Friday, 3rd July 2009 - 13:27CET
Marsa menqa regeneration plan unveiled
A 170-berth yacht marina and a 1.5km long promenade are at the heart of a masterplan for the regeneration of the Marsa menqa (creek) unveiled today by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt.
The minister said this was a major project to transform a site previously associated with heavy industry into an area for recreation and entertainment.
The project also involves landscaping and the restoration of buildings, including the old Chadwick stores, built by Lord Chadwick, which will be used for offices. The top floor will be reserved for entertainment owing to the building's prime position opposite the Grand Harbour fairway.
The masterplan was presented by Architect Marc Bonello, who said it also included a transport plan.
The minister said the area will benefit from an improved road from Marsa to the cruise liner terminal. It will also feature a landing place for ferries and water taxis, a stand for taxis and a bus terminus.
The project is expected to be taken in hand in 2011 and will cost some €130 million. It will eventually be extended to the site of the power station, once the power house is closed down.
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Int ma tafx li s-sigar ghall-gvernijiet Maltin huma xkiel ! Taf int, iridu jinzabru u jissaqqew!
Ok...this project is needed....however, health is not a need but a necessity!
Please govt...organise better your priorities.
@Laurence Gonzi : Stop behaving like a child, if PL have a right point implement it. At least you'll be man enough and that makes you stronger. Right now, you're the underdog not PL!
its an easy reply just look from where the money came to make the Ta' Qali Crafts Village Project :)
If plans are for Valletta would not have been ideal to concentrate on other issues in their apart the Piano designs, like Fort St Elmo which is almost a derilict and shame on us as that place should be a sacred icon for our history and what about that eye sour and shabby terminus we have, would look very 'state of the art' with Renzo's project when all is done. If all these conversions in Valletta are done together at least we suffer just a period of cacafonia in the city and not after each project will be having again and again the shabby environment of construction sites ... just a reminder the catastrophy when the new paving was being done ... and what about continue the Birgu/Cottonera Waterfront and Dock No1 regeneration ... mhux kollox nofs lehja!!!!!!
Can you deny that what they have written is the truth?
You have confirmed that as they say Alfred, truth hurts.
Some stupid comments, like 'where is the money coming from?', 'the election is nearing', 'projects will remain unrealised', etc. Come on be a bit more positive
1. Does an up-market marina and embellishment area costing some 130 million Euros make sense when, just a few meters away from it, there is one of Malta's biggest and ugliest state-sponsored ghettoes packed with a mini town of coloured inhabitants in a habitat which is a disgrace for them and for us? Why has there been no simultaneous announcement on what government is proposing to do with this huge, national problem?
2. Does such a plan make sense without the partial or complete regeneration of Albert Town and its environs (this is also a few meters away) which has now become a ghost town with daily evidence of drug abuse, prostitution etc all over the place?
3. Does anyone really think that this year is the end of recession and that as of next year the Maltese economy will be strong enough to underwrite all these lovely projects?
Where will we get all these millions from??
What about fixing the worst roads in europe?? (maybe further)
I mean, don't get me wrong. It does look stunning and is definately a fantastic idea but somehow I do feel that I am missing something.
Lots of contradictions!!!
Minister Austin Gatt and co should get their priorities right!!!
Jekk Mintoff hammeg il-Marsa meta ghamel dak li kien hemm fil-Menqa, tinsiex li l-istess ministru li ghadek kemm fahhart iffirma ftehim biex xi haga simili thammeg il-limiti ta' Delimara bl-iskart li se tipproduci l-estensjoni tal-Impjant tal-Energija ta' Delimara. Tinsiex li l-istess gvern fuq kollox bena l-imsemmi impjant u kerrah darba ghal dejjem lil Marsaxlokk. Tinsiex li l-istess gvern approva permessi li xejn ma nizlu ghasel ma' ghaqdiet ambjentali u mal-pubbliku ingenerali. Tinsiex li dan l-istess gvern riedna naghmlu l-BBQs ix-xatt tal-Birgu u cahhadna minnhom meta bena l-marina li ghaliha gab l-iskuza bil-BBQs.
Minix immaqdar il-progett anzi progett bhal dan huwa sabih u ta' min iheggu. Biss ma nkunux dashekk militanti fi kliemna. Niftakru li kulhadd ghamel progetti tajbin ghall-pajjiz u niftakru wkoll li kulhadd ghamel l-izbalji.
Mistoqsija zghira. Dan il-progett se jsir bi shab mal-privat? Se jkun xi haga simili tal-Waterfront fil-Furjana? (mil-lat ta' finanzjament)
Jalla jsir!
Why is a yacht marina seen as an embellishment project nowadays?
i think they literally soffocate wide open spaces and turn out to be very unattractive after a few years... check msida and vittoriosa.
an interesting project to regenerate Marsa (i'm getting ready to pay it through my taxes). Hopefully the history of menqa and its residents will also be respected.
Ministers, before showing off plans, should also tie in a completion date. And if not delivered they should resign.
I am fed up of hearing propoganda..time to either deliver or shut up
This project together with the one of the Valletta's city gate are good. They are much needed capital projects that Malta needs to survive, literally. The effects on the economy are cascading. However Politically its a matter of Panem et Circenses.
It's smell is overpowering even in Floriana and Valletta when the wind blows in that direction.
The project shows that we have architects that can provide good plans.
So why did we have to engage Renzo Piano for the Valletta project?
Oh I forgot.
The whole project is to to deviate people's attention from the dire situation our country is in.