority to issue the permit.
The original proposal
The same restaurant’s permit was refused three times within the space of two years, but was approved in 2007, bundled up with an interpretation centre forming part of the Dwejra Heritage Park. As noted by Dwejra.Net, “assurances were made that the site’s sensitivity would be respected,” but they noted that problems kept arising. “Over the years, this place has seen it all, from rope lighting to a blindingly bright vending machine, with authorities stepping in to tackle the various infringements.”
The revised 2017 application
In 2017, a development application was proposed that stated: “Proposed development within existing site; Installation of canopy to match existing canopy in order to provide shade a protection from adverse weather, installation of lights, to place tables and chairs within existing site and installation of sign.”
The Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy (ISSA) objected to the project due to the site’s light sensitivity and the fact that it is a Dark Sky Heritage Area. Other objectors included the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Planning Authority who refused to issue a permit, as well as Birdlife Malta.
They need your help!
Cami Appelgren, together with a number of organisations such as ISSA and Birdlife, who are not in favour of this proposal that will damage one of Malta’s oldest sites, is asking the public to donate whatever they can to collect €2,000 by this afternoon to appeal this decision in court. Make a change! You can donate by sending your amount to the following bank account:
Bank: BOV (Bank of Valletta)
Name: Birdlife Malta
IBAN: MT43VALL22013000000040010951507
SWIFT/BIC: VALLMTMT
A/c no: 40010951507
In the relevant description field for transfer, kindly use: ‘Dwejra’