English Version :
Regeneration plan for Birżebbuġa’s ‘Pont tax-Shell’ announced
€4 million investment project will deliver a safer swimming zone to residents and visitors in Birżebbuġa
A €4 million investment project in Birżebbuġa has been announced, which will lead to the regeneration of the ‘Pont tax-Shell’ area. For decades, the pier had been used by tankers carrying fuel to be unloaded at the 31st of March plant. The closure of this plant last summer allowed for the regeneration of the pier, which will be turned into a safe swimming zone for residents and visitors alike.
This was announced by Minister for Energy, Enterprise, and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli. The pier, 180 metres in length, will be decked with a stairway for safer access into the water. It will also serve as a pedestrianised zone.
Works will include the removal of the fuel infrastructure and parts of the concrete infrastructure whilst pillars already in place will be strengthened. A new structure, measuring 1,500 square metres, will be turned into a pedestrianised zone, allowing safer access to swimmers.
“We are investing €4 million to regenerate this area,” Minister Miriam Dalli said, explaining that an application will be submitted to the Planning Authority to obtain the necessary permits for the work to be carried out.
The minister also explained that the process includes a consultation period with the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to ensure that all necessary works will be carried out without impacting the maritime environment.
Present were also the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry, Anthony Gatt, architects Godwin Agius and Sean Buttigieg and the Birżebbuġa Local Council.
Maltese Version :
Jitħabbar il-pjan għar-riġenerazzjoni tal-Pont tax-Shell f’Birżebbuġa
Il-pont se jingħata lura lir-residenti b’investiment ta’ €4 miljun
B’investiment ta’ €4 miljun, il-pont ta’ Birżebbuġa, magħruf aħjar bħala l-Pont tax-Shell, se jingħata lura għat- tgawdija tar-residenti, ħabbret il-Ministru għall-Enerġija, l-Intrapriża u l-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli Miriam Dalli.
Dan il-pont, b’tul ta’ 180 metru, kien jifforma parti mill-impjant tal-31 ta’ Marzu li ngħalaq fix-xhur li għaddew wara li l-gvern investa €70 miljun biex l-operazzjoni tal-ħażna u d-distribuzzjoni tal-fuel mxiet f’Ħas-Saptan. Fil- fatt, f’Lulju tas-sena l-oħra ħareġ l-aħħar vapur tal-fuel minn ġol-Bajja s-Sabiħa f’Birżebbuġa.
Il-pont imur lura għal għexieren ta’ snin u fil-passat ġieli kien jintuża wkoll min-nies tal-lokal biex jistadu minn fuqu jew mill-għawwiema.
“Sa ftit tax-xhur ilu, dan il-pont kien jintuża sabiex il-vapuri jħottu l-fjuwil li mbagħad jiġi maħżun fit-tankijiet. Għalhekk huwa ta’ sodisfazzjon mhux biss li din l-operazzjoni ċċaqalqet mill-qalba ta’ Birżebbuġa, imma qed nipproponu dan il-proġett biex il-pont ikun jista’ jitgawda mir-residenti u mill-viżitaturi b’mod sigur,” spjegat il- Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Il-ministru spjegat li fl-ewwel fażi ta’ dan il-proċess, il-gvern ħaseb biex din l-istruttura tiġi trasformata f’żona pedonali b’numru ta’ faċilitajiet, inkluż dak li noħolqu spazju ġdid għall-għawm għar-residenti tal-madwar.
Għal dan ix-xogħol huwa ppjanat li titneħħa l-infrastruttura tal-fuel u partijiet mill-infrastruttura tal-konkrit u jiġu ssodati l-pilastri diġà fil-post. Fl-istess ħin, se tinbena struttura ġdida ta’ madwar 1,500 metru kwadru li tifforma ż-żona pedonali l-ġdida. Din l-istruttura se tinkludi aċċess għall-baħar, f’forma ta’ deck u taraġ għal aċċess aktar sigur għall-għawwiema.
“Dan kollu se jsir b’investiment ta’ €4 miljun. Fil-pass li jmiss, se tkun qed tiġi ppreżentata applikazzjoni mal- Awtorità tal-Ippjanar biex b’hekk jingħata bidu għall-permessi meħtieġa biex isir dan ix-xogħol,” qalet il- Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Saħqet li se jkun hemm proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni mal-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi sabiex ikunu studjati l-aħjar metodi. Dan biex ikun assigurat li x-xogħlijiet meħtieġa jsiru mingħajr ma ssir ħsara lill-ambjent marittimu.