Jibda x-xogħol fuq spazju miftuħ fil-Floriana
F’Masġar il-Ġubilew (Pinetum) fil-Floriana, fiż-żona magħrufa bħala Sa Maison, beda x-xogħol fuq żona ta’ madwar 58,000 metru kwadru. Is-sit huwa wieħed mill-aħħarglażiż fil-Gżejjer Maltin, b’rabta storika li tmur lura għal żmien il-Kavallieri. Dan tħabbar waqt żjara fuq il-post mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent Miriam Dalli u l-Ministru għall-Fondi Ewropej Keith Azzopardi Tanti. Għal bidu ta’ dawn ix-xogħolijiet kien hemm preżenti wkoll it-tim ta’ Project Green, is-Sindku tal-Floriana Nigel Holland u rappreżentanti tal-Kunsill Lokali.
Bħalissa beda x-xogħol ta’ tindif fuq is-sit kif ukoll beda xogħol ta’ restawr fuq in-Nissen Huts, li kienu nbnew mill-Ingliżi u li aktar tard intużaw bħala mħażen minn kumpanija tat-telekomunikazzjoni. Bħala parti mill-implimentazzjoni tal-masterplan tal-Ġonna Nazzjonali Botaniċi, dawn l-istrutturi se jinbidlu f’serer u ġonna botaniċi, u se jservu wkoll bħala ċentri ta’ taħriġ.
“Bi proġett wieħed wara l-ieħor qed inkomplu nipprovdu aktar spazji miftuħa għall-pubbliku. Din id-darba qed naraw ir-riabilitazzjoni ta’ sit li għal diversi snin kien abbandunat, u li issa, grazzi għall-ħidma ta’ Project Green, se jerġa’ jieħu l-ħajja. Fl-istess ħin, dan il-proġett se jkun qed jingħaqad ma’ sensiela ta’ proġetti oħra li qed jitwettqu fiż-żona tal-Port il-Kbir,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
“B’investiment b’saħħtu ta’ aktar minn €7.2 miljun f’fondi Ewropej, qed nagħtu ħajja ġdida lil din iż-żona storika fil-Floriana ta’ 58,000 metru kwadru. Il-fondi Ewropej huma għodda sabiex intejbu l-kwalità tal-ħajja tan-nies — billi noħolqu aktar spazji miftuħa għall-familji, inżidu s-siġar, u fl-istess ħin inħarsu l-wirt storiku u l-ambjent tagħna b’mod sostenibbli,” tenna il-Ministru Keith Azzopardi Tanti.
David Ellul, Project Manager ta’ dan il-proġett, spjega li din ir-riabilitazzjoni hija pass importanti biex il-pubbliku jkun jista’ jgawdi spazju miftuħ ieħor li jgħaqqad l-wirt storiku mal-ambjent. “L-għan ta’ dan il-proġett huwa li nagħtu ħajja ġdida lil dan l-ispazju miftuħ, li għal diversi snin kien mitluq u espost għal abbużi. Permezz ta’ din ir-riabilitazzjoni, se nkunu qed noħolqu żoni rikreattivi għall-picnics, nirranġaw il-passaġġi u fl-istess ħin nirrispettaw it-topografija eżistenti tas-sit,” qal David Ellul.
Work begins on open space in Floriana
Work has commenced on an area of around 58,000 square metres at the Jubilee Grove (Pinetum) in Floriana, in the area known as Sa Maison. The site is one of the last glacisin the Maltese Islands, with a historical connection dating back to the time of the Knights. This was announced during a site visit by Minister for the Environment Miriam Dalli and Minister for European Funds Keith Azzopardi Tanti. The Project Green team, Floriana Mayor Nigel Holland and representatives of the Local Council were also present for the start of the works.
Cleaning works are currently underway on site, while restoration works have also begun on the Nissen huts, which were built by the British and later used as stores by atelecommunications company. As part of the implementation of the masterplan by the National Botanic Gardens, these structures will be converted into greenhouses and botanical gardens, and will also serve as training centres.
“With one project after another, we are continuing to provide more open spaces for the public. This time, we are seeing the rehabilitation of a site that had been abandoned for several years and which, thanks to the work of Project Green, will now be brought back to life. At the same time, this project will be linked to a series of other projects being carried out in the Grand Harbour area,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.
“With a strong investment of more than €7.2 million in European funds, we are giving new life to this historic 58,000-square-metre area here in Floriana. European funds are a tool to improve people’s quality of life — by creating more open spaces for families, increasing the number of trees, and at the same time protecting our historical heritage and environment in a sustainable way,” said Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti.
David Ellul, Project Manager for the project, explained that this rehabilitation is an important step towards allowing the public to enjoy another open space that bringstogether historical heritage and the environment. “The aim of this project is to give new life to this open space, which for several years had been abandoned and exposed to abuse. Through this rehabilitation, we will be creating recreational picnic areas,upgrading the pathways and, at the same time, respecting the existing topography of the site,” said David Ellul.