Work on the Family Park at Marsascala was shoddy and only aimed at ensuring the park was opened by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi before the last election, Minister Leo Brincat said today during a visit.

He said that in view of the never ending list of shortcomings, the Management Efficiency Unit was to carry out a thorough investigation. The ministry was also appointing a review team to go through the process which led to the development of the Sant Antnin Waste Recycling and Power Generation plants.

Studies which had been carried out would be analysed, including those on air quality and environmental health. The best way of tackling the shortcomings would then be analysed.

Mr Brincat said that the review team would be led by Edward A. Mallia and its members would be environmental law expert Louisell Spiteri and environmental expert Alan Pulis.

The minister said that the project had been initiated by Wasteserv, which should also have been responsible for its conclusion.

Inspire had offered to administer the project and employ people with special needs in the process, but it was never given any reply to the business plan it had been asked for and presented.

The management of the park had instead been passed on to the Government’s Parks Section, and its employees were only given spoken instructions.

€700,000 a year were needed in operating costs to manage the park, a sum that was never identified by the previous government and which the section did not have.

Once the Management Efficiency Unit report was complete, the government would take action for the park to be managed professionally and any commercial rentals would be done in a transparent manner and according to law, Mr Brincat said.