SmartCity contractors ready to start building work
SmartCity Malta has reached an advanced planning stage and contractors are ready to begin construction as soon as the green light is received from MEPA, Fareed Abdulrahman, SmartCity CEO said.
He made his comment after a board meeting which discussed progress registered by SmartCity Malta and its forthcoming developments.
“SmartCity Malta has reached an advanced planning stage. We have contractors and consultants on board who will be abiding by SmartCity’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and green building initiatives, and who are ready to begin the construction of SmartCity Malta as soon as we receive the green light from MEPA. This is an exciting juncture to be at and one step closer to being part of Malta’s realisation as a Smart Island”, Mr Abdulrahman said.
During their meeting, the directors recorded the “significantly high interest” that SmartCity Malta has generated in its first phase, which will be launched and operational in 2010. This phase will feature 12,000 sqm of ready-to-operate, state-of-the-art, intelligent office space and will be the base for companies catering for the European and North African region.
“The board also noted the high interest created by the retail spaces offered by SmartCity Malta which will cater to the knowledge workers and professionals within the self-sustained township,” SmartCity Malta said in a statement.
Extending over 1km of Mediterranean sea-front, SmartCity Malta will offer business and lifestyle amenities featuring state-of-the-art office space, shopping and dining boulevards, panoramic areas and freely accessible open spaces.
SmartCity Malta is the largest foreign investment in Malta of USD 300 million, and also the largest job-creator under one roof in Malta's history. Over an eight year period, SmartCity Malta is committed to creating 5,600 jobs.
Earlier today, MLP environment spokesman Leo Brincat urged the SmartCity developers to give importance to the environmental aspect of the development, particularly in view of its high demand for energy and the consequential impact on emissions produced by Malta.
Such concerns were also expressed on Saturday by the Ramblers' Association.
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Peppi Micallef
Sep 3rd 2008, 11:35
It makes no sense the way people cannot show their worries about this project. It seems that for a lot of people this is just manna mis-sema. We have to know all things,.good and bad ones. From the pictures everybody saw, it is evident that this part of Malta is just going to be another St.Julians or Bugibba. It's a shame that we cannot critise as there are people who argue that we must keep our mouths shut.,,....or else ''we'll loose this project for our sons...''
The quiet Kalkara together with Ricasoli area will be transformed from a nice picturestique place with few cars, quiet life and nice clean sea to a place of heavy traffic, noise, 'enterntainment' areas like discos, clubs, restaurants together with the problems associated with similar places.
Finally, it must we well understood that there is a hidden cost we are going to pay. Yes, this project will hopefully create a lot of jobs for our children and for people of my age(19 years) but will surely be a source of many problems. We must stay aware of not becoming so blind not to realise this. Already we are seeing the effect of this.
Dr. John Zammit
Sep 2nd 2008, 14:22
To Vincent Ellul
As I live in Italian Military Mission Road (on the side of Bighi), at the moment very few cars pass and some times no cars at all and it is very pleasant not to hear any noise, except the beautiful sound of birds. But what I am afraid now after Smart City is ready, that all the small cars will pass from Kalkara sea front to Smart City (bumper to bumper) like in Sliema. That is what I meant to say and that is mostly my concern. From 1990 till 2003 I lived in Sliema Creek and after I became ill with asthma I came back to Rinella Bay where I used to live before in fresh air. So I know what I am saying. What a difference!
Ray Gatt
Sep 2nd 2008, 14:13
Mr Gerard Cassar - I do not know where you do your shopping, but in Mellieha I find local potatoes. We find local and foreign ones too. Can you honestly say the same for chocolate and other things in the 70's. What we got was bulk buying, we were presented with the worst possible products and the excuse was 'to keep the prices frozen'. In actual fact the only freeze was on the wages for five years and the economy for sixteen whole years. I had to either ask my English inlaws to get us certain products when coming over, go to Sicily or buy on the black market for over exagerated prices. I went out of my way for my children.
Ray Gatt
Sep 2nd 2008, 13:53
Paul Smith - Do you honestly believe that they're spending those millions and the thought of electrical power skipped their minds?
Joseph Attard
Sep 2nd 2008, 00:58
We are on the verge of the third industrial revolution. I would expect the least from Smart City, that is to be self sufficient via renewable energy for its operations. Lets make sure the buildings there are designed with solar, wiind and photovoltaics in mind throughout.
Smart City could be the smartest City in the world if it can boast that its self sufficient in respect to Energy requirments. I would ask those involved to go through a few of the lectures given by American Professor Rifkin to many learned in the EU. The EU has to lead in this third revolution.
If were going to built this City, lets make sure that these buildings become power houses that can supply excess tored energy to the grid instead of the other way round. Lets make sure we go into the details now. We need Smart City, a really Smart City from all aspects, lets make sure together we leave no stone unturned to make sure this becomes a reality......lets make sure Smart city is a key factor to making Malta an island of choice!
