The topic of energy in the past few weeks and months has been very topical, particularly from the political and economic facets. We have all noticed the debates across the EU and how the impact of energy prices affects our economies. We are at an exciting juncture. Yet we need further messages of stability and decisive action to disregard. We have a full agenda that we need to address, and the energy efficiency issue in buildings is significant to the government. We must also take action to see that the impact of surging energy prices is kept to a bare minimum, if not negligible.

 

We must also take action to see that the impact of surging energy prices is kept to a bare minimum, if not negligible. 

 

However, there is a bigger picture: our commitment to decarbonising our economy. And we have to look at this from various angles, not only about the amount of fossil fuel we use. It is about the way forward to ensure continuity and economic activity, to instil growth in our economies, and to ensure that we provide what families and people need. But at the end of the day, we must always bear in mind that we have a clear focus, that we have a clear goal, and that the goal is undisputed. 

 

Interestingly, in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, with increased teleworking, we have seen a jump in greenhouse emissions because of the greater use of our homes. Only 40% of energy is consumed inside the buildings, and buildings are responsible for no less than 36% of greenhouse gas emissions – undoubtedly a sizable amount. The buildings that we use could be more energy efficient. 

Did you know that 75% of the building stock in Europe is not energy efficient? 

The general sentiment around the building and construction industry yearns for improved quality not just in design and aesthetics but also building techniques and materials.

There have been many changes in how we live and work, and more changes are necessary to address the climatic changes we face. We also must look at the new directives that are being introduced, as well as directives that are already in force and how we intend to act upon them to achieve the established objectives, and we should ask an obvious question. Where do we stand? 

The general sentiment around the building and construction industry yearns for improved quality not just in design and aesthetics but also building techniques and materials. Earlier this morning, I had an opportunity to address a press conference tied to budget measures.

As well as our ministry’s plan to update to see that this sector evolves, an essential aspect of the evolution that is necessary for the construction and building sector is buildings that are more energy efficient on two levels, the newly built and the retrofitting of older ones.

One of the roles the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) plays is this education, and we have started several initiatives in this regard.

We need to understand that there is a need for a paradigm shift in how we plan and develop our living spaces. We need to make people more aware of the importance of energy efficiency in buildings, a matter that needs to be addressed in both existing (or old) buildings, not only in newly built ones.  One of the aspects that I like to communicate when I discuss the sector is that for too long in our country, we have always looked at the construction and the real estate sector from the supply side. We need to ask what the consumer’s position is – a missing factor that has given rise to several missed opportunities in the field. 

 

It is high time that consumers buying a property know the energy efficiency levels and property. The supply side will understand that it is time for a change when the consumers ask these pertinent questions more vigorously and continuously. So, it is high time that consumers know that there are rights related to energy efficiency in this regard. 

It is high time that consumers buying a property know the energy efficiency levels and property. (…) So, it is high time that consumers know that there are rights related to energy efficiency in this regard. 

One of the roles the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) plays is this education, and we have started several initiatives in this regard. In this respect, we have also increased the tempo of our media campaigns and are working with the Ministry for Energy to support our message through legislation.  Once the Legislative framework is in place, we have the challenge of compliance. I will be delving into this further, even considering other changes that we are noticing and being stated over time. 

 

The establishment of the BCA – which focuses on the holistic quality of our buildings – was an essential change in the Maltese construction ecosystem. When we discuss this sector, most of the time we talk about the Planning Authority, we speak about planning permits, but we need to start having a broader view and discuss the quality of these buildings. 

Consumers need to be more aware that we could achieve higher and better-quality levels. In that case, we must ensure that all players in the various construction sector have the essential technical and professional skills to practise in their respective fields. The time for amateurism is over. So, it is not merely a question of just legislation; it is not just a question of government. We will only succeed once we bring everyone on board with the ultimate good aims.

Retrofitting to maximise environmental sustainability is a distinct type of industrial activity within the construction sector, one which will give rise to new business opportunities in this specialised sector. 

I don’t believe in a revolution that happens overnight but in a gradual evolution. We have to evolve into having a better building stock. One of the initiatives my ministry has taken in the past few months, which I saw when I was still Parliamentary Secretary responsible for European Funds, is the retrofitting of Project House.

