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The corporation is composed of a number of organisations, including the Chamber of Small Business and Enterprise (GRTU), the Federation of Industry (FOI) and the Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking to The Malta Independent, Mr Agius said the corporation had not bothered to consult the residents or their representatives, such as members of parliament elected from that district and the councillors who were elected to represent the residents on the local council.
He drew a comparison with what the same entities had been asking for in recent weeks when the eco-tax bill was being discussed - consultation. "They want to be consulted when the government is introducing a new tariff to safeguard our environment, and something they want to introduce - a full-scale development, is never discussed," he said.
The application, number 03708/04, was officially received by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on 22 June 2004. The applicant is corporation chairman Ian Mizzi, but nowhere in the application is the corporation itself mentioned. The architect is Edward Bencini.
The description of work applied for is: "To develop international fair grounds for international and domestic fairs, including multi-purpose use halls, to develop existing reservoir and adjacent lands for sports/entertainment facilities and to incorporate landscaping works."
The target date for the permit to be issued or refused is 21 December. The case officer is Silvio Farrugia.
The area which is being proposed for development in Attard is currently owned by Flower Power. The specific area of the proposed site is not known, and the plans have not been made public yet. Three days after submitting the application, Mr Mizzi said that there already was a "promise of sale" between the corporation and the owners of the area in question.
Mr Agius said he has already made his objections amply clear. He has written a letter of objection to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and said he was also planning to write to Attard, Mosta, Rabat and Zebbug local councils to inform them of the proposed development and see what stand they will be taking on the matter.
He said he is also planning to write to other members of parliament, as well as to representatives of all three political parties. And he plans to involve the church's Environment Commission. Asked what he was expecting, Mr Agius explained that all he wanted was for the would-be developers to hold consultations with parties involved - the people who would be adversely affected by the development. He said one issue he would like to discuss is the possibility of relocating the proposed development closer to the Ta' Qali football stadium and crafts village.
He also said he wanted to know whether the would-be developers believed that the space was sufficient to accommodate all the exhibitors, when they have long been saying that there was not enough space at the Naxxar trade fair grounds. When asked about the hardships the proposed development would cause to Attard and Mosta residents, Mr Agius said he would mention just a few: parking, a fall in the value of property in the area, noise and other inconvenience. He said the proposed area was not the right location for the trade fair grounds.
Mr Agius, who has already spoken about the issue in parliament, said he was not against the trade fair per se but against the chosen location. "I want to discuss the options," he concluded. David Agius, who has served on Attard local council, may be contacted on info@davidagius.org or davidagius@waldonet.net.mt or mobile 7942-3101.
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