The promised Labour plan never materialised and the government beat the Opposition yesterday in the race to announce the much-touted plan for the regeneration of Grand Harbour.

Grand Harbour thus becomes the next frontier, not just for the intra-party bickering on the way to the general election, but more importantly the next frontier for the economic and heritage and environmental regeneration of the country starting, as indeed it should, from what has historically always been the core of its history and development – our Grand Harbour.

It is indicative that the government’s 20-point plan not only does not include, but actually excludes property development and speculation on any part of Grand Harbour, such as has been the fate on the other side of the Valletta peninsula and, indeed, of most of Malta and Gozo.

The government aims at regenerating Grand Harbour by reinforcing the national identity and promoting the geo-strategic importance of Malta’s natural harbour.

There are five main pillars around which the 20 projects will be structured:

Tourism

• A cruise liner terminal in Senglea where tourists can land to tour Cottonera (on the French Creek side), taking land at present used by the Dockyard for Dock Number 2.

• VISET to be extended to Barriera Wharf (to Customs House) thus providing two more berthing places.

• A promenade will be built providing a continuous seaside passageway all the way from Ricasoli to Senglea.

• A new yacht marina will be sited in Kalkara Bay.

• A five-star hotel will replace Boffa Hospital.

Culture

• The degraded Menqa area will be turned into an upmarket tourist area while anything to do with the pumping of fuel will be relocated to Ras Hanzir. This should lead to a corresponding upgrade in the whole surrounding Marsa area.

• Fort Ricasoli, at present almost completely empty, will be turned over to the production of films and the audiovisual industry, in synergy with the nearby SmartCity and Mediterranean Film Studios.

• Villa Bighi will be completely rebuilt and renovated aiming to become the headquarters for an international organisation, attracted to the site by its inimitable location.

Maritime services

• Increased facilities for super-yachts. These will be sited along the Senglea side of French Creek, taking the space now occupied by Dock Number 3 and extending the present super-yacht facility of Malta Shipyards. This activity will be completely hived off from the rest of Malta Shipyards.

• The Tank Cleaning Depot using part of the Ricasoli bastions will be wound up and relocated elsewhere, even offshore.

• A commercial maritime park, a technopark for maritime industries, will be opened in the site formerly used by Marsa Shipbuilding, aimed at small engineering firms and the like, using common infrastructure.

• The MCAST Maritime College will be extended down from its present Villa Portelli to the seashore, thus providing the harbour with a new focal point.

• A centre for maritime services will be created around the Menqa area.

Environment and recreation

• The Marsa Power Station will be closed down by 2015. This will be a great opportunity to develop the site and to create gardens where today there is dust, dirt and neglect.

• Rinella Valley will be afforested and the existing scrap yards relocated.

• Rinella Bay will be upgraded such as has been done, for instance, at St George’s Bay.

• An area providing facilities for small boats will be created on the Vittoriosa side of Kalkara Bay.

Industry

• SMEs to be concentrated around Ix-Xatt tal-Mollijiet (near Bezzina’s Shipyard)

• There will be more berthing facilities built: a new quay at Ras Hanzir, under Corradino Heights, and a reconstructed Deep Water Quay.

• An area for tug boats and their needs will be created under the present Power Station hill, at the juncture of il-Moll tal-Knisja and il-Moll tal-Pont

Consultations will take place from now till December, Minister Austin Gatt announced. The Grand Harbour Regeneration plc has been registered and a new law will be passed in Parliament.

This proposal does not exclude, but rather builds on, what is being planned with regard to Dock Number One, the vertical connections project and other ongoing projects.