This building was commissioned by the Public Works Department in the late 80s or 90s. Still, by today’s standards, it has a poor energy efficiency standing and is crying for a retrofit. It will cost €4 million to upgrade this building; however, the Public Works Department and the Ministry see the retrofitting of this block as an opportunity to showcase best practices in the field, an example of the kind of eco-friendly projects we need in Malta.

Soon, energy-efficient buildings will benefit from higher financing opportunities. If they are going to make such a change, banks need to explain how they intend to make it. It would be a significant loss if banks were to take such decisions without considering the holistic approach and impact while our building stocks are at such a high level.

Retrofitting to maximise environmental sustainability is a distinct type of industrial activity within the construction sector, one which will give rise to new business opportunities in this specialised sector.

It is crucial not just for the government but for the whole economy and the whole sector and a way forward to ensure sustainability both from an environmental point of view and an economic and financial side of things.

Abou a week ago, I participated in a conference organised by KPMG wherein a bank official mentioned that banks are considering that when financing loans, they intend to take into consideration the qualities of a building and its energy efficiency when evaluating alone and the cost of a loan. Soon, energy-efficient buildings will benefit from higher financing opportunities. If they are going to make such a change, banks need to explain how they intend to make it. It would be a significant loss if banks were to take such decisions without considering the holistic approach and impact while our building stocks are at such a high level. 

Banks expect higher quality buildings and limited carbon footprint levels to finance projects, so we must understand that the time has come to change our methods and update our practices. 

The financing world expects higher quality buildings and limited carbon footprint levels to finance projects, so we must understand that the time has come to change our methods and update our practices.

As stakeholders, our noble objectives can only be achieved if we work together and take positive action today.

The Ministry for Public Works and Planning always welcomes initiatives and events that serve as a platform for information, debate, and an exchange of best practices. It is precisely for this reason that I was delighted to be invited and be part of an excellent panel of speakers at the First International Built Heritage Conference in Malta, organized by the Chartered Insitute of Building in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Construction Management.

Since early school days, children are taught that Malta as an island came to be from sedimentary rock. It was cast by the elements, it sustained natural changes, weather conditions, and persisted, only to come into being. It is the quarried limestone that has shaped our architecture since time immemorial. Politically, the island passed from one ruler to another, who all impressed their own cultural traits on the Maltese community, left traces in the language that the community speaks, and prominently left marks on the architecture around us.

We are, indeed, what we went through, as a nation and as a country aesthetically. The types and forms of buildings around us, as foreign visitors often comment, immediately give the feeling that there was a long and winding history which brought us to this present moment. And that, in fact, is a perfect summary. It is also my view that, we have the tendency that our nature feeds on its physical surroundings. In that as much as we as humans, feed on the social interaction we are exposed to, we also feed from our physical space which we orbit.

Why is all this so important? Because our surroundings should be reflecting ourselves, our lifestyles, our needs, our nature as humans, and as Maltese. It is this heritage that shall lie at the basis of the route we shall designate into the future.

The preservation of historical landmarks is not merely done in tribute to our past but serves as a resounding expression of our identity.

We owe it to our ascendants, as much as we owe it to future generations. Historical architecture reflects our own experience and nature as a nation; thus, it shall also inspire the built environment we design for the present and the future. The present general mindset is rightly set on quality – quality of life, quality landscapes, quality environment – and rightly so. People expect and yearn for quality.

It is essential, to make sure the new spaces we are creating – whether built or open – are made with these principles in mind, but at the same time, there is also so much quality around us, which we inherited from past generations, which can impart a handful of lessons. Lessons in design, space utilization, airways, and insulation together with other features which make for an energy-efficient building.

It is with this mindset that our public authorities, most prominently, the Planning Authority, but also the newly set Building Construction Authority, regulate first and implement schemes to preserve and to cultivate private buildings of historical value. We are decisively acting to update and upgrade the construction sector with a clear objective to ensure better quality all round, we must ensure further restoration initiatives as well as adapt and embrace new buildings technologies to address present and future challenges. They are the path to quality, beauty, and above all sustainability in the face the change in climate.

