SmartCity and the undesirables of the south

The demolition of the SmartCity site now has begun and if all the plans are implemented as proposed it will surely revamp the area and regenerate neighbouring Cottonera. On the other hand, I will not comment here on the 20 proposed Grand Harbour Projects because the people of the south of Malta have been deceived regarding harbour projects for years, notwithstanding the fact that Vittoriosa was brought back to its glory thanks to the yacht marina and its hard working local council.

The SmartCity project, which is described as one of the largest foreign investments in Malta, has also been subject to controversy due to the land provided for speculation. Without delving more deeply into this controversy, I will expect - together with other residents in Kalkara and south of Malta - the promised state-of-the-art use of the environment of the site. We all know that SmartCity is going to be built on derelict land which was once an industrial area. The residents of Kalkara and the south of Malta should be reassured that Ricasoli is not going to be earmarked for other projects such as heavy industries, an engineered landfill or other projects which undoubtedly would leave a negative impact on the environment and the residency conditions including the housing value. The south of Malta also contributed a lot to the development of large condominiums of social housing and tenements occupied by several families. Considering all these factors I rather say - no, I surely do not want - just an IT factory in Ricasoli but a real and substantial embellishment of the environment.

During these last years, Kalkara has become a very sought after residential area; a few steps outside the bastions of Vittoriosa and the Grand Harbour and a few metres away from the green areas of Zabbar. However it is undisputed nowadays that the South of Malta has been neglected for years, at the same time because the south is home of a lot of undesirables: the Delimara power station, the Sant Antnin waste recycling plant, and the fish farms. No wonder that the residents of Marsascala protested against the enlargement of the Sant' Antnin waste recycling plant. No one wants such a project in his backyard but it's fine as long as it is in the South of Malta. Marsascala, which was once a main tourist resort, has become the host for waste recycling.

Back to the plan for SmartCity, we must keep in mind other factors which may have a negative impact on the environment such as the new arterial road from Zabbar's Bieb is-Sultan to Triq Santa Liberata passing by the Capuchin convent which for years has been peacefully standing alone. One may easily find where this road may be proposed from the Mepa server or Google earth. The present sewage outfall at Wied Ghammieq had to be moved to the area known as Tal-Karbat in neighbouring Xghajra.