Nature hut and meditation areas among elements of Bormla urban greening project
3,000sqm of developable land will be turned into a green open space featuring landscaped areas, play equipment, a nature hut and zones for different activities at the heart of the Bormla community.
Proposals for the site, presently used for a parking lot adjacent to the American University of Malta, have already been presented to the public during a public consultation held a few months ago by Project Green. As a result of this discussion, Project Green updated the original plans to better meet the community’s requirements.
A planning application has now been submitted to the Planning Authority.
The proposed plans for the site were presented during a press conference held at the Bormla Local Council by Environment Minister Miriam Dalli and Project Green CEO Steve Ellul.
The revamped space will include a meditation area, a nursing area, a nature hut, inclusive play equipment, picnic spots, parkour zones and artisan corners, with the project’s guiding principle being that of delivering a space that places the community at the heart of the project.
To address parking limitations, the project will also cater for underground parking, set to accommodate some 240 spaces.
The urban greening project in Bormla is an electoral measure that shows how underutilised spaces in our country can be revitalised. Through strategic landscaping and greenery integration, the project will enhance urban biodiversity. In connection with the area’s history and preserving cultural heritage, historical archways have been incorporated in the project and all construction works will be closely monitored by archaeological experts.
“We are looking at delivering projects where the community can feel part of the project from its inception. Consultation, along with the sustainability and long-term maintenance of the projects, are crucial principles to any project that we are delivering. We know that the presented planning plans represent a project that the community was asking for, taking onboard the feedback that came through e-NGOs, residents, and stakeholders,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
Minister Dalli reminded that this year, Project Green and other entities within the Environment Ministry have already completed more than 45,000 square metres of new or regenerated gardens and other open spaces across the country.
In his remarks, Steve Ellul, CEO of Project Green noted the public’s input, which has been ongoing for the past months. Project Green has met with children in schools, NGOs and the general public living in Bormla on a number of occasions, which have been pivotal in shaping the project’s design, which is now finalised and submitted to the relevant authorities.
“The Urban Greening – Bormla Project reimagines urban spaces, creating a sense of belonging. Through collaboration, we’re turning vision into reality. This initiative aligns with our mission of weaving nature into urban landscapes,” said Steve Ellul.
3,000 metru kwadru ta’ art żviluppabbli se tinbidel fi spazju miftuħ
Nature hut u żoni għall-meditazzjoni fost l-elementi tal-proġett ta’ tħaddir urban f’Bormla
3,000 metru kwadru ta’ art żviluppabbli se tinbidel fi spazju miftuħ b’siġar u arbuxelli, bandli u logħob għat-tfal u żoni għal attivitajiet oħra fil-qalba tal-komunità ta’ Bormla.
Is-sit li qed jiġi propost għall-proġett bħalissa jintuża bħala parkeġġ u jinsab maġenb l-American University of Malta. Project Green diġà kienet ippreżentat il-proposti għal dan is-sit lill-pubbliku waqt laqgħa ta’ konsultazzjoni fix-xhur li għaddew. Wara din id-diskussjoni, Project Green aġġornat il-proġett sabiex ikun jista’ jilqa’ b’mod aħjar għall-ħtiġijiet tal-komunità.
L-applikazzjoni għall-permess tal-iżvilupp għal dan l-ispazju miftuħ ġdid, ġiet sottomessa lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli u l-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Project Green Steve Ellul ippreżentaw il-pjanti proposti għal dan il-post waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet fil-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Bormla.
Ir-riġenerazzjoni ta’ dan l-ispazju se tinkludi żona għall-meditazzjoni, żona għall-ommijiet bit-trabi, logħob inklussiv għat-tfal, żona għall-picnics, faċilitajiet għall-parkour, u spazju għall-artiġġjanat. Dan kollu se jwassal għal spazju miftuħ fil-qalba tal-komunità.
Minħabba l-limitazzjonijiet ta’ parkeġġ, il-proġett se jkollu wkoll parkeġġ mibni taħt l-art għal madwar 240 karozza.
Dan il-proġett, li ġie mwiegħed ukoll fil-manifest elettorali, juri kif spazji li mhux jintużaw jistgħu jiġu riġenerati. Sabiex jiġi konservat il-wirt kulturali u storiku ta’ din iż-żona, arkati storiċi ġew inkorporati f’dan il-proġett, filwaqt li x-xogħlijiet ta’ kostruzzjoni se jkunu sorveljati minn esperti fl-arkeoloġija. Il-proġett se jsaħħaħ ukoll il-bijodiversità urbana ta’ dawn l-inħawi.
“Qed naraw li l-komunità tħossha parti minn dan il-proġett sa mill-bidu tiegħu. Il-konsultazzjoni, is-sostenibbiltà u l-manutenzjoni fit-tul huma prinċipji kruċjali għal kull proġett li qed inwettqu. Il-pjanti li qed nippreżentaw ser jissarfu fi proġett li l-komunità xtaqet għal din iż-żona, hekk kif jinkludu l-ideat u l-fehmiet li ddiskutejna mal-għaqdiet ambjentali, residenti u stakeholders oħrajn,” qalet Miriam Dalli.
Il-Ministru Dalli fakkret li din is-sena Project Green u entitajiet oħra tal-Ministeru għall-Ambjent diġà lestew aktar minn 45,000 metru kwadru f’ġonna u spazji miftuħa ġodda jew riġenerati madwar il-pajjiż.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv Steve Ellul tkellem dwar il-kontribut tal-pubbliku permezz ta’ konsultazzjoni li ilha għaddejja għal dawn l-aħħar xhur. Project Green iltaqgħet mat-tfal fl-iskejjel, għaqdiet non-governattivi u r-residenti ta’ Bormla f’diversi okkażjonijiet, li flimkien kienu kruċjali biex tfassal id-disinn tal-proġett, li issa ġie ffinalizzat u sottomess lill-awtoritajiet relevanti.
“Il-proġett ta’ tħaddir urban f’Bormla qed jagħti dehra ġdida lill-ispazji urbani tagħna, hekk kif in-nies ser iħossu li dan verament huwa post għalihom. Permezz tal-kollaborazzjoni li kellna f’dan il-proġett, qed nibdlu din il-viżjoni f’realtà. Din l-inizzjattiva tingħaqad mal-missjoni tagħna li nkomplu nħaddru l-ispazji urbani,” qal Steve Ellul.