The government is increasingly supportive using the carrot, rather than the stick, to enable private operators’ preservation of the architectural beauty of our island, and through it project our future. First time buyers today, are not simply encouraged to buy a property, but through significant grants, they are guided to opt for properties in the Urban Conservation Area, inside village cores. They are even more supported if they choose to purchase houses, closed which would have been closed and unused for years.

Whilst the central government is there to support, it is also there to lead by example in this sector. The process of restoration was indeed spearheaded by public entities which in the last years invested to regenerate the value of old buildings distributed around the island and render them useful once again to the public.

 

I still remember the days when the Southern parts of Valletta, were in a derelict state. Nobody imagined, the huge positive impact that the repurposing of the Old Abattoir could practically change the scenery but also the feeling of the area. The project is inspirational in the way it gave a new life to the building.  The intervention did not drastically change the nature of the structure. From a disused dodgy place, today it offers an inimitable space for local artists, for events as the Design Cluster become a location integral to the cultural scene of Malta which also boasts a beautiful garden accessible to the general public.

Lower Valletta offers a new vibrant experience today. The holistic project undertaken that was spearheaded by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation under my chairmanship. An EU funded regeneration project that was devised to add value to the whole region – turned derelict buildings into usable communal spaces and public housing, rendering in a cleaner, more pleasant environment that is socially useful.  I can mention other projects, inside or outside the harbour area. Whilst the process varies, the end remains the same. An old building was dying a natural death and with it, its story was perishing. Each project regenerated the same building and complemented it with sensitive design interventions. Each project is based in the principle of sustainability – especially environmental but also social and cultural.

Abandoned sites were turned into airy, beautiful public spaces. For public places aren’t only empty squares, but places where people interact, express themselves, and come together. The Government shall not relinquish its role to lead by example in this area. It shall also not stop increasing the private sector’s capacity to do the same. The preservation of our architectural landmarks retains value and adds value, and we intend to keep creating such value with a view to improved quality of life, touristic product and for the sake of beauty itself. Creating such value depends on alliances with educational institutions to train experts and instill a skillset which is then reflected in a quality-built environment around us.

It is essential that we continue to invest in capacity building. The protection of our heritage also depends on ensuring more expertly trained professionals in all aspects and related sectors to provide to provide the highest level of excellence.

One must also underline the extensive work carried out by the Planning Authority to schedule historical buildings in order the ensure the highest level of protection. As part of the planning the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage is extensively consulted. This is another means of ensuring protection to our architectural heritage. We can’t hinder progress. It all goes back to the planning process itself, which, in acknowledging and safeguarding the historical value of an old building, must find ways to permit a new sustainable use of such building. I am proud to see that funds collected from the planning process itself are being invested directly in the restoration of old buildings and breathing new life into them.

These initiatives need to be further buttressed by a vibrant and informed debate on an updated aesthetics policy for new buildings and other projects. It is essential that all stakeholders engage positively in forging a way forward to ensure that we respond positively to the concerns that are being expressed.

I strongly believe that beautiful architecture may come at a greater cost yet definitively gives a higher value to our urban environment.

Kemm ili attiv fil-politika dejjem emmint li l-kuntatt man-nies huwa l-aqwa mezz biex politiku jkun jista’ jifforma opinjoni dwar x’inhuma l-ħtiġijiet u l-preokkupazzjonijiet tagħhom u b’hekk wieħed ikun jista’ jaħdem u jirsisti biex jara li x-xewqat tan-nies jitwettqu.

Nafu li din hija sfida kontinwa għaliex it-tmexxija tal-pajjiż ikollha quddiemha strateġija għall-pajjiż kollu u waqt li tkun qed tmexxi tkun trid tiżen xi jkunu l-prijoritajiet tal-pajjiż fiċ-ċirkostanżi tal-preżent.

