New Minister for Planning Clint Camilleri has tabled an amendment to the law that will require the roofs of all buildings in Malta to have a hunting hide, or dura placed on them.
Camilleri, the Minister for Gozo, was handed the planning portfolio in last week’s cabinet reshuffle. He is also responsible for hunting and trapping, and is a trapper himself.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday evening, Camilleri said:
“The Prime Minister told me that one of the priorities for the planning sector under my supervision should be enhancing the aesthetics of urban areas, and I believe Malta will look much more beautiful with fully functioning duras on top of every building.”
Should the minister’s proposed amendment become law, the roofs of all residential, commercial and public buildings will be required to have a minimum of three square metres available for the construction of a hunting hide. The perimeters of roofs must also be fitted with netting to catch any birds that are shot by hunters, who must be given unobstructed access to their hides. Hunters will not be held liable for any gunshot injuries caused to residents or workers.
“Soon the dura will be as synonymous with Malta’s built environment as our traditional balconies. I can’t wait for our towns and villages to be filled with the sounds of gunshots, electronic bird callers and barking dogs that make the countryside such a tranquil, relaxing place,” Camilleri said, adding that he was particularly looking forward to seeing a dura on the roof of Bird Life’s headquarters.
The minister added that he had reached an agreement with developer Joseph Portelli to install a special bird-detecting radar system at the top of Mercury Tower in St Julians.
“The location of anything bigger than a sparrow will be transmitted in realtime to an app for hunters,” Camilleri said.
The minister denied that, in return, Portelli had been given the all-clear to build a 100,000-seater football stadium for Hamrun Spartans in the town’s square.
“80,000 at most,” he said.
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