The time-frame for Maghtab to be turned into a national park that will be completely open to the public has been estimated to be between six and 10 years.

Following an international call for applications, eight companies have now submitted their plans – all of which are themed on green areas, local fauna and alternative energy.

One cannot but help praise the decision to rehabilitate this area and return it to a state of greenery – albeit artificially. Initially, the government was open to various ideas, but in the end decided to make it a green national park.

Also, all the designs aim to make the most of the panoramic view from the top and to encourage activity rather than simple green open space. There are myriad activities that could be staged in Maghtab and we are sure that the various consortia have their own ideas, but there are other organisations that stand to benefit. The government has gone on record saying that it wants activity in the park, so let us explore what could be done to boost existing hobbies that are clamouring for more interest.

The first of which that comes to mind is microlights. Enthusiasts of this form of flying have long been harping on about the need for a landing strip that is not within the confines of the Malta International Airport. Perhaps the Maghtab area would be an ideal staging post where enthusiasts could fly from – offering a spectacle to those who are out for the day. At the same time, this would benefit the enthusiasts as they might encourage more people to take up the sport.

Another which comes to mind is horse riding. Maghtab is as deep as horse country gets in this country – yet enthusiasts bemoan the lack of bridle paths in the area. Again, this could provide more activity in the area while at the same time giving a boost to a sport which, like many others, attracts little interest – mostly due to lack of adequate facilities and the space to enjoy it.

Another aspect related to this could be the setting up of camp sites. There are a great deal of enthusiasts, and while we understand the reasons for not allowing campers to pitch tents willy-nilly, a site just off a main road in Salina does not really provide for the experience of being in the wild.

Biology students (particularly those studying botany) could also exploit the area for their studies and this could be coupled with garden shows for plant and flower enthusiasts.

We must not, however, get ahead of ourselves. There is still much to be done – gases still have to be extracted and the 200 degree Celsius core still has to choked into snuffing itself out. Slowly but surely, we will get there. Maghtab wasn’t built in a day – it would be folly to surmise that we can turn a mountain of rubbish into paradise in the bat of an eye.