Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, several MPs, a handful of ambassadors and representatives of the NGO Nature Trust were present yesterday for the official opening of the Xrobb l-Għaġin nature park, which has been spruced up thanks to an investment of €1 million, co-financed under the Norway and European Environment Agency (EEA) funding mechanism.
The money for the project went towards the conservation of the entire ecological area of the park and the restoration of parts of its existing building for educational and administration use.
A 30-bed hostel has also been built to entice visitors to spend a few days exploring the full extent of the park. The hostel will be run thanks to photovoltaic panels, two wind turbines, solar water heaters and sun pipes which have been installed around the building.
A 1.5km nature trail has been set up with information signs along the way, while over 15,000 trees and shrubs have been planted around the site over the past three years.
All rain water will be collected in a reservoir and all waste water will be processed through a biological treatment plant and transformed into second class water, which will be utilised for flushing and irrigation purposes.
Xrobb l-Għaġin was used extensively for military purposes during and after World War II but earlier still, during the Knights’ reign in Malta, the tip of the park’s jutting peninsula was fortified with a coastal watchtower and entrenchments, which remain intact to this very day.
Dr Gonzi said that the park, which is located on the outskirts of Marsaxlokk, will give this part of the island an environmental boost.
“Just opposite, there’s the Delimara power station,” Dr Gonzi remarked, as he gestured with his hands to the audience, “but this park shows that with careful planning and commitment, there can be a place for nature in even some of the most industrial towns of Malta, such as here in Marsaxlokk.”
He later mingled and shared lighthearted jokes with some of the 200 schoolchildren of different schools who were on a cultural tour of the park at the time.
Minister Pullicino described the park as “a dream come true” and said that it has always been an ambition of his to transform Xrobb l-Għaġin into an ecological and family-oriented park since he was first appointed minister in 2003.
“A few years ago the park was in a disastrous state and was often the target of vandals. However, the government soon realised that this park had too much potential for it to go to waste.”
He added that the government is committed to provide more open and recreational spaces for the enjoyment of the public.
Some recreational spaces which were created in this legislature, Mr Pullicino said, include St George’s Square in Valletta and Malta’s first outdoor gym at Ta’ Qali, while plans to extend the parks in Ta’ Qali and Salini, and the creation of new parks in Mellieħa and around the Magħtab area, are gathering pace.
Vincent Attard, president of Nature Trust, said the park will serve to promote education on the environment and nature conservation.
He praised the estimated 350 people, employed within the MRRA, for working on the project and remarked that works on the second phase of the Xrobb l-Għaġin project, which will involve the creation of a wildlife rehabilitation and fisheries research centre, will commence shortly.