Vincent Ellul
Sep 1st 2008, 22:43
to Dr.John Zammit and A. Cutajar
With regards to heavy traffic, please note that there is a sign at the gate prior to the entrance to Kalkara which says that heavy traffic is not allowed to pass from there unless to render service to the residents. This sign was put up prior to the initial works starting on smart city last year. For your info the heavy trucks that are doing work at smartcity are passing from near the Cappuchines Church at the perifery of Kalkara and proceed towards Triq il missjoni Taljana and then to Smart City. Hence the kalkara waterfront will not be touched. Also the residents of Fgura and Zabbar have nothing to worry about .
JONATHON AGIUS
Sep 1st 2008, 22:07
Expression of interest was solicited and tenders issued,yes Mr Fabri but being a private project these were not published in the Government gazette
David Jones
Sep 1st 2008, 21:12
@a fabri - tenders for a private project....what are you talking about my good man?
D. Agius
Sep 1st 2008, 19:14
@ Adrian Fabri, this is not a national project. It's a private project of a national importance. NO contracts department to come in. Do you want a re-run of Mater Dei? 16 or god knows how many years to build a hospital!
A Cutajar
Sep 1st 2008, 18:36
@ Dr John Zammit
Traffic will be a hard nut to crack. It is indeed important to ensure that Fgura and Zabbar are not choked with long traffic tailbacks in view of poor arterial/distributory road design there.
Ma nhottux knisja biex nibnu ohra!
Are the private investors of this largely welcomed project ready to partly foot the bill? The region needs state-of-the-art arterial roads and a reduction in pollution levels around Fgura area. SmartCity’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and green building initiatives should be extended to the traffic/ transport mobility aspect too!
m farrugia
Sep 1st 2008, 18:24
Another boost for Malta! Definitely the project will bring an influx of foreigners, using airlines, our airport, taxis and services.This is what our country needs, opening up to foreign investors and making them feel welcome on our beautiful island. This morning I was lucky enough to be in Mellieha bay, it was beautiful, tourists enjoying thelovely weather, clean sea and beach.
Adrian Fabri
Sep 1st 2008, 18:23
Being a National Project , hope that everyone involved in the Construction Industry will have the opportunity to be involved at least to have his-piece of cake ........but again i doubt it as till now no expression of interest / tenders have been issued !!!!
Contracts Department is staying away ????
Gerard Cassar
Sep 1st 2008, 18:20
@Mr. John Saliba. Deserta you are stuck.
Let's try potatoes.
Try to find local suitable potatoes in the local market to be consumed by the Maltese. The Maltese only deserve the rubbish that is not suitable for abroad.
Can you Mr. John Saliba give an explanation? We have a P.N. government, don't we?
D Zammit
Sep 1st 2008, 17:46
@ John Saliba
Do you know of something called Air Malta, or maybe you know it as ghasafar tac-comb so you can't recall its history. If you can't maybe you can remember of SGS (today ST) or of Brandstaater?
I suggest you do some economic history research before talking.
Frank
Sep 1st 2008, 17:46
I don't understand what's all this fuss about energy consumption. We're in 2008 guys. All the technology needed for a greener city is already available out there on the market.
What technology city is this if it's not going to make use of the existing technology. We don't have oil like the country they come from, even though what they have will not even last for the coming 20 years.
If they want to do something worth it out of this smart city they should use this project as a pilot for a green city. The size of it is enough to make them realize what it takes to build much larger ones in other countries. It might rise the price tag by about 25%, so what?? The experience they'll gain can be recovered ten-fold in other projects. And at $350M it's no big deal if they have MOU's with the global giants they boasted.
The only target the MPs are seeing is creation of jobs, which is ridiculous, because they're targeting the wrong sector of the population. The semi-skilled will not probably count for more than 20% of the total workforce.
Dr. John Zammit
Sep 1st 2008, 16:51
It is important that the traffic to Smart City, especially large trucks and machinery will not pass through Kalkara Sea Front but from the other side as this will bring havoc to the people of Kalkara. This is going to be our greatest concern, because we do not wish that Kalkara will become another Sliema with all that pollution!
John Saliba
Sep 1st 2008, 16:18
The word SmartCity leaves a bad taste in the socialists's mouth. Just as much as their best foreign investments project... Cikkulata Diserta reminds us all of the bad taste their time in office left us all with.
Paul Barrett
Sep 1st 2008, 16:12
In a none politically motivated comment - I wonder if the plans include wells for rain run off storage and if these will actually be built/dug and of course used.
As far as I can tell from other buildings still being constructed around Malta, there seems to be plenty of sub-basement garages (which seem to end up as flats/accommodation) but little sign of wells being dug.
Paul Smith
Sep 1st 2008, 16:08
This will be a big white elephant.
Has anyone thought how you will generate all the extra electricity for smart city?
You should have thought about building a new dual fuel power plant first.
John Saliba
Sep 1st 2008, 15:48
And Labour were so against this project. Just imagine what Malta's loss would have been. But like everything else Labour had to retract and change their policy. The same seems to be applying tor the name of their Party. It seems that they are now calling themselves PL (Partit Laburista).
Angelica Attard Bossert
Sep 1st 2008, 15:40
To Whom It May Concern: It is imperative that as the construction phase begins, contractors hire ONLY THOSE WHO ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO WORK IN MALTA. No taking advantage of "cheap labour" please, to the detriment of the Maltese.