Public domain petition surpasses 1,350 signatures in a month

The initiative, launched by Friends of the Earth Malta and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, urges the Planning Authority to make Manoel Island a national park

4 August 2017, 11:43am
by Denise Grech

1 min read

NGOs are encouraging citizens to send submissions to the Planning Authority by signing their petition, which has already attracted 1350 signatures

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Over 1,350 people have signed a petition asking the Planning Authority (PA) to make Manoel Island a national park.

Launching July 4, the initiative, started by Friends of the Earth Malta and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, is asking the PA to make areas such as Manoel Island, Hondoq and Kalanka to become public domain.

Minister for the Environment José Herrera and other eNGOs have also submitted applications for 23 other sites to become public domain. “Supporting these sites inclusion in the public domain means that these vast stretches of land… will be provided a further layer of protection to ensure they are not only maintained and preserved today, but safeguarded for generations to come”, said Friends of the Earth.

The PA has launched a public consultation on these 24 applications, giving environmentalists the chance to voice their opinion on areas they wish would be made public property.

Owners of private property areas have to prove land ownership, resolving doubts of false claims of ownership and “situations where public land was blocked abusively”.

Public domain areas urge the State to protect the sites and safeguard them from developments. Areas marked as public domain, unlike public land, cannot be negotiated by the State.