Malta’s environmental NGOs had a week of major wins, crushing losses and renewed calls for reform after six controversial planning cases reached critical stages within days of each other.Activists celebrated two major court victories after judges upheld arguments against Hili Ventures’ proposed mega-project in Comino and ruled against the illegal gate blocking public coastal access in Baħrija as reported by The Shift.However, the same week also brought a string of controversial decisions that reignited criticism of Malta’s planning system.The Planning Authority approved a 22-apartment block within Ġgantija’s buffer zone and also gave the go-ahead for ancient Roman catacombs in Qawra to be reburied beneath a seven-storey apartment block.Meanwhile, NGOs demanded the “immediate” resignation of the Superintendent for Cultural Heritage following the demolition of historic barracks at Fort Chambray.Another flashpoint emerged over the recommendation to approve an illegally developed padel court complex on Manoel Island, just days after Prime Minister Robert Abela formally announced a dramatic U-turn on the island by signing an agreement transferring ownership to Heritage Malta.Speaking to The Shift, veteran activist and Ramblers’ Association president Ingram Bondin said environmental groups remain determined despite the setbacks.“We intend to keep resisting until the tide turns and better people are at the helm,” Bondin said.“These people will eventually be gone, while our organisations will still be here: growing, strengthening, and fighting for a better environment.”Moviment Graffitti activist Andre Callus described Malta’s planning sector as suffering from “deep rot”, accusing authorities including the Planning Authority, ERA and the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal of acting as “puppets of higher powers and their business partners”.Environmental organisations also pointed to growing public backlash against the government’s controversial planning reform proposals, Bills 143 and 144, arguing that widespread opposition stopped the legislation from being ratified before Parliament dissolved ahead of the general election.Ahead of the election, 10 NGOs called for construction works on appealed projects to be suspended and for illegal developments to be removed rather than allowed to continue operating.“And we will keep up that fight,” Callus promised.What do you make of this?•