Electricity from the new gas-fired power station will start being produced in the “summer months”, according to the Prime Minister but the Birzebbuga community remains without a fixed date.
Joseph Muscat confirmed the broad deadline during a Cabinet meeting held in Birzebbuga this morning in the presence of mayors from the region.
The issue was raised by Birzebbuga mayor Kevin Barun, who asked for confirmation that the power station would be up and running in the summer.
Before entering the meeting, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was reluctant to give a specific date for electricity production, when asked by journalists. He insisted construction works would be ready in May.
He said there will be a period of testing and commissioning. The power station would working during the summer, he said, adding it would curb harmful emissions.
On the Freeport, the Prime Minister said Cabinet had no intention of waiving any planning gain contributions imposed on the company by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Dr Muscat said the Freeport was important for the country but residents’ pleas had to be heard too.
The Birzebbuga mayor said the council wanted the Freeport to stop works between 10pm and 6am since the noise emanating from the port was disturbing residents. He also called for a marina at St George’s Bay and recreational facilities to replace the old gas depot in Qajjenza.
Cabinet ministers heard mayors raise various local issues such as poor roads but Transport Minister Joe Mizzi got a reprieve from the litany complaints on pending roadworks when the mayor of Qrendi thanked him for ensuring the locality was served with four buses.
Nurses racket
The mayor of Safi, Johan Mula, raised concern over what he described as “a racket” of nurses employed on the public payroll, who on their own initiative were offering old people the possibility of taking their blood samples at home against a €10 charge.
His complaint was confirmed by Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia, who said this was a widespread practice and nurses were using government property.
The Prime Minister asked for more details and said the matter would be investigated further to determine whether there was any breach of public service conditions.
Lack of funds
Siggiewi mayor Karol Aquilina reiterated complaints by other mayors that a major problem for councils was lack of funds for capital projects.
He called for a government commitment to increase the budget for local councils and sustain increases for three years, which would help them plan ahead.
Dr Aquilina also called for the area around id-Dar tal-Providenza, a home for the disabled, to be declared a special area of protection to ward off major projects – the relocation of 12 farms to the area and a race track – that are threatening the serenity of the place.
The Nationalist mayor acknowledged improvement in the bus service but insisted punctuality remained a major problem.
He also called for the local enforcement system to be administered by the councils.
No surprises
Dr Muscat said the complaints raised did not come as a surprise and welcomed positive feedback on changes to the public transport system. He insisted Transport Malta had to act as a regulator and the emphasis now was on improving punctuality.
On lack of funds, Dr Muscat said some of the councils had committed funds under project schemes they entered into three years ago that have left them without additional funds.
Dr Muscat said the government wanted to start speaking to councils on the creation of “green pockets” within the localities that served as recreational areas for residents.