Art tal-Gvern li setgħet tinbena fuqha issa tlesta Ġnien il-Koppin f’Ħal Kirkop għat-tgawdija tal-familji
Art f’Ħal Kirkop li kienet għall-bini ġiet trasformata fi spazju ieħor, wara xogħol imwettaq minn Project Green. Ġnien il-Koppin issa joffri lir-residenti spazju aċċessibbli u sostenibbli fil-komunità.
Il-ġnien ġie inawgurat mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Indafa Pubblika Miriam Dalli flimkien mas-Sindku ta’ Ħal Kirkop Matthew Agius Zammit, fil-preżenza tat-tim ta’ Project Green, u rappreżentanti tal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Ħal Kirkop. L-ispazju jkopri 1,600 metru kwadru f’żona urbana tal-lokalità.
B’investiment ta’ aktar minn nofs miljun ewro, saru diversi interventi biex dan is-sit jinbidel fi ġnien pubbliku. L-ispazju jinkludi viewing platform, mogħdijiet magħmula minn materjali riċiklabbli, żoni għall-ħxejjex aromatiċi, kif ukoll strutturi li jippromwovu l-pollinazzjoni u l-bijodiversità, fosthom insect hotel u anke logħob għat-tfal.
F’dan il-proġett tħawlu 55 siġra matura, flimkien ma’ pjanti u siġar indiġeni, bil-għan li tissaħħaħ l-ekosistema lokali. Il-ġnien jinkludi sistema ta’ irrigazzjoni awtomatika li taħdem permezz ta’ ġibjun ta’ 110 metru kubu, li sar apposta biex jiġi żgurat użu aktar effiċjenti tal-ilma. L-element ta’ sostenibbiltà ġie msaħħaħ ukoll permezz ta’ sistemi tal-elettriku li jaħdmu bl-enerġija solari.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli qalet li dan il-proġett huwa eżempju ċar ta’ kif art li setgħet tiġi żviluppata nbidlet fi spazju miftuħ għall-familji u r-residenti. “Din art li kienet immarkata għall-bini. Il-Gvern għamel wegħda li aktar komunitajiet ikollhom spazji miftuħa f’distanza ta’ 10 minuti mixi u identifikajna artijiet li flok jinbnew jistgħu jinbidlu f’ġonna u parks. Illum ir-residenti Koppin għandhom spazju miftuħ ġdid, b’elementi ambjentali u edukattivi, minflok aktar bini. Il-viżjoni tagħna hi li nkomplu noħolqu aktar spazji miftuħa fil-qalba tal-komunitajiet,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Perit tal-proġett, Cheryl Camilleri, esprimiet is-sodisfazzjon tagħha li dan l-ispazju issa qed jitgawda mir-residenti ta’ Ħal Kirkop. “Ġnien il-Koppin huwa spazju miftuħ b’elementi differenti u jista’ jintuża għal diversi attivitajiet. Huwa ġnien li jilqa’ lil kulħadd u li għandu jitgawda b’mod għaqli, sabiex jibqa’ jservi lill-komunità fis-snin li ġejjin,” qalet il-Perit Camilleri.
Is-Sindku ta’ Ħal Kirkop, Matthew Agius Zammit, qal li dan il-proġett huwa pass importanti għal-lokalità, hekk kif jagħti lir-residenti spazju ġdid fejn jistgħu jqattgħu ħin ta’ kwalità f’ambjent aktar nadif u miftuħ. “Nixtieq nirringrazzja lill-Ministeru tal-viżjoni u l-impenn lejn żvilupp sostenibbli u komunitajiet aktar reżiljenti. Dan il-ġnien huwa eżempju ċar ta’ kif infrastruttura pubblika tista’ tinħoloq b’approċċ innovattiv u responsabbli, fil-maġġoranza tagħhom, maħduma minn materjal riċiklat u b’użu minimu ta’ riżorsi ġodda. Dan mhux biss inaqqas l-impatt ambjentali, iżda jippromwovi wkoll kultura ta’ sostenibbiltà li rridu naraw tikber fil-komunità tagħna. Il-ftuħ ta’ Ġnien il-Koppin f’Triq Nerik Scerri mhuwiex biss spazju ġdid, iżda simbolu ta’ għażla ċara favur il-ġid komuni. Il-Gvern għażel li, flok ibigħ jew jiżviluppa dan is-sit li seta’ jinkludi madwar 11-il blokk ta’ bini, joħloq pulmun aħdar ġdid fil-qalba tar-raħal tagħna. Dan huwa investiment konkret fil-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti u fil-futur sostenibbli ta’ Ħal Kirkop,” qal is-Sindku Matthew Agius Zammit.
Land earmarked for development transformed into Ġnien il-Koppin in Kirkop
Land in Kirkop that had been earmarked for development has been transformed into a new public space following works carried out by Project Green. Ġnien il-Koppin now offers residents an accessible and sustainable space within their community.
The garden was inaugurated by the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness, Miriam Dalli, together with the Mayor of Kirkop, Matthew Agius Zammit, in the presence of the Project Green team and representatives of the Kirkop Local Council. The space covers 1,600 square metres in an urban area of the locality.
With an investment of more than half a million euro, several interventions were carried out to turn the site into a public garden. The space includes a viewing platform, pathways made from recyclable materials, areas for aromatic herbs, as well as structures that promote pollination and biodiversity, including an insect hotel and children’s play equipment.
As part of the project, 55 mature trees were planted, together with indigenous plants and trees, with the aim of strengthening the local ecosystem. The garden includes an automatic irrigation system powered by a 110-cubic-metre reservoir, built specifically to ensure more efficient water use. The sustainability element was also reinforced through solar-powered electrical systems.
Minister Miriam Dalli said that the project is a clear example of how land that could have been developed was instead turned into an open space for families and residents. “This was land marked for construction. The Government made a pledge that more communities would have open spaces within a 10-minute walk, and we identified land that, instead of being built up, could be turned into gardens and parks. Today, Koppin residents have a new open space, with environmental and educational elements, instead of more buildings. Our vision is to continue creating more open spaces in the heart of communities,” said Minister Dalli.
The project architect, Cheryl Camilleri, expressed her satisfaction that the space is now being enjoyed by Kirkop residents. “Ġnien il-Koppin is an open space with different elements and can be used for various activities. It is a garden that welcomes everyone and should be enjoyed responsibly, so that it continues to serve the community in the years ahead,” said Perit Camilleri.
The Mayor of Kirkop, Matthew Agius Zammit, said that the project is an important step for the locality, as it gives residents a new space where they can spend quality time in a cleaner and more open environment. “I thank the Ministry for their vision and commitment to sustainable development and more resilient communities. This garden is a clear example of how public infrastructure can be created through an innovative and responsible approach, with the majority of it made from recycled material and with minimal use of new resources. This not only reduces environmental impact but also promotes a culture of sustainability that we want to see grow in our community. The opening of Ġnien il-Koppin in Triq Nerik Scerri is not just a new space, but a symbol of a clear choice in favour of the common good. The Government chose, instead of selling or developing this site, which could have included around 11 blocks of buildings, to create a new green lung in the heart of our village. This is a concrete investment in residents’ quality of life and in the sustainable future of Kirkop,” said Kirkop Mayor Matthew Agius Zammit.
