Draft plan on temples' management published

Heritage Malta has published a draft management plan for the megalithic temples which have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

The plan, covering Ggantija, Ta’ Haġrat, Skorba, Tarxien , Haġar Qim and Mnajdra, outlines the sites’ values, current challenges, and objectives for the next five years.

Heritage Malta chairman Joseph Said said the draft was intended to form the basis for the final stage of public consultation.

Among other proposals, the plan says Heritage Malta and other national and local bodies will promote actions that facilitate the sustainable enjoyment of the temples.

MEPA, the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage and Heritage Malta, will conduct viewshed studies around the sites and recommend how the visual impact of building development within such viewsheds can be mitigated and regulated.

The superintendence and other organisations will examine the viability of extending the World Heritage sites inscription to include the Kordin III temples.

Heritage Malta will seek to conclude all pending expropriation processes and also acquire two unbuilt plots north of Ta’ Haġrat temples within the development zone.

They will also promote organic and traditional farming within the buffer zones of the world heritage sites, particularly Ggantija.

Heritage Malta and tourism organisations will work on a more sustainable visitor flow, and visitor centres will be developed at Haġar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien and Ggantija.

The draft plan also speaks of improving transport access to the sites and the promotion of the sites.

Heritage Malta will also carry out studies and seek funding for a protective shelter for Tarxien Temples and seek alternatives for the present scaffolding on the façade of Ggantija Temples.

Other points of the plan including conservation training and research.

The document can be viewed on http://www.heritagemalta.org/resources/mtdraft.html