Video: Rehabilitation of Dock 1 area to start early next year
The government intends to start work on the rehabilitation of the Dock 1 area in Cospicua early next year, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said today.
He said the government's plans for the project would be announced in October, but they would be based on the rehabilitation and embellishment of the dock and the centuries old buildings in the surrounding area as well as the building of a car park.
Dr Gatt said the project is expected to cost between €10m and €12 million. The investment will be made by the government, which will seek EU funds, Dr Gatt said. He said the government had discontinued talks with the Romegas Consortium on the project because the consortium had not produced the required bank guarantees and no agreement was reached on the designs. The government, Dr Gatt insisted, did not want to see this project used for speculation.
Gruppo Romegas had been chosen by the government in 2007. Its plans provided for the dock's restoration, the construction of a cultural, commercial, residential and recreational complex and its operation and management.
Dock 1 was last used in the late 1990s but it will stir back to life in September when it will be the venue for the third edition of the HSBC Premiere Valletta Boat Show, due to be held there between September 24-27.
Dr Gatt said at a press conference that events such as this would show the potential which the Dock 1 area had.
The area is currently also being used as a temporary yacht marina.
The boat show, organised by Network Events, is to feature some 80 power and sail yachts as well as dinghies and related equipment such as deck and navigation tools.
There will also be entertainment, food stalls and attractions.
The area of Dock 1 started being used as a shipyard at the time of the Knights, and the British built Malta's first drydock there in 1848 before deciding to concentrate dockyard facilities in French Creek.
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CLIFFORD VELLA
Jul 14th 2009, 23:25
Well done very good move for Cospicua. I want to draw the attension to the authorities that unfortunetly the two windmills in Cospicua are in a very bad state. They need a huge restoration becaue soon we are going to loose them especially the one of San Gwann t'Ghuxa .These were build in 1684. Pls do something now before it will be too late.
Galea. L
Jul 14th 2009, 21:53
Jeremy J Camilleri
With all these projects in the pipeline and perhaps being started, could it be that something else is cropping up in the not so distant future?
Could the intention be that someone (no need to guess who) would be saying that we've started them and if we don't get back in power they will not be completed?
DalliD
Jul 14th 2009, 19:52
May I suggest that a replica of a Roman ship, the kind of which St Paul travelled when he was shipwrecked in Malta, be built and placed at the Dock area. Surely this would be a tourist attraction and very much connected to our history and origins.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jul 14th 2009, 18:50
Hehe. Malta.....all of a sudden we have a plethora of projects cropping up...so that was what listening to the people really meant.....
Alexander Pace Gouder
Jul 14th 2009, 16:54
No to yacht marina in St.Julians as it seem a plan is in hand to have a yacht marina in Spinola Bay. What will happen to our Fishermen's Boats and to boats of residence of St.Julians who put their boats in this area. Besides more polution to the sea water in Spinolas and Balluta Bay. And well at it I fully agree with the gentleman who wrote in todays Times of malta about our beautiful Balluta Bay and requested that Balluta Bay will have again tghe whole stratch of Sand. As the bay now is if you go down the stairs in the middle of the bay on the opposite side of the fantastic Balluta Square you end up where? The answer : In the Sea.
Charles Micallef
Jul 14th 2009, 16:28
Can we please finish the rat & masquito infested canal at Salini first please and before we annouce any more plans for tempations?
v.pulis
Jul 14th 2009, 16:18
What happened to the crafts village idea?
We seem to be putting all our eggs in one basket namely yacht marinas. At this rate we shall soon be able to accomodate all the yachts in the Med. Give some importance to culture and art please.
John Carmel Navarro
Jul 14th 2009, 16:17
Great news which brings encouragement to the Rehabilitation of the Area, already there are the signs of improvement taking place at the new Senglea Liner Terminal. Our beloved Three Cities are the hub of the Island and with little tender loving care can begin to relive past glory. Whilst on the subject of the Dockyard I do sincerely hope that a Memorial to remember all those who worked, died or depended on the establishment would be erected in a prominent place. This is something both the Government and the Opposition hand in hand ought work on.
P Borg
Jul 14th 2009, 16:15
Why will the boat show be called HSBC Premiere Valletta Boat Show when it is being held in Cospicua? Ara vera l-Bormlizi ma jikkalkulawkomx!
Tony Abela
Jul 14th 2009, 15:53
For records purposes one should note that No 1 Dock was mainly used for Submarines repair during the Admiralty days and the adjacent buildings were the so called 'high-tech' of those days as they used to house the Electrical and Instruments workshops and Drawing Offices. Electrical Apprentices had their 1st and 2nd year training centres there, the Gyro Shop and the Electrical Mainshop were among those housed in this area. The Battery Shopwas also one of the main specialised lines.
Alfred Farrugia
Jul 14th 2009, 15:47
I would like to see a performance at Dock No. 1, enacting a clash on a sailing vessel between the Knights and the Pirates, or the “Ottoman sailors.”
Before the current Sirens of TI show at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, there was another open air show in which a “sailing ship” is attacked by “pirates.” The same vessel is apparently still in use. This vessel “sinks” at the end of every show after a pyrotechnic display from onboard cannons and what not. A Maltese version of a similar show will no doubt be a daily tourist attraction, and I have no doubt that Maltese entrepreneurs can produce a very attractive show.
http://www.treasureisland.com/images/shows/sirens_of_ti/4.jpg
http://www.treasureisland.com/shows/sirens_of_ti.aspx
Joe Morana
Jul 14th 2009, 14:44
May I suggest again that Dock No 1 would make an ideal Malta Maritime Museum, housed in the wharehouses built by the Knights of St John for the storage of their galleys' equipment and rigging and with the use of the historic No 1 Dock itself, which can be used to dry dock some old naval warship and/or sailing ship etc.
iCocker
Jul 14th 2009, 14:42
That would be the day when that dock would be developed, being my home town that is something every Cospicuan wish ... hope that this shall not be another project on paper as it has been on going for decades!