The Planning Authority has drawn up a list of 24 sites around Malta which it wants to nominate as ‘public domain’ sites, albeit with third party rights protected.
The sites include many which have generated considerable controversy in the past years, such as Manoel Island, Ħondoq, the Floriana Pinetum, the Victoria Citadel and Villa Guardamangia.
The concept of public domain was made law following parliamentary approval in May 2016.
More than half of the sites were nominated by eNGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), while Friends of the Earth (Malta) nominated another set. Minister for the Environment Jose Herrera nominated the area covered by the Nwadar National Park. Some of the sites were proposed by different parties.
The Planning Authority has launched a public consultation on these sites which will be is forwarded in an Annual Report with recommendations to the Minister responsible for Lands, to be considered by Parliament.
Sites and property can only be proposed by the Minister responsible for Lands, Members of Parliament or NGOs. Proposals for new sites will not be considered through this public consultation exercise.
The full list and set of maps outlining the site boundaries as proposed may be viewed through the Planning Authority’s website www.pa.org.mt/public-consultation.
The maps contain existing information on property rights as obtained from the respective entities. Through this public consultation exercise, the public is being invited to indicate which of these proposed sites merit this kind of designation. Landowners with private rights and titles on land within the indicated boundaries are also being encouraged to come forward with official documentation to ensure that the status of each site is correctly recorded.
Submissions and comments may be sent directly from the dedicated Geoserver, through email address publicdomain@pa.org.mt or postal address: Public Domain 2017, Planning Authority, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana FRN1230. The closing date is Friday August 11.
The list in full:
• Site at Manoel Island
• Site at Wied Garnaw
• Site at Ħondoq, Qala
• Site at Kalanka, Delimara
• Site of three historic landmark trees, Ta' Xbiex
• Site of beaches from St George's Bay to Sliema
• Sites at Valletta coastline and Fort St Elmo
• Sites from St Thomas Bay (Marsascala) to Xrobb l-Għaġin (Marsaxlokk)
• Sites from Siġġiewi to Żurrieq
• Sites: Pinetum beyond Floriana fortification walls and Argotti, St Philips and Sa Maison public gardens
• Stretch of land from Ġnejna to Mtaħleb
• Villa Guardamangia, Pieta
• Site at Simblija
• Comino
• Ċitadella, Victoria
• Site at Ta’ Ċenċ, Sannat
• Site at Ħas-Saptan and Wied Żembaq
• Site at Is-Simblija (including Wied ir-Rum, Ta' Baldu and Wied Ħażrun)
• Site at Il-Ballut tal-Wardija
• Site at il-Ballut tal-Imġiebah (l/o Mellieħa)
• Site at Ras ir-Raħeb and Qlejgħa
• Site at Fomm ir-Riħ
• Comino
• Nwadar National Park