Draft guidelines on shooting ranges

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday issued draft policy guidelines on shooting ranges at the start of a six-week consultation period.

Following this period, Mepa will draw up a final document that would have to be approved by the government, Environment Minister George Pullicino said.

Addressing a news conference, the minister said this process would take 12 weeks at most.

There are 17 shooting ranges on the island including three belonging to the military. Three of the remainder are for target shooting and the rest for competitive shotgun shooting.

Planning officer Joe Gauci said that although there were more than enough competitive shotgun shooting ranges, there was no national range for international events. Such a range would include two to three outdoor ranges as well as an indoor range.

There was likely to be growth in demand for the provision of new facilities in the target-shooting sector. New target shooting disciplines were likely to be introduced and there was a need to increase ranges, both indoor and outdoor, he said.

Mr Pullicino said range shooting could eventually become an alternative pastime for hunters and the guidelines were to be drawn up so that prospective applicants would know what to present when submitting a development application.

In other countries biodegradable clay pigeons were used and plastic or thick rubber was used instead of lead.

Mepa, he said, should consider giving preference to a similar type of activity.

There were 12,000 people in Malta holding a shooting licence.

Submissions should be sent to the Planning Director, PO Box 200, Valletta, CMR01 or on spr@mepa.org.mt by November 18.