This evening the Żejtun Local Council held its Annual Meeting in which the public was invited to participate and air its views and suggestions.
Following the presentation of the annual performance reports by each councilor reporting on the work done during the past year, the Mayor Mrs Maria Dolores Abela briefed the public on actions and meetings held by the Local Council with different organisations, authorities and Ministries with regards to the proposed extension of the Buleben Industrial Estate. At the end of her speech she read a declaration by which she stated that this morning a letter was sent to the Prime Minister and Minister Dr Chris Cardona, stating that the Local Council is objecting to any extension to the industrial estate and that its boundaries should remain to retain the area as built,
The reasons behind this objection are:
- The area is high value agricultural land as stated by the Department of Agriculture in the South Malta Local Plan;
- The area contains Punic archaeological remains and other cultural assets which should be preserved and protected
- The residents of Ġebel San Martin should be protected from further noise pollution.
This statement was welcomed by all those present for the meeting. Perit Ruben Abela, President of Wirt iż-Żejtun thanked the Local Council for understanding the claims which were being raised by the organisation. He insisted that his organisation was not against economic development and mentioned a number of examples in which Wirt iż-Żejtun was pro-active since its formation seven years ago, including the symposium held in 2016 – Discovering Southeast Malta.
After explaining to the council the reasoning behind Wirt iż-Żejtun position on this proposal, Perit Abela invited the Mayor and Councillors to join the Cultural and Informative walk to Buleben, which is being organised by Wirt iż-Żejtun on Sunday 25th February. He insisted that this is not a protest march but an educational tour typical to those organised by Wirt iż-Żejtun throughout the year. He insisted and appealed that no banners or posters will be permitted.
Wirt iż-Żejtun 
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