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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GiovDeMartino@L Schembri
Jul 5th 2009, 18:15
MHUX biss! U l-fabrika tal-kappar? U tac-cikkulata Deserta? U tat-twapet...Saru tant affarijiet tajba!
Joe Fenech
Jul 5th 2009, 14:19
T Abela:
Int ma tafx li s-sigar ghall-gvernijiet Maltin huma xkiel ! Taf int, iridu jinzabru u jissaqqew!
James Scerri
Jul 5th 2009, 13:43
Not withstanding the importance of this project....should the govt put his money in keeping the country healty? I strongly believe that we've got our priorities wrong again. (didn't the euro pal election teach you the lesson, Mr govt ?
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!
laurence schembri
Jul 5th 2009, 11:12
Iva Giovanni, Ta Qali Crafts Village.
GiovDeMartino
Jul 4th 2009, 18:30
Iva aghmel wahda sewwa Gonzipn!!! Iva xejn, xejn, xejn, xejn, xejn,xejn......qatt mna ghamilt haga sewwa? Iva qatt, qatt, qatt...Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar anqas Renzo Piano ma giebha zewg.
carmel zammit
Jul 4th 2009, 15:38
from les miserables out came the hit song "i dream the dream "or is it carry on dreaming.bicca bicca gejja l bicca.once the power house is closed.bi tnejn u bil blackouts ahseb b wahda(forgot wind farms solar and the extension of the power station)mbadd ghal triq ta 30metru ma ghandhomx flus f wied il ghajn.u lpoplu gharkuptejh mifum bit taxxi.
T Abela
Jul 4th 2009, 14:41
Setghu il-periti hasbu li jhawwlu xi ftit sigar!
R.Gauci
Jul 4th 2009, 13:31
To all the so called moaners asking where from is the money coming from to make this and other projects
its an easy reply just look from where the money came to make the Ta' Qali Crafts Village Project :)
Daniel B.
Jul 4th 2009, 13:21
Brilliant plan. Go for it!
Ivan Cocker
Jul 4th 2009, 10:40
Interesting project but would not have been ideal to concentrate on just one place and finish it up completly not the usual projects too many ends and non finished.
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!!!!!!
Galea. L
Jul 4th 2009, 09:27
Alfred Cassar
Can you deny that what they have written is the truth?
You have confirmed that as they say Alfred, truth hurts.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Jul 4th 2009, 02:32
Nice plans, keep up the good work and don`t forget St Elmo please.
Alfred Cassar
Jul 3rd 2009, 21:15
When I read a number of these stupid comments, I think of sour grapes. When the Government announces a big project like Valletta entrance, Menqa area and others, these people are really perturbed, I wonder why.
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
Anthony Magri
Jul 3rd 2009, 19:10
Projects galore! That’s the P.N. A second project for the Theatre, for a Parliament, for entrance to Valletta,for a new power station, for a promenade at Marsa, for Fort St.Elmo. For New ID Cards.For a de Luxe hotel instead of the Evans Lab. or the Paul Boffa hospital A landing strip in Gozo, project for wind energy…Just mention it and it becomes a project. How many projects have remained on paper: St.John’s Museum for the tapestries, the underground project at St. George’s square Valletta, both for the same not sufficiently taught reasons? It is easy to draw a project the difficulty is to realize it. Dr. Austin Gatt represents the famous Copperfield the magician. He realises anything out of nothing. Now you see it now you don't....
E Gatt
Jul 3rd 2009, 17:18
The detailed plans of the four phases of the Marsa project can be viewed at the Malta Maritime Authority's office at Maritime House.
Joseph R Aquilina
Jul 3rd 2009, 16:40
Great stuff and many millions. Did anybody ever take into consideration what damage the descending sulphurous efflux of the chimneys of the near-by electricity power station at Marsa will have on the fibreglass of the boats? Ok - so now that I have told you - what are you going to do about it?
wally vella-zarb
Jul 3rd 2009, 16:40
@J Bonnici "Great! That is where yacht marinas should be, not in Marsaskala." Who, in his right senses, would want to build a yacht marina at Marsascala? Anyone who thinks that such a project is financially and ecologically viable has never seen the bay when there is a strong Grieg il-Lvant blowing. Memories are still fresh of wrecks being hurled across the road near the playing field.
H DEMPSTER
Jul 3rd 2009, 15:47
@Mario Gellel. I would not be surprised that you havent heard any thing about Smart city. Iam just wondering if they will also pull out of the Smart City project as they did from the Indian Smart City.
laurence schembri
Jul 3rd 2009, 15:31
Hold on a minute, what is actually going on? Less than a year ago Austin uncovered the project for St. Elmo; Evans Build., a 5 star hotel, St. Elmo, a welcoming tourist point, with Liner berthing just beyond the Fort, another €130 million project. Two weeks ago St. Elmo was given back to the Carnival float builders, end of a dream. Today Austin wakes-up, another dream. Tomorrow might be a day for a spectacular reverie.
Massimo Ellul
Jul 3rd 2009, 15:22
It seems that plans and architects' proposals for various areas throughout the island are the order of the day. Marsa deserves such a project and will greatly assist in the regeneration of this much-forgotten area. But a number of questions immediately come to mind:
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?
D.Caruana
Jul 3rd 2009, 15:01
Last time I heard, the EU was giving us deadlines to solve our deficit problems.
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!!!
T. Pulis
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:53
Sur Joe Cassar,
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!
Mick Quinn
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:51
Is this going to be paid for before or after we reconcile the Eu3.750million national debt that increases by Eu250 million every quarter???? Another pipe dream miles away from reality.
mario gellel
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:50
What a beautiful picture plan it is. And yet it is planned to start in 2011. Very close to the next election(?). Oh by the way, is Smart City still on track, cos we have not heard no developing news of it.
paul mizzi
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:36
@ joe cassar
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.
Manuel Micallef
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:35
We have a lot of plans.... but they tend to remin on plan for quite some years.
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
Joseph E Briffa
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:33
Well done Austin..it's a magnificent project and will be a beautiful site when completed. Besides it will create hundreds of jobs and will give a boost to our economy. Well done sgain..you are showing your worth. Never mind the 'arrogant' nickname that laidback people gave you. In life successful people have always made enemies. Worthless people make friends, who call them 'imsieken' which they are.
P Agius
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:31
Regenerating Marsa and destroying Bahrija....Uhmm
C A Camilleri
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:23
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.
Nigel Lawrence
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:09
Another pie in the sky project- with no money to pay for it.
John Bezzina
Jul 3rd 2009, 14:02
Looks nice but €130 million!!?? - why such a cost when City Gate (with all its pros and cons) will cost €80 - Am I missing something or does the cost include the site of the Marsa power station?
Lawrence Mifsud
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:56
This should be a really wonderful change to the derilict area. However, other places like Xemxija must not be changed into a yachting marina..a good landscaping exersice, and upgrading the sandy shore and rocky inlets used by swimmers should be enough.
Vicki Soler
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:55
Prosit Austin, the plans look stunning.
joe cassar
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:53
Prosit to the Government for this project, the Marsa people deserve it, after Mintoff and Co ruined it with the coal mountain, now we are going to have a yacht marina and a promenade. Instead of black dust that used to cover the houses and streets, we have trees. I hope the people of Marsa will be accept this project and press for its early complition.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:50
Did we strike oil? Where will all these Euro come from.
J.Bonnici
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:45
Great! That is where yacht marinas should be, not in Marsaskala.
Galea. L
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:45
A good plan, but an area for recreation and entertainment with an oil collecting and processing plant next door?
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.