Miexi x-xogħol fuq ġnien ġdid fil-Birgu flok sit li kien jintuża biex jinħażen iż-żejt
Art li kienet ilha mitluqa għal żmien twil, li qabel kienet tintuża bħala maħżen taż-żejt fil-Birgu, qed tinbidel fi ġnien pubbliku ta’ 1,500 metru kwadru biex isservi bħala spazju komunitarju aħdar.
Id-dettalji tal-proġett ġew diskussi waqt żjara fil-post mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent Miriam Dalli, is-Segretarju Parlamentari għall-Indafa Pubblika Glenn Bedingfield, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Korporazzjoni għar-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir (GHRC) Gino Cauchi u membri tal-kunsill lokali tal-Birgu inkluż is-Sindku John Boxall.
“Huwa importanti li nkomplu nirrestawraw spazji mitluqa b’mod li jservu l-bżonnijiet tal-preżent filwaqt li nissalvagwardjaw il-bżonnijiet tal-futur. Din iż-żona kienet ilha vojta għal aktar minn għaxar snin u llum qed inbiddluha f’ġnien sabiħ. Dan huwa proġett ieħor li juri kif żoni mitluqa jistgħu jerġgħu jingħataw il-ħajja bħala spazji ħodor li jsaħħu l-komunitajiet u l-ambjent tagħna. Filwaqt li qed noħolqu dan il-ġnien qed nagħtu wkoll għan ġdid lil din iż-żona storika; wieħed li jipprijoritizza s-sostenibbiltà, il-valur għall-komunità u l-aspett naturali tal-Port il-Kbir. Billi nintegraw elementi favur il-klima, inżidu aktar siġar, u niżguraw immaniġġjar responsabbli tal-ilma, qed nuru kif ir-riġenerazzjoni tista’ tirrispetta kemm il-wirt storiku tagħna kif ukoll l-ambjent,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Is-Segretarju Parlamentari Glenn Bedingfield qal, “Dan il-ġnien jimxi id f’id mal-istrateġija tal-Kottonera li fassalnieha flimkien mar-residenti fis-snin li għaddew, sabiex dan il-ġnien jitgawda minn kull min iżur din il-lokalità.”
Min-naħa tiegħu, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-GHRC Gino Cauchi, qal “Bħala Korporazzjoni ddiskutejna mal-kunsill lokali fejn rajna x’kienu l-ħtiġijiet tal-lokal, u saru l-pjanti ta’ dan il-ġnien. Illum qegħdin f’stadju avvanzat tax-xogħlijiet. Hawn ser ikollna ġnien b’40 siġra, mijiet ta’ arbuxxelli, bankijiet fejn jistgħu jpoġġu l-viżitaturi, u żona fejn il-kunsill lokali ser ikun jista’ jorganizza diversi attivitajiet soċjali għal kulħadd.”
Is-sit, li darba kien parti mill-fortifikazzjonijiet taż-żmien il-Kavallieri, ġie mfassal mill-ġdid fi żmien il-ħakma Ingliża meta l-hornworks esterni twaqqgħu biex jagħmlu spazju għal maħżen taż-żejt mill-baħar. Wara li ġie żarmat u twaqqa’ mill-awtoritajiet Maltin fl-2010, iż-żona ġiet mgħottija bil-konkrit u tħalliet vojta.
Fiċ-ċentru ta’ dan il-ġnien ġdid hemm arena ovali ta’ 400 metru kwadru li se tippermetti lir-residenti u lill-viżitaturi jorganizzaw attivitajiet u avvenimenti komunitarji. Il-bqija tal-ispazju qed jiġi mibdul f’passaġġi mdawra bil-pjanti Mediterranji, bi pjanti u siġar li qed jitħawlu biex jinħoloq ambjent sabiħ. Żoni bl-imwejjed għall-pikniks u bankijiet ser ikunu taħt id-dell tas-siġar tal-arżnu, hekk kif id-dell huwa essenzjali għall-kumdità tal-viżitaturi u għall-użu fit-tul tal-ispazji pubbliċi miftuħa fil-klima ta’ pajjiżna.
Fil-Fatt, sabiex tiġi indirizzata ż-żieda fit-temperaturi u l-pressjonijiet tal-ilma, il-Korporazzjoni għar-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir inkorporat strateġija sostenibbli għall-ħamrija u l-irrigazzjoni. Il-ġnien qed jinbena b’bażi ta’ ħamrija ta’ 50 ċentimetru mgħottija b’saff ta’ żrar ta’ tmien ċentimetri, metodu li jnaqqas it-telf tal-ilma, jappoġġja l-flora indiġena u jnaqqas il-ħtiġijiet ta’ manutenzjoni.
New garden at former Birgu oil depot takes shape
A long-neglected land, formerly an oil depot in Birgu is being transformed into a 1,500-square-metre public garden designed to serve as a green, climate-sensitive community space along the Kalkara Creek promenade.
The details of the project were discussed during a visit to the ongoing works on site by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Cleanliness Glenn Bedingfield, the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC) CEO Gino Cauchi, as well as members of the Birgu Local Council, including Mayor John Boxall.
“It is important that we continue to restore derelict spaces in a way that serve present needs while safeguarding future resilience. This area had remained vacant for over a decade, and it is now being revitalized and transformed into a beautiful garden. This is another project that shows how neglected sites can be reimagined into green spaces that strengthen our communities and our environment. While creating this garden we are also giving this historic area a new purpose; one that prioritises sustainability, public wellbeing, and the natural character of the Grand Harbour. By integrating climate-conscious design, increasing tree cover, and ensuring responsible water management, we are demonstrating how regeneration can honour our heritage and our environment,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
Parliamentary Secretary Glenn Bedingfield said that, “This garden aligns with the Kottonera strategy, which we developed together with the residents over the past years, so that this garden can be enjoyed by everyone who visits this area.”
CEO of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation Gino Cauchi said that, “As a corporation, we discussed with the local council to identify the needs of the community, and the plans for this garden were drawn up. Today, we are at an advanced stage of the works. Here, we will have a garden with 40 trees, hundreds of shrubs, benches where visitors can sit, and an area where the local council will be able to organise various social activities for everyone.”
The site, once part of the Knights’ era fortifications, was reshaped under British rule when the outer hornworks were demolished to make way for a seaside oil depot. After its decommissioning and demolition by Maltese authorities in 2010, the area was capped in concrete and left empty.
Central to the new garden is a 400-square-metre oval arena that will allow residents and visitors to organise events, classes and community activities. The remaining space is being shaped into a winding garden path bordered by Mediterranean flora, with trees and plants being introduced to create a lush and welcoming environment. Seating area — including picnic tables and benches – will be clustered beneath the shade of pine trees, recognising that shade is essential for the comfort and long-term success of public open spaces in Malta’s climate.
In fact, to further address rising temperatures and water pressures, GHRC has incorporated a sustainable soil and irrigation strategy. The garden is being built with a 50-centimetre soil base covered by an eight-centimetre gravel layer, a method that reduces water loss, supports native flora and lowers maintenance needs.