Master plan for Gozo Citadel 'shortly'

The Gozo Citadel is expected to have its own master plan shortly, indicating recommendations and measures for a wider restoration and management project, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said yesterday.

Funding is being sought from the European Economic Area (the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms, she said.

Ms Debono was listing projects the government was embarking on in Gozo, saying they were proof of its commitment to the island's well being, and that 2007 was expected to be "another outstanding year" for it. A variety of projects are being implemented for the benefit of the island's socio-economic development, she said.

In the coming days, the government will be announcing more measures, with the aim of boosting employment in Gozo, as well as to support organisations holding cultural events that attract more tourism.

With regard to the Gozo General Hospital, the ministry has recently embarked on major upgrading works for its dining room and the male and female general wards in keeping with its programme to modernise the main health service provision on the island.

The complete upgrading of one of the two operating theatres should follow, while a new Radiology Unit is being set up, including the procurement and installation of new medical equipment to offer services unavailable so far.

Speaking about the education sector, Ms Debono said upgrading works were in progress at the Xewkija primary school. These were scheduled to be completed by the end of next month.

The Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools has submitted an application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the redevelopment of the boys' secondary school in Victoria and the construction of a two-storey underground car park - a Lm3 million project, spread over three years, the first phase of which should be in hand by the end of this year. Works are also in hand to upgrade the technology workshops at the Agius de Soldanis girls' junior lyceum and secondary school. Work on stage amenities at the Xaghra primary school is also planned.

Applications have been submitted to Mepa for the installation of lifts at a variety of schools for increased accessibility for students with disability, Ms Debono said.

The Gozo Ministry is offering more courses for the benefit of adults. Over 600 Gozitans have attended one or more of the EU co-funded courses, held in Gozo in 2005 and 2006.

In the case of infrastructure, Ms Debono said a number of main roads would be given attention, including Ramla Road, Xlendi Road and the road connecting the Victoria-San Lawrenz Road to Ta' Pinu.

The asphalting of residential roads is also continuing throughout this year, she said.

The Dwejra rehabilitation project, involving the collaboration of Mepa, the San Lawrenz local council, Nature Trust (Malta) and the Gozo Ministry, continues, while the rehabilitation of the Qortin landfill will be in hand this year, through Wasteserv.

Ms Debono said the waste water treatment plant project, works on which started in early 2006, and the civic amenity site for solid waste will also being completed this year. Works on the implementation of the sewage master plan will continue.

Major embellishment projects for 2007 include the complete upgrading of the Villa Rundle public garden in Victoria - the only one of its sort in Gozo - and the zone known as Zewwieqa, incorporating the yacht marina, the restaurants area, the fishing quarters and the adjacent road in Mgarr Harbour.

The beach at Xlendi Bay will be reinstated once the Mepa application, filed recently by the Malta Tourism Authority, is approved.

Other projects to be completed this year include the Crafts Incubation Centre in Ghajnsielem, the new tourism training facility in Qala, the Museum of Archaeology display project, and the main arterial roads, works on which are underway.

The transfer of more public service back office operations from Malta to Gozo and the Mgarr Harbour terminal project are also in hand, the minister said.