A 9,000m2 green area for the community
GreenServ and Project Green are launching a project to open a green area in Birgu to the public, with different recreational zones including a picnic area, a playground and a dog park.
Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise Miriam Dalli visited the site of this new garden with WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca, Project Green CEO Steve Ellul, and Birgu’s Mayor John Boxall.
This 9,000m2 open space, larger than the size of a football ground, is situated in the heart of Cottonera, in an area known as ‘Fuq il-Glacis’. A short distance away from Birgu’s Gate of Provence, the area forms part of the fortification of the Santa Margherita Lines.
The project’s design places a strong emphasis on safeguarding the area’s heritage. It also ensures that the new pathways and recreational facilities coexist harmoniously with the mature trees already on site. These trees will continue to be maintained, retaining the beauty of this green area. The new garden will feature picnic tables and benches, a children’s play area, and dog exercise equipment.
The new pathways will make the space accessible to all. Part of the garden’s new lighting system will be powered by solar panels. All necessary equipment will be crafted from sustainable wood and recycled materials, while the pathways will be formed using reclaimed materials.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained that this investment of around €500,000 will provide the local community, including residents, workers, and students of Birgu, Bormla, and Kalkara, with another open recreational space surrounded by greenery.
“This is another investment in a better quality of life for these communities, as part of our €700 million plan to create more green spaces in Malta and Gozo, so that everyone can have a green open space not far from their home. In the coming months, we will continue working on many other environmental projects in other localities,” Miriam Dalli said.
The implementation of this project and its subsequent maintenance routines were planned to minimise carbon emissions, prioritising long-term sustainability.
The new garden will be opened to the public next year.
Ser jibda x-xogħol fi spazju miftuħ ieħor fil-Birgu
Spazju miftuħ ta’ 9,000 metru kwadru għall-pubbliku
Greenserv u Project Green ser jibdew ix-xogħlijiet biex spazju miftuħ fil-Birgu jinfetaħ għall-pubbliku b’diversi żoni ta’ rikreazzjoni, fosthom post għall-picnics, logħob għat-tfal u park għall-klieb.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli, flimkien mal-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ WasteServ Richard Bilocca, il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Project Green Steve Ellul u s-Sindku tal-Birgu John Boxall, żaru l-post fejn se jsir dan il-ġnien.
Dan l-ispazju miftuħ ta’ madwar 9,000 metru kwadru, ikbar mid-daqs ta’ grawnd tal-futbol, jinsab fil-qalba tal-Kottonera, fiż-żona magħrufa bħala Fuq il-Glacis, ftit passi bogħod mill-Bieb ta’ Provence, waħda mid-daħliet tal-Birgu. Din iż-żona tagħmel parti mill-fortifikazzjonijiet ta’ Santa Margerita.
Il-proġett ġie mfassal apposta biex il-passaġġi u l-faċilitajiet ġodda ta’ rikreazzjoni jsiru b’ħarsien sħiħ lejn il-wirt storiku ta’ dawn l-inħawi, u mingħajr ebda impatt fuq is-siġar maturi li diġà hemm. Dawn is-siġar ser jibqgħu jiġu mħarsa biex ikomplu jsebbħu dan l-ispazju mħaddar. L-ispazju miftuħ ġdid se jkollu żona bl-imwejjed u l-bankijiet għall-picnics, żona għal-logħob tat-tfal u anke park b’tagħmir għat-taħriġ fiżiku tal-klieb.
Il-passaġġi ġodda madwar is-siġar se jagħmlu dan il-post aċċessibbli għal kulħadd. Se tiġi installata wkoll sistema ta’ dwal, li partijiet minnha se jieħdu l-enerġija minn pannelli solari ġodda fl-istess ġnien. It-tagħmir kollu meħtieġ se jkun magħmul minn injam sostenibbli u materjal riċiklat filwaqt li l-passaġġi se jsiru minn materjal reklamat.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli spjegat li b’dan l-investiment ta’ madwar €500,000 il-komunità f’dawn l-inħawi, fosthom ir-residenti, ħaddiema u studenti fil-Birgu, Bormla u l-Kalkara, se jkollhom spazju miftuħ ieħor fejn jistgħu jiġu għall-mistrieħ qrib in-natura.
“Dan huwa investiment ieħor fil-kwalità tal-ħajja ta’ dawn il-komunitajiet, bħala parti mill-pjan tagħna, b’investiment ta’ €700 miljun, biex f’Malta u Għawdex ikollna ħafna iżjed spazji mħaddra u kulħadd ikollu spazju miftuħ mhux il-bogħod minn fejn joqgħod. Fix-xhur li ġejjin se nkomplu naħdmu fuq ħafna iżjed proġetti ambjentali bħal dan f’lokalitajiet oħra,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
L-implimentazzjoni tal-proġett, kif ukoll il-manutenzjoni fit-tul tal-ġnien meta jkun lest, ġew ippjanati biex ikollhom l-inqas emissjonijiet tal-karbonju possibbli. B’hekk, il-proġett ikompli jagħti prijorità lis-sostenibbiltà.
L-ispazju miftuħ huwa mistenni li jiftaħ għall-pubbliku s-sena d-dieħla.
