A law is being proposed to regulate and define public land, binding the Government to parliamentary approval prior to the devolution of land in the public domain such as the coastline.

The Public Domain Act, which was unveiled for public con-sultation yesterday, seeks to establish the parameters within which the Government can dispose of its land.

Launching the White Paper, Land Minister Jason Azzopardi said the way the Government disposed of its land had, so far, been unregulated.

This new law, drafted by lawyer Max Ganado, subjects the Government to public scrutiny on the transfer of its property.

According to the White Paper, land in the public domain is one to which the public cannot be denied access. This includes the entire coastline, with a buffer zone of 15 metres, as well as the countryside, valleys, cliffs, and woodlands. Natural and cultural heritage also falls within this category.

Under this law, the Government will not be able to transfer property in the public domain.

Dr Azzopardi said the Government was in the process of concluding agreements to regain possession of the Binġemma fort­ifications in Mġarr and the Bengħajsa fortifications in Birżebbuġa.

He said once this new law came into force, these two fortifications would be classified as property in the public domain and therefore could not be transferred unless through a specific law approved by Parliament.

The public consultation on this proposed law will be open until February 1, 2013.

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