CONSULTATION BRIEF
Start date: 19 August 2020
Closing date: 9 September 2020
Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: General Guidelines for Landscaping in Playgrounds
Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning
Entity: Environment & Resources Authority
- Background
In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is preparing ‘General Guidelines for Landscaping in Playgrounds’.
Playgrounds offer an opportunity to act as green recreational areas within otherwise developed landscapes, with consequential benefits on the environment as well as on human health and wellbeing. However, a lack of proper guidance and forward planning for landscaping initiatives in playgrounds may result in negative impacts on the environment and on wellbeing and health of their users. Furthermore, noting that children constitute a vulnerable section of society, specific health and safety considerations must be taken in relation to the vegetation used. In this regard, the intent of this document will be to act as guidance for appropriate landscaping in playgrounds in both rural and urban settings.
- Consultation
The main objectives of the proposed guidelines are to:
- provide general guidelines on what aspects should be taken into consideration for landscaping in playgrounds, both from an environmental perspective as well as from a health and safety perspective;
- provide indicative lists of recommended species for playgrounds in urban areas and in rural areas; and
- provide indicative lists of species which are not recommended for playgrounds due to health and safety and ecological reasons.
The follow questions are being asked as part of this consultation
- Do you agree with the intent of this document to provide general guidelines on what aspects should be taken into consideration for landscaping in playgrounds, both from an environmental perspective as well as from a health and safety perspective?
- Do you agree with the inclusion of indicative lists of recommended species for playgrounds in urban areas and in rural areas? And
- Do you agree with the inclusion of indicative lists of species which are not recommended for playgrounds due to health and safety and ecological reasons?
- Submission of feedback
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Further notes:
Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.
All comments submitted shall be duly considered.
The draft General Guidelines for Landscaping in Playgrounds will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/