Hawnhekk irrid nirrimarka li d-dinja bħalissa reġgħet tinsab fi kriżi propju f’dan iż-żmien meta nistgħu ngħidu li konna bdejna nieħdu ftit tan-nifs wara li għaddejna mill-kriżi tal-pandemija. Bil-kemm konna għadna neħħejna r-restrizzjonijiet kollha li ġabet magħha l-pandemija li ma bdejniex inħabbtu wiċċna mal-gwerra bejn ir-Russja u l-Ukrajna. Fuq din il-gwerra s’issa nafu biss meta bdiet u l-ħerba li qed iġġib magħha iżda kif se tispiċċa u meta, għadna ma nafux. Anzi jidher li t-theddida li l-affarijiet jistgħu jeskalaw qegħda hemm u nittamaw li jsir sforz ġenwin għall-paċi bejn iż-żewg naħat.

Waqt li għaddej dan kollu, d-dinja qegħda tħabbat wiċċha ma’ kriżi fil-qasam tal-enerġija kkaġunata mill-istess gwerra li ġabet magħha skarsezza partikolarment fil-provvista tal-gass fil-kontinent Ewropew. Hija ħasra li dawn il-provvisti bdew jintużaw bħala arma li tista’ ġġib ukoll tbatija lil ħafna popli fid-dinja. L-iskarsezza ġabet magħha għoli tal-ħajja qawwi fid-dinja kollha għaliex ħafna pajjiżi kellhom jitfgħu il-piż taż-żidiet fil-prezzijiet tal-enerġija fuq in-nies li bdew jaraw il-kontijiet tad-dawl tagħhom jisplodu. Intrapriżi mad-dinja kollha bdew jgħollu l-prezzijiet tal-prodotti tagħhom għaliex l-ispiża tal-produzzjoni kibret immens minħabba ż-żieda fil-prezz tal-elettriku. U għandna wkoll lill-Unjoni Ewropea  tħeġġeġ pajjiżi Ewropej biex jieħdu miżuri ħalli jnaqqsu l-konsum tal-enerġija fix-xhur kesħin tax-xitwa li ġejja u dan ukoll mistenni jġib tbatija.

B’għażla għaqlija, f’pajjiżna għandna gvern għaqli li għalih il-kwalita tal-ħajja tan-nies tiġi qabel kull kunsiderazzjoni oħra. Wara l-miljuni kbar ta’ Ewro li l-Gvern nefaq biex issussidja l-pagi ta’ eluf ta’ ħaddiema waqt il-pandemija, ma ddejjaq xejn li għal darb’oħra jerġa’ jinvesti miljuni kbar f’sussidju biex il-poplu Malti u Għawdxi baqa’ jgawdi minn prezzijiet tal-enerġija stabbli li ma ħolqu l-ebda skossi għall-ekonomija tal-pajjiż. Il-Gvern wiegħed li se jikkumpensa lill-familji Maltin għall-għoli tal-ħajja u fil-budget li ġej huwa mistenni li jingħataw il-kumpens sħiħ maħdum skont il-mekkaniżmu maqbul bejn l-imsiehba soċjali kollha, magħruf bħala COLA. Il-Gvern mhux se jonqos li jgħin ukoll lil dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli fosthom il-pensjonanti.

Dejjem emminna bħala gvern li m’għandniex naddottaw politika ta’ awsterita li bosta pajjiżi Ewropej qed jaddottaw fiċ-ċirkostanżi tal-lum, partikolarment pajjiżi mmexxija minn gvernijiet konservattivi u tal-lemin. Hekk kien jemmen ukoll Gvern Nazzjonalista qabel l-2013 meta l-politika tiegħu ta’ awsterita, b’kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma għoljin b’mod esaġerat fost affarijiet oħra, ġabet magħha staġnar ekonomiku tant li spiċċaw il-leġislatura b’aktar minn 8,000 ruħ bla xogħol.

Il-politika tal-Gvern Laburista ta’ investiment kontinwu fin-nies ġabet magħha il-ġid u tkabbir ekonomiku bla preċedent tant li llum stess, minkejja l-kriżi tal-pandemija u issa l-gwerra bejn ir-Russja u l-Ukranja, għandna l-inqas rata ta’ qgħad fl-Ewropa. Għandna nkomplu f’din it-triq ħalli nkomplu noħolqu l-ġid u nużawh bil-għaqal favur in-nies anke f’dawn iż-żminijiet diffiċli.

