21 councils to receive Mepa funds for 'green' projects

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has signed an agreement with 21 local councils to fully or partially fund environmentally friendly projects.

Over Lm400,000 are being made available to the councils through the Urban Improvement Fund (UIF) scheme operated by the authority.

The fund consists of Lm1.5 million collected from developers who were unable to provide required car spaces within their construction projects. Compensation for each missing parking space amounts to Lm500 and is levied in areas where the Commuted Payment Parking Scheme is not in force.

Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja said yesterday that the funded projects included the upgrading of playing fields, embellishment and landscaping of public open spaces and gardens, new energy-saving street lighting, upgrading of street furniture, paving works and the improvement of public convenience facilities.

Transport Planning Unit manager Lucien Stafrace said that out of the 62 councils eligible to take part in the scheme, 50 submitted 118 projects.

A total of 21 councils signed a contract for the funding of 39 projects with Mepa, which will be funding 88 per cent of the costs.

Environment Minister George Pullicino said that in the case of partially funded projects, councils would have to show how they would obtain the remaining funds.

Mr Stafrace said that another 11 projects were approved for funding but were awaiting a formal development permit, while another 57 projects were pending.

The projects on the agreement signed yesterday are:

(Locality - Amount funded - Project description)

• Balzan - Lm14,400 - Embellishment of B. Fenech Square
• Birzebbuga - Lm6,522 - Upgrading of Mgr G. Minuti Garden in Pretty Bay
• Birzebbuga - Lm10,578 - Paving works
• Birkirkara - Lm8,500 - Refurbishment of Ta' Paris playing field
• Birkirkara - Lm13,500 - Refurbishment of Tal-Qattus playing field
• Birkirkara - Lm7,000 - Refurbishment of Fleur de-Lys playing field
• Birkirkara - Lm23,152 - Landscaping San Alwigi Area
• Fontana - Lm2,500 - Belvedere in Ta' Mulejja Road
• Ghaxaq - Lm7,765 - Paving works
• Gzira - Lm9,989 - Embellishment Gzira housing estate
• Kirkop - Lm4,500 - Sanitary facilities near church
• Marsascala - Lm18,869 - Embellishment of St Thomas Bay garden
• Marsascala - Lm1,982 - Playground equipment
• Marsascala - Lm7,765 - Paving works
• Marsascala - Lm278 - New lighting system
• Marsaxlokk - Lm12,717 - New lighting in Triq il-Port Ruman
• Marsaxlokk - Lm3,330 - Playground equipment in Triq l-Ixprunara
• Mellieha - Lm20,000 - Playing field at Manikata
• Mellieha - Lm5,810 - New lighting at Ta' Masrija
• Mqabba - Lm4,500 - Embellishment near school area
• Msida - Lm4,000 - Maintenance of public convenience facilities in 5 ta' Ottubru
• Msida - Lm14,896 - New paving in front of parish church
• Qala - Lm3,600 - Embellishment of St Joseph Square
• Qormi - Lm26,760 - Landscaping and embellishment of open space in San Gwakkin
• Qormi - Lm10,560 - Embellishment and repaving of Triq il-Blata
• Qormi - Lm22,500 - Revamping of Armier gardens
• Qormi - Lm8,897 - Embellishment of Gnien il-Paci
• Qormi - Lm9,755 - Embellishment of Open space in Triq Dun Marju
• Rabat (Malta) - Lm8,090 - Embellishment of Saqqajja
• Sannat - Lm4,500 - Embellishment at 28th April 1688 Street
• Santa Venera - Lm34,333 - Embellishment of Guzé Flores playing field
• Siggiewi - Lm2,900 - Lighting in Siggiewi
• Xaghra - Lm13,500 - Upgrading of playing field at 8th September Avenue
• Zabbar - Lm24,908 - Embellishment and improvement of playing field in housing estate
• Zabbar - Lm16,839 - Embellishment and improvement of playing field in St Peter's Area
• Zurrieq - Lm4,000 - Decorative lighting around Zurrieq
• Zurrieq - Lm8,190 - Embellishment of Triq Bubaqra
• Zurrieq - Lm1,320 - Bollards for Mattia Preti Square
• Zurrieq - Lm10,000 - Upgrading of play area in Carmelo Caruana Street