Updated | Public consultation on 24 public domain sites imminent, minister reveals

A public consultation exercise is to be launched shortly on 24 submissions received by the Lands Authority on proposed public domain use of a number of sites, Ian Borg, Minister for Planning and Development, said this morning.

Borg, who was speaking in Parliament at the end of a debate on the 2017 estimates for the Lands Authority, said that 16 submissions had been filed by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, seven by Friends of the Earth and one by the ministry for the environment.

The concept of public domain was introduced and included as part of the Civil Code. Any territory and property within the Maltese Islands may be declared by Parliament as public domain although the Planning Authority is obliged to consult the public on the proposed public domain sites.  Following the public consultation, the Planning Authority will analayse the applications before forwarding its recommendations to Parliament, which would make the final decision on which submissions to approve.

Following the public consultation, the Planning Authority will analayse the applications before forwarding its recommendations to Parliament, which would make the final decision on which submissions to approve.

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.

Land owners with private rights and titles on land within the indicated boundaries are encouraged to come forward with official documentation to ensure that the status of each site is correctly recorded.

The nature park known as Inwadar and Wied Għomor are two of the sites identified. The others include a 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 Masion Public Gardens; stretch of land from Ġnejna to Mtaħleb; Villa Guardamangia, Pietà; site at Simblija; Comino; Ċittadella, Victoria, Gozo; 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-Imgiebaħ (l/o Mellieħa); site at Ras ir-Raheb and Qlejgħa; and site at Fomm ir-Riħ.

The minister said that the Lands Authority was also in the process of finding a suitable candidate to fill the role of director of its audit office, which would be playing a very important role in the administration of public land and property.

In fact, any transaction involving public property or land worth more than €100,000 now needs to secure the approval of the Audit Office before being finalised.

Borg confirmed that the now-defunct Lands Department had left a large backlog of cases, going back many years – some cases involved schemes introduced in 2000 and beyond. This was one of the reasons why the staff complement was being increased.

He said that the Authority’s call for expressions of interest for new offices had been wrapped up on 12 June. Five submissions had been received.

Borg said that the Authority was now recognising the transfer of leases between farmers, because of the nature of the sector, besides accepting transfers from parents to children and vice versa.

Opposition spokesman Ryan Callus said it was to be hoped that the government would not repeat the mistakes it made in the administration of public land and property during the previous legislature and avoid further scandals that had resulted in the resignation of a minister, a director and other high-ranking officials of the Lands Department.

Following the introduction of new legislation in February this year, powers previously held by the Lands Commissioner were transferred to the board of the Lands Authority. All regulations relating to the administration of public land were consolidated under one legislation.

Callus said it was unfortunate that the report tabled in the House by Parliament Secretary Chris Agius did not include certain pertinent data.

“The report does not include any financial figures on applications pending under the rent scheme for Valletta shops, nor does it provide any details on the number of cases involving the transfer of title of land held in emphytheusis, including farming and arable land,” he said. “It is not enough for the parliamentary secretary to say that there’s a backlog of cases at the Lands Authority, everyone knows that.”

Callus called on the government to make a serious effort to settle expropriation claims and to pay for private land and property expropriated in the past.

“I am sorry to see that the authority will only be spending €7.5 million this year – and in the next – on settling expropriation injustices, despite project to earn €38.1 million,” he said. “At the same time, the authority’s spending on the maintenance of public buildings is to go up from €200,000 to €7 million this year.”

Callus said that the report also failed to give details as to the call for expressions of interest issued for possible relocation alternatives, whether the process had been concluded and if a preferred bidder had been selected.

He also encouraged the authority to implement a digital system whereby – like on the Planning Authority’s map server – the public would be able to identify public land on an online system.

In his introduction, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said that any transaction involving public property or land worth more than €100,000 will need to secure the approval of the Audit Office before being finalised.

He said that a stock-taking exercise had also highlighted the need for more employees to help tackle the backlog of cases and to strengthen departments like customer care, enforcement and legal services.

Agius said the Authority was looking to relocating to larger and more accessible premises that would also provide ample parking space for staff and visitors.

“Helping to reduce the number of people visiting the authority is the new portal, launched in May, that makes it possible for visitors to apply for various services online,” he said.

Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said he agreed with Callus’ recommendation that the income generated by the Lands Authority be used for settling expropriation claims and paying for land and property expropriated many years ago.

Democratic party leader Marlene Farrugia said the parliamentary secretary had a big responsibility because land was the country’s most valuable asset – just as it was for every landowner – and it was therefore imperative that public land be carefully administered.

“It is to hoped that this asset is not used solely for short-term gain and we need a long-term plan on projected use of public land and properties,” she said.

Farrugia said that she wanted to see a leap in the mentality during this administration that would result in the public being placed at the centre of all policies.

“This applies at all levels, such as when issuing permits for public concessions in tourist areas,” she said. “Do it, but leave enough space for easy public access, because people deserve it.”

She said she hoped the Lands Authority would work closely with the civil society in the best interest of the common good.x