Huwa essenżjali li nkomplu nisimgħu lin-nies ħalli nkunu nafu mill-qrib x’inhuma l-aspirazzjonijiet. L-akbar għajnuna li nistgħu nagħtu bħalissa huwa li nkomplu mmexxu fid-direzzjoni li nżommu l-istabbilita fil-prezzijiet tal-enerġija u ngħinu kemm nistgħu lil dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli biex il-kwalita’ tal-ħajja tagħhom tibqa’ waħda tajba u fejn inkunu nistgħu, intejbuha wkoll.

Il-Maltin u l-Għawdxin għandhom aktar minn prova waħda kemm Gvern Laburista taħt it-tmexxija tal-Prim Ministru Robert Abela, huwa gvern li jieħu d-deċiżjonijiet u jeħodhom b’għaqal tant li wara noħorġu aktar b’saħħitna minn qabel. Dan huwa mument ieħor importanti fejn se tkun it-tmexxija għaqlija li tgħinna nsalpaw ‘il barra mill-għawġ ta’ dawn iż-żminijiet biex wara nkomplu mexjin ‘il quddiem u nsostnu l-kwalità tal-ħajja għall-familji Maltin u Għawdxin.

The Chamber of Engineers organized the 29th Annual Engineering Conference Sustainable Development Goals: An Engineering Perspective. This conference addressed the challenges and opportunities that engineers are facing in order to achieve the goals in favor of sustainable development according to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Among these we find the sanitation and supply of clean water, affordable and clean energy, industry and innovation, sustainable cities and communities, and responsible consumption and production.

“The change that the country wants to make towards an economy that is almost free of emissions is central to the development of the economic model of the future.”

As Minister of Public Works and Planning, it is refreshing to meet the engineering community at this moment. This event’s focus, justifiably, is on Sustainable Development, and the timing couldn’t have been better.  This is a golden opportunity for the engineering community and its stakeholders to come up with and discuss technical and engineering solutions to Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Engineers play a vital role in addressing basic human needs, alleviating poverty, promoting secure and sustainable development, responding to emergency situations, reconstructing infrastructure, bridging the knowledge divide, and promoting intercultural cooperation. We all have deadlines, expenses, targets, and competition. Yet the issue of sustainability is no longer a cliché mentioned by companies to look cool and contemporary. Like it or not, only those who adopt a sustainable business model will survive.

We must all understand social and environmental constraints and not just conform to financial necessities. When business or greed are allowed to lead in development, we face severe consequences, and today’s environmental woes are a case in point. As engineers, your profession has played and continues to play a critical role in the future of sustainable development. Whether building new products or working on technologies that will revolutionise our future, you are instrumental in designing, architecting, and devising how products, goods and services are delivered and consumed.

For development to be tenable, engineers must incorporate ‘sustainability’ into all the planning and engineering of products and projects. Technology is neither good nor bad in itself – it is how we apply it that determines whether balance is achieved. According to leading American engineering professor and author Bill Kelly: “social responsibility is not a new issue for the engineering profession. It is fundamental to defining engineering as a profession. Following the concept that the outward part of an engineer’s social responsibility affects public policy, the engineering profession is challenged today to help define social responsibility as part of defining the principles and practices of sustainable development.”

“… the time for action is now.”

Clearly, the time for action is now. We cannot safeguard our economic progress and momentum unless environmental protection is inbuilt into our decision-making process. This requires a paradigm shift in our approach to future development. We can no longer afford the business-as-usual approach. We need new methods and the reallocation of investments, particularly in innovation, research, and development in those areas where we need to improve most.

We must shift towards a green and inclusive economy, achieving equilibrium between environmental protection and economic development whilst ensuring that future growth is socially sustainable. This is even more necessary in these challenging times.

Let’s look at the construction and planning sectors in Malta, for instance. Malta’s Sustainable Development plan envisages the strengthening of how we look at our dwellings, how environmentally sustainable our houses are, how much heat they attract and retain, how humid they are and how many resources we can save if they are designed better. The Building and Construction Authority springs to mind here together with the whole real estate sector.

More importance to environmental impact and renewable energy aspects. Priority needs to be given to those projects whose operations are working towards carbon neutrality.  The whole real estate sector needs to up its game in this regard. Establishing the Building and Construction Authority in 2021 was an important milestone that marked our government’s commitment to bringing the necessary change forward. This authority is spearheading the creation of a construction eco-system, embracing good governance, policies and tailormade practices that support networking platforms promoting compliant and sustainable buildings.

The EPC certification shouldn’t be underestimated. Soon, the energy efficiency of a property and the size of a property’s carbon footprint will directly affect qualification for bank finance, and the cost of such financing for instance. Just think about that! One must recognise the inputs from engineers in the construction and property sector, for instance – and how much their insights and ability can help create greater awareness and develop energy-efficiency solutions in buildings.

Engineers must champion the drive for sustainable development in Malta. It would help if you pinpointed where there are things which need addressing. Engineers must also come up with practical solutions. Your skills and knowledge are very much needed to help expedite the country’s sustainability challenges. There are processes where the role of a warranted engineer should be mandatory by law, so your say as a professional is essential – especially on some issues concerning construction, manufacturing and projects affecting public health and safety. This a discussion that I intend to carry out with the Chamber of Engineers.

We need to see more engineers in government institutions and authorities and those key economic sectors where your expertise will make all the difference. This is a time which we can consider as an opportune moment for the engineering profession to change a challenging situation into an opportunity for growth. But we also need to make sure that along the way we shall have, at the technical and professional levels, the right competencies ready to take-up these challenges. Capacity building is also a priority. The Engineering Profession  needs to be promoted further. People must be made more aware about engineering projects, learn more about the Chambers’ work and events and get to know its members. The younger generations need to be made aware of the opportunities that this profession offers.

Malta cannot succeed in its 2050 UN Sustainable Development Goals target without the help of engineers. One expects to see more participation of engineers not only in industry and business but also in the regulatory sector. We look at the engineering community for ideas, guidance, and vision. Your profession can help create new opportunities for retrofitting existing buildings to become more energy efficient.

We need engineers to ensure that our country continues to enjoy safe, clean water (Goal 6) and sanitation for all, help source out sustainable energy sources (Goal 7), and develop resilient infrastructure (Goal 9) and liveable cities (Goal 11).

Contingency planning against the risks of natural disasters and climate change is also an essential part of Goal 11. Engineers are key in designing and building resilient and sustainable infrastructure for our cities. The transition to a low-carbon economy is central to Malta’s future economic development model. A low-carbon economy can be a win-win situation for all those concerned. Achieving these targets will need integrated engineering solutions that provide resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, and access to the latest communication technology.

There’s quite a lot to do, as you can see. The government has ambitious plans and acknowledges that it needs to set the pace and act as a role model. Businesses and professionals are expected to take advantage of favourable economic policy towards low-carbon investment, which in turn shores up the competitiveness of the country and contributes to lower emissions and improved air quality and health benefits.

Malta’s vision is to align itself with the pace the EU intends to take. The European economy must make drastic cuts in emissions which will see a reduction of up to 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Such cuts will be progressive, with interim reduction targets of 40% and 60% by 2030 and 2040, respectively; this can only be possible without fundamental changes in consumption and production patterns and improved utilisation of resources which are already integrated into the modus operandi by other sectors, not least energy, transport, buildings, industry, and agriculture.

Meeting all the sustainable Development Goals is quite a tall order for any country, not least a small island like ours. We must muster all our human talents and professions, bringing all hands on deck to ensure we don’t miss the boat. This event offers us the opportunity to learn about the work in the various fields affecting sustainability, discover what other European states are doing, and follow in their footsteps. At the same time, we will discuss how the engineering profession can help make a difference in this world.

I congratulate the Chamber of Engineers on its effort to become a stronger beacon for the engineering profession in Malta. Malta recognises the hard work and dedication of the engineering community. Coincidentally, I take the opportunity to commend Ing. Michelle Cortis, who this month was elected to the Executive Board of the Federation of Professional Engineers, which gathers leading engineering bodies in Europe. The Chamber of Engineers offers hope for future generations, and I am most happy to collaborate with you to help make our future greener and more carbon-neutral!

Il-prattika tal-konservazzjoni hija bbażata fuq il-valuri offruti mir-riżorsi tal-wirt arkitettoniku għal individwi, gruppi, komunitajiet u gvernijiet differenti. Iżda x’nifmhu eżatt b’konservazzjoni? X’importanza għandha fil-valur kollettiv tas-soċjetà tal-lum? Mingħajr ma nidħol f’teknikalitajiet, nistgħu ngħidu li fl-aktar forma sempliċi, l-konservazzjoni tinvolvi l-protezzjoni u l-manutenzjoni b’mod sistematiku u pjanat ta’ oġġetti, strutturi jew valuri li fil-kuntest storiku tagħhom, jixirqilhom rikonoxximent fuq bażi nazzjonali.

Dawn huwa propju dak li d-Dipartiment tax-Xogħlijiet Pubbliċi għadu kemm wettaq permezz ta’ investiment ta’ €600,000 fir-rinnovazzjoni tal-Pont ta’ Gomorino – ġawhra arkitettonika oħra fiċ-ċentru ta’ Malta li tlestiet fl-1900 bħala parti mill-estensjoni għal-linja tal-ferrovija li kienet topera f’Malta għal kwazi 50 sena.

Il-ħsarat li saru matul is-snin kienu konsiderovoli fosthom fejn tidħol l-istruttura nnifisha. Għalhekk ġie deċiż li jinqala’ l-wiċċ eżistenti kollu u jsiru l-pedamenti tat-triq li tgħaddi minn fuq dan il-pont. Sar ukoll it-tisħiħ tat-truf tal-parapett fejn tneħħa l-ħajt preċedenti u sar railing tal-ħadid adegwat biex tiżdied is-sigurtà filwaqt li xorta waħda tkun tista’ titgawda l-veduta.

Minn barra it-triq saret ukoll bankina ġdida biex tintuża minn dawk li jħobbu jmorru jimxu f’din iż-żona. Is-servizzi eżistenti ġew mgħoddija minn taħt l-istess bankina filwaqt li ġiet installata sistema ta’ dawl moderna u aktar effiċjenti. Tajjeb li nsemmu li dan ix-xogħol sar b’osservazzjoni kontinwa tal-pjanti oriġinali li fuqhom inbena dan il-Pont u li d-Dipartiment għandu f’arkivju ta’ pjanti kbir ġewwa Project House, il-Furjana.

Madankollu, l-importanza storika ma kinitx l-unika raġuni għala ntagħżel propju dan il-pont għal dan l-investiment. Il-pożizzjoni tiegħu bejn l-Imtarfa u l-Imdina ukoll kienet fattur importanti li ġie kkunsidrat minħabba l-fatt li dan il-pont joffri aċċessibiltà kemm għal karozzi kif ukoll għal min iħobb jmur jippassiġġa fl-akwati. Ma nistgħux ukoll ma nsemmux il-valur estetiku ta’ dan il-pont li jikkumplimenta l-ġmiel naturali tal-Wied tal-Għeriexem.

B’portafoll ta’ proġetti li jvarjaw minn dawk komunitarji sa dawk nazzjonali bħalma hu l-Malta National Park, id-Dipartiment tax-Xogħlijiet Pubbliċi qed ikompli jkun ta’ servizz u qed iwettaq ħidma siewja madwar pajjiżna kollu. Għaldaqstant, nieħu din l-okkażjoni biex nirringrazzja lil dawk kollha li kienu involuti kif ukoll lil Kunsill Lokali tal-Imdina tal-kooperazzjoni fit-twettiq ta’ dan il-proġett.

Permezz ta’ proġetti ta’ dan it-tip irridu nkomplu nagħtu dehra ġdida lill-aktar opri arkitettoniċi ta’ pajjiżna biex jitgawdew mill-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri. Inħares ‘il quddiem għall-aktar impenn biex grazzi għall-entitajiet kollha li jaqgħu taħt il-Ministeru għax-Xogħlijiet Pubbliċi u l-Ippjanar, nkomplu nwettqu proġetti li jkomplu jtejbu il-kwalità tal-ħajja tan-nies.