Claudia Calleja
Fort Delimara may soon be history
Fort Delimara is in danger of collapse as the cliffs beneath it are eroding at a fast rate. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Fort Delimara, which has protected Malta's shores for over a century, is in danger of collapse unless urgent action is taken to save the structure.
A spokesman for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) confirmed that the fort was eroding and that the weight of the tower posed a threat to the heritage site in addition to the pounding waves. No planning applications have ever been submitted to remedy the situation.
Fisherman Ray Bugeja expressed concern in a letter to The Sunday Times in which he called for something to be done to stop the damage.
Mr Bugeja, who is the secretary of the National Fishing Cooperative, explained that the rock was wearing away at a faster rate since the Freeport Terminal's breakwater was built in the 1980s. The breakwater altered the natural water path sending a "sea wall crashing beneath Fort Delimara". This created new problems in the nearby Marsaxlokk bay that houses the island's main fishing fleet.
"The most sensible way to tackle the problem is to build a wave-breaking system that would eliminate the threats," Mr Bugeja said.
Fort Delimara was built by the British between 1876 and 1888 and was one of a ring of forts and batteries protecting Marsaxlokk harbour. After being used as a pig farm for about 15 years, in 2005 the government handed the fort over to Heritage Malta - the national agency for heritage.
A management committee was set up to assess the damage to the fort and propose solutions to restore it. But a Mepa spokesman said the committee had not met in about three years.
Heritage Malta CEO Lucio Mule Stagno, who assumed the post two yeras ago, said: "The intentions were good but the plans fizzled into nothing."
Heritage Malta had proposed a public-private partnership to restore the fort but the project never took off because of lack of funds. According to the plans, the fort was to be turned into a tourist attraction.
The national agency for heritage is responsible for around 40 sites, apart from others on publicly-owned sites. The funds required to safeguard them all runs into tens of millions of euros.
Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (FWA) director general Mario Farrugia criticised the government's lack of action to safeguard the fort that houses the world's last remaining four 38-ton guns mounted on dwarf carriages. "FWA had been lobbying the government to take over the fort for about 20 years. Then Heritage Malta took it over. As usual nothing happened. There is no sense of urgency in this country. No wonder our national heritage is disappearing so fast," he said.
Geologist Peter Gatt explained that the rock making up the Delimara peninsula consists of chalk cliffs which are eroded rapidly by the sea, especially at their base. This has already led to the collapse of large slabs. Speaking about the cause of the erosion he said that it was likely that the construction of the power station, some 400 metres away from the fort, had an impact.
"The coast at the power station has been covered with concrete so waves accelerate along the coast, resulting in greater erosion under the fort," he said.
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Steve Borg
Aug 9th 2009, 21:44
Ducleseaux Battery is a fine example of 18th century military architecture. I am unsure how the Lands Department leased this heritage site, since we are convinced that it could - when restored as an open-access heritage site, of which we have an acute dearth in the Marsascala area. As Mr. Darmanin rightly states part of it (not half) has been claimed by the sea due to erosion and lack of good heritage governance. But of course, it's in the south so what do we expect.
I am also surprised with Mr. Magro's comments re-FWA. As a former FWA-official, I can vouch that when we were given Fort Rinella in trust, it was in an abysmal state of dilapidation. It was only thanks to the sheer dedication of a number of civic-minded individuals, who really respect our patrimony, that the eventual restoration programme was initiated.
Heritage Malta would have done Malta a favour by handing the site over to FWA, since they (HM) lack the experience, acumen and human resources that a specialised ngo in Victorian military heritage may have. It shouldn't be the case, but that is the local situation. As our adage goes "Agħti l-ħobż lil min jaf jieklu."
Denis A. Darmanin
Aug 9th 2009, 18:56
@Paul, Jimmy & the world.
Fort Delimara isn't just the only case. The part of Fort Ricasoli that's outside the harbour, around the Ghar tal-Materazzi area, has already crumbled and much more will soon follow. Half of the Ducleseau Battery at St. Thomas Bay has already been claimed by the sea!
The Ducleseau, Delimara and the Ricasoli interventions will require millions of Euros unless the EU or some mega rich institution will take on the task with no questions asked. Or maybe just one; Are we game enough to save Malta's and the world's heritage? But isn't Fort St. Elmo a good example that unless a project offers sustainability, then nothing or very little can be done.
Mario Farrugia
Aug 9th 2009, 16:39
I am surprised by the comments made by Jimmy Magro on Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna on this blog. FWA has none of its members sitting on any government board at all. Last one from us to be on any board was myself till a year ago when I asked not to be re-appointed. Mr Magro should do his homework well rather than shoot aimlessly from the hip. FWA is constantly assisted by both government and private sponsors simply as it is very active and delivers what it promises. Mr Magro should not blame it on FWA for the failure of his Fort St. Elmo foundation from taking off.
v.pulis
Aug 9th 2009, 15:49
Heritage Malta had proposed a public-private partnership to restore the fort but the project never took off because of lack of funds.
The same old story. How come there are never any funds to restore our heritage?
The same problem exists with fort St. Angelo which is also in dire and urgent need of repairs. No funds are available to restore this unique fort and yet we are proposing to build a bridge leading to the breakwater costing 2.8 million euros! Where are our priorities? What comes first? A bridge to nowhere or the restoration of a historical monument?
"FWA had been lobbying the government to take over the fort for about 20 years."
Why in heaven's name was FWA's offer refused? We know what FWA is capable of. have the authorities ever heard of the proverb Looking a gift horse in the mouth?!
Jimmy Magro
Aug 9th 2009, 13:15
Give the fort to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna as they have taken over all military properties; they sit on all government boards; receive money from all government sources including the good causes fund.
when i set up Fondazzjoni Fort St. Elmo no one from the government ever replied to our emails and accepted our hand of co-operation.
Fondazzjoni fort st.elmo was treated like and E.T. while other foundations in malta are treated like a love partner. This is a tribal society - same as in fundamentalist tribal countries.
Paul Barrett
Aug 9th 2009, 12:54
From the picture, this looks like a lost cause - nature will win this fight and expenditure here would be unrealistic and wasteful.