Għaddej ix-xogħol fuq spazju miftuħ ta’ 25,000 metru kwadru f’Ħal Għaxaq
Żona tal-pikniks għal ħin ta’ mistrieħ u rikreattiv
Fi Triq l-Andar f’Ħal Għaxaq, għaddej xogħol ta’ riġenerazzjoni ta’ żona għall-picnics fuq medda ta’ art ta’ madwar 25,000 metru kwadru.
Waqt żjara fuq is-sit, il-Ministru għall-Ambjent Miriam Dalli flimkien mat-tim ta’ Project Green u s-sindku ta’ Ħal Għaxaq Karl Boxall u membri oħra tal-Kunsill Lokali, żaru x-xogħlijiet li qed isiru b’investiment ta’ kważi miljun ewro.
Mil-bidu tal-proġett, saru diversi interventi li jkomplu jagħmlu dan il-proġett wieħed sostenibbli. Inbena ġibjun ta’ madwar 60 metru kubu, li l-ilma miġbur fih se jintuża għat-tisqija, filwaqt li nbnew ukoll faċilitajiet pubbliċi. Ix-xogħlijiet tal-infrastruttura taħt l-art tlestew, filwaqt li bħalissa l-passaġġi qed jitlestew, u l-installazzjoni tas-servizzi kemm tad-dawl u anke tal-ilma se jitlestew fil-jiem li ġejjin.
Dan il-proġett jinkludi wkoll l-installazzjoni ta’ bankijiet u mwejjed tal-picnic, inklużi dawk aċċessibbli u adattati għat-tfal, stands għar-roti, elementi ta’ logħob ibbażati fuq in-natura, tabelli informattivi, dawl li jaħdem bl-enerġija solari u sistema ta’ CCTV. B’kollox se jiżdiedu madwar 150 siġra u 150 arbuxxell ma’ dawk li diġà hemm.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli spjegat kif dan il-proġett għandu għan doppju. “F’din iż-żona qed naraw xogħol ta’ riġenerazzjoni biex jissaħħaħ l-ambjent naturali, il-bijodiversità u l-istabilità ekoloġika; iżda fuq kollox biex jitgawda min-nies. Qed naraw li din iż-żona tibqa’ waħda naturali b’interventi minimi filwaqt li jagħmlu l-post wieħed sigur biżżejjed biex il-familji jgawdu u jqattgħu ħin flimkien f’dan is-sit,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Chiara Darmanin, il-Project Manager f’dan il-proġett irrimarkat kif siġar taż-żebbuġ eżistenti se jinżammu bħala parti mill-proġett u qed jiġu protetti matul dan il-proċess t’implimentazzjoni, b’enfasi partikolari fuq il-ħarsien tas-sistemi tal-għeruq u l-veġetazzjoni eżistenti.
Il-proġett huwa kofinanzjat minn fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea taħt Fond Agrikolu Ewropew għall-Iżvilupp Rurali (FAEŻR).
Work is underway on a 25,000-square-metre open space in Ħal Għaxaq
A picnic area for rest and recreation
Regeneration works are underway on a picnic area covering around 25,000 square metres of land in Triq l-Andar, Ħal Għaxaq.
During a site visit, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, together with the Project Green team, Ħal Għaxaq Mayor Karl Boxall, and other members of the Local Council, viewed the works being carried out through an investment of almost €1 million.
Since the start of the project, several interventions have been carried out to make the project more sustainable. A reservoir of around 60 cubic metres has been built, with the collected water to be used for irrigation, while public facilities have also been constructed. The underground infrastructure works have been completed, while the pathways are currently being finalised. The installation of services, including lighting and water, will be completed in the coming days.
The project also includes the installation of benches and picnic tables, including accessible and child-friendly ones, bicycle stands, nature-based play elements, information signs, solar-powered lighting and a CCTV system. In total, around 150 trees and 150 shrubs will be added to those already present.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained that the project has a dual purpose. “In this area, regeneration works are being carried out to strengthen the natural environment, biodiversity and ecological stability, but above all so that it can be enjoyed by people. We are ensuring that this area remains natural, with minimal interventions, while making the site safe enough for families to enjoy and spend time together here,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.
Chiara Darmanin, the Project Manager for this project, noted that the existing olive trees will be retained as part of the project and are being protected throughout the implementation process, with particular emphasis on safeguarding the root systems and existing vegetation.
The project is co-financed by European Union funds under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
