Mr D. J. Muscat
Talks concerning the replacement of the St James Hospital in Zabbar commenced with Malta Environment and Planning Authority many years back and preliminary reports for the construction of a new hospital in Tarxien, on its border with Zejtun, were submitted in 1999.
The strategic location of the new hospital was a prime and important issue and Mepa required several sites to be studied in order for them to evaluate and choose the best location that would fit all the stringent policies in relation to hospitals.
Other sites investigated were:
Luqa, Kirkop, Marsa, Hal Far, Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, Mqabba, Qrendi, Limits of St Lucia, Zurrieq, Marsascala, Zabbar and Ghaxaq.
After the arduous process of selecting the site in Tarxien, Mepa consulted with various entities – the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Water Services Corporation, the Environment Protection Department, the Museums Department, Enemalta, the Health Department and the Drainage Department.
Following long negotiations and the submittal of thorough reports, Mepa issued an outline development permit for the construction of this hospital on 29 October 2002.
The deed of acquisition for the title of the land was signed on 19 October 2006 and, as per the contract conditions, a full development permit application was filed with Mepa.
The local architectural firm Martin Xuereb and Associates and Politecnica, a well-established Italian firm based in Florence that specialises in hospital developments, collaborated on this project and after several proposals had been worked on, the clients’ vision of a modern, innovative and cost-effective hospital was met, final plans were drawn up and a call for tenders will be issued imminently.
While waiting for the full development permit to be approved, and in an attempt to expedite work on this development, an excavation permit was applied for and issued by Mepa and excavation work commenced on 15 September.
The excavation permit stipulated many conditions, as well as a bankers’ guarantee of e60,000. The most important condition was to have the site continuously monitored by an archaeological team who would then liaise directly with the relevant authorities, that is, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) and Mepa. This continuous liaison was deemed necessary since some historical tombs of minor importance had been found on this site back in the 1960s, when the site was first developed as a milk factory and subsequently changed to a sausage factory.
The archaeological team has been monitoring the site on a daily basis and work has proceeded well in cooperation with the excavation contractor.
After all the top soil had been removed in sections, as required and agreed to in the Construction Management Plan (CMP) submitted to Mepa, the archaeological finds on site were examined, cleaned, studied and surveyed by the archaeological team. Various site meetings were held with the representatives of the SCH and a letter on the methodology of procedure was issued by the SCH, which has been strictly adhered to.
Work on this high-tech and much needed hospital to replace the present one in Zabbar will resume as soon all the requests set out by the SCH have been complied with and all the necessary green lights are given by the competent entities.
Dr Josie Muscat