Għaddej ix-xogħol fuq spazju komunitarju ġdid f’Pembroke
F’Pembroke għaddejjin xogħlijiet estensivi li qed jittrasformaw żona li ma kinitx tintuża fi spazju aħdar ġdid għall-familji, ir-residenti u t-tfal.
Dan tħabbar mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent Miriam Dalli waqt żjara fuq il-post flimkien mat-tim ta’ Project Green, membri tal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Pembroke u s-Sindku Kaylon Zammit.
“Proġett wara proġett qed nuru kif l-ispazji miftuħa u r-riġenerazzjoni tagħhom jistgħu jtejbu l-ambjent fejn ngħixu u l-kwalità tal-ħajja. B’dan il-proġett b’mod partikolari fejn qed inħawlu s-siġar, nużaw mill-ġdid materjali naturali u nirrestawraw elementi storiċi, qed nuru wkoll kif lokalitajiet moderni jistgħu jikbru b’mod responsabbli. Irridu nkomplu nibnu komunitajiet aktar ħodor u aktar b’saħħithom bi spazju miftuħ wieħed wara l-ieħor,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
S’issa 25% tas-sit kollu ġie mibdul fi spazju aħdar. Filwaqt li l-ispazji tal-parkeġġ eżistenti nżammu kollha, issa ġew pożizzjonati ftit metri ‘l bogħod biex jagħmlu spazju għaż-żoni l-ġodda tal-passaġġi. L-EV charging station huwa mistenni li jibda jopera fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin.
Il-proġett se jgħaqqad żewġ spazji fi Ġnien il-Madonna tal-Vitorja, ġnien komunitarju b’passaġġ ta’ 2,250m², u b’hekk se jagħti ħajja ġdida lil dan il-post rikreattiv fil-qalba ta’ Pembroke.
Fiċ-ċentru ta’ dan il-proġett hemm pjan biex jiġu ppreservati l-elementi storiċi filwaqt li jinħolqu spazji ġodda u aċċessibbli. Siġra tal-ballut matura se titħawwel fiż-żona madwar l-istruttura ċirkolari eżistenti tal-ġebel u se ssir ċentru simboliku u punt fokali għaż-żona tal-bankijiet.
Dan il-proġett ipoġġi l-kunċett tas-sostenibbiltà fuq quddiem nett. Bħalissa qed jitneħħew il-pjanti invażivi filwaqt li l-ħamrija indiġena qed tiġi skavata biex terġa’ tintuża mill-ġdid f’dan il-ġnien. Ix-xogħlijiet ta’ skavar diġà tlestew. Bħalissa għaddejjin diversi xogħlijiet strutturali inkluż il-kostruzzjoni ta’ ħitan bl-użu ta’ blokok tal-ġebel riċiklati, surface compaction u preparazzjonijiet għal passaġġi ġodda u utilitajiet ta’ taħt l-art. Il-cables tas-servizzi issa tniżżlu taħt l-art, u b’hekk inħoloq pajsaġġ aktar sigur.
Qed jiġu żviluppati żoni ġodda ta’ parkeġġ flimkien mal-kanali tal-ilma tax-xita u l-ELV points, filwaqt li għaddejjin it-tħejjijiet għat-tħawwil ta’ siġra kbira tal-ballut u aktar żoni ħodor. Ser tinbena rampa ġdida ta’ 80 metru biex tgħaqqad iż-żewġ naħat tal-ġnien u tiżgura aċċessibbiltà għal kull min jagħmel użu minn dan il-ġnien.
Il-project manager Joseph Borda minn Project Green spjega li żona li ma kinitx qed tintuża qed tiġi trasformata fi spazju miftuħ u vibranti f’qalb zona urbana. B’konsultazzjoni mar-residenti ta’ Pembroke Project Green qiegħed iżomm il-karattru tal-lokalità billi qiegħed jirrestawra l-elementi storiċi waqt li qiegħed joħloq passaġġi ġodda għal aċċessibbiltà aħjar. “Dan il proġett imwettaq min Project Green, qed jirrifletti l-proposti tar-residenti, billi qed inżommu l-elementi storiċi waqt li nkabbru dan il-ġnien u neħħu tarmak li kien qed jaqsam iż-żona fit-tnejn.”
A new green community space being created in Pembroke
A transformation is underway in Pembroke, where extensive ongoing works are turning a fragmented and underused area into a new green public space for families, residents, and children.
This was announced by Environment Minister Miriam Dalli during a visit on site with the Project Green team and members of the Pembroke local council including mayor Kaylon Zammit.
“Project after another we are showing that open spaces and their regeneration can enhance our living environment and quality of life. With this project in particular where we are planting trees, reusing natural materials and restoring heritage elements, we are also showing how modern cities can grow responsibly. We continue to build greener and stronger communities — one open space at a time,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
Already, 25% of the entire site has been reverted to green. While all existing parking bays were retained, they have now been repositioned a few metres away to make room for the new landscaped areas. The EV charging station is expected to become operational in the coming weeks.
The project will merge two spaces into Ġnien il-Madonna tal-Vitorja, an area of 2,250m² landscaped community garden, breathing new life into an important recreational location at the heart of Pembroke.
At the core of this project is a plan to preserve heritage elements while creating new, accessible spaces. A mature oak tree will be planted in the area surrounding the garden’s existing circular masonry structure – becoming a symbolic centrepiece and the focal point of new informal seating.
The project places sustainability at the forefront. Invasive plants are currently being removed, and native soil is being carefully excavated and stored for reuse on site. Bulk excavation works have already been completed. Key structural operations continue to progress rapidly, including the construction of retaining walls using recycled masonry blocks, surface compaction, and preparations for new pathways and underground utilities. Overhead service cables have now been rerouted underground, helping create a safer and more visually open landscape.
New parking areas are being developed alongside stormwater culverts and ELV points, while preparations continue for the planting of the large oak tree and additional greenery. A newly built 80-metre ramp will seamlessly connect both ends of the garden, ensuring full accessibility for all users.
Project manager Joseph Borda from Project Green explained that an area that was underutilized is being transformed into an open and vibrant space in the heart of an urban area. In consultation with the residents of Pembroke, Project Green is maintaining the character of the locality by restoring the garden’s historical elements while creating new pathways for better accessibility. “This project carried out by Project Green, is reflecting the proposals of the residents, by working to maintain the historical elements while expanding the garden by removing the tarmac that was dividing the area in two.”
