It is a pity that the harbour regeneration plan that was announced with such ceremony by the erstwhile Public Investment Minister Dr Austin Gatt three years ago has been scaled down. When the plan was announced, everyone agreed that Dr Gatt, a resident of ‘the City’ knew best how to augment Valletta‘s faded values. Furthermore, the pet idea of Valletta’s regeneration had the undisputed advantage of being administered by him, the same Minister who gave birth to the ubiquitous SmartCity project.
But three years down the line there is a crunch to the fulfilment of this dream, as the top priority is to cut the deficit. Sceptics warn us that starting such an ambitious capital project with our legacy of unbridled cost-overruns and delays is always a risky venture, although it is true that a superior effort is necessary to protect our fragile heritage. Only last month Dr Gatt announced alternative plans which included infrastructural work to upgrade and conserve a number of maritime assets including a €10 million refurbishment of the Marsaxlokk breakwater and spending another €23 million on a major upgrade of the deep-water quay at Marsa. Smaller projects involve the alignment of Lascaris Wharf and major developments along Barriera and Boiler wharfs. This project, when completed, will provide three new berths for big cruise liners. As can be seen further on in this article, the original plan included the renovation of a major part of the inner harbour area. But times are hard and, instead, Dr Gatt has proposed a modest and scaled-down project.
One may remember the hype just before 2008 elections when both parties jumped on the bandwagon and extolled the virtues of restoring the Citta Vecchia (“built by gentlemen”). Three years ago, both political parties were enthusing about plans to regenerate the inner harbour. Ample coverage in bold headings was given to the news by the media, with the ambitious master plan including 20 new capital projects based on research conducted by Mimcol. These projects were listed in the Grand Harbour roadmap and the public rejoiced that the energetic Austin Gatt was in charge of the project.
One of the original projects included a far-sighted plan to remove all heavy industrial activity from the Senglea side of French Creek, with the existing quay being upgraded and converted into a new cruise liner terminal. In a positive turn of events, we have seen The Three Cities enjoying a major boost from cruise liner tourism, which is growing year on year. Perhaps this is another good reason why the harbour regeneration idea should be revisited. Romantics will ask if increased patronage from visiting cruise liners would revive the traditional dgħajsa service from and to the city. This train of thought leads naturally to other ideas connected with the improvement of access and the mobility of visitