Public consultation on new guidelines for outdoor sporting events, facilities
The Planning Ministry said it wanted to ensure temporary structures did not lead to 'permanent urbanisation'
New planning guidelines covering temporary outdoor sports events and facilities in rural areas have been opened to public consultation.
In a statement, the Planning Ministry said the guidelines were aimed at regulating outdoor events to protect the environment, consider “legitimate and low impact uses” of rural land for sports and ensure that temporary permits do not lead to “permanent urbanisation”.
All facilities should remain removable, and “clear guidelines” for both the Planning Authority and applicants are also among the aims of the new guidelines, following consultation.
Announcing the consultation, Planning Minister Clint Camilleri said the guidelines followed an increase in the number of proposals for outdoor sporting activities such as obstacle courses and trail events.
“While these activities are widely recognised as beneficial for recreation and an improved lifestyle, current planning policy does not provide detailed operational criteria or parameters to assess the sites where such developments may be permitted.”
The ministry noted that existing frameworks, including the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED) and the Rural Policy and Design Guidance (RPDG), allow for recreational uses in rural areas where compatible and environmentally responsible.
“However, the lack of dedicated national guidelines has created difficulty in how to assess these applications consistently”, the ministry said in a statement.
Planning Authority executive chairman Johann Buttigieg said the new guidelines would “provide clarity for both applicants and decision-makers, while ensuring that temporary use remains truly temporary, in full respect of the rural environment”.
The public is invited to submit comments on the proposed guidelines at www.publicconsultation.gov.mt.
For clarifications, an email may be sent to the Planning Authority at temporary.sports@pa.org.mt. Submissions should be submitted no later than May 12.