Dwejra has been saved! Court appeal to save the Dark Sky Heritage Area goes through
The Institute of Space Science and Astronomy (ISSA) has announced that #SaveDwejra has been resolved!
Appeals were launched for locals to crowdfund €2,000 to #SaveDwejra in early July to oppose the proposed development of a restaurant that would have highly affected the area’s Dark Sky Heritage status. Just a few weeks later, a number of NGOs managed to file an appeal following the overwhelming support of the public.
The institute took to Facebook to thank the public for their support. “Thanks to the public who supported this cause! Let us all continue striving for protection of our Dark Sky Heritage Areas!”
Joseph Caruana, a lecturer and researcher of astrophysics at the University also chimed in on the situation. “The court appeal on Dwejra has been won! For over a year, we had been going up and down for sittings of the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal together with Birdlife, presenting our institute’s night sky measurements that entailed months – and indeed years – of work, and insisting for the protection of Dwejra’s night sky.”
“This was followed by further work in the heat of summer to prepare for a court appeal with a core group of great people. I thank each and every one of them, my students, all the NGOs, and the general public for helping with and supporting this cause! Let us all keep striving to protect our Dark Sky Heritage Areas!” Mr Caruana says.
Cheers to some very welcome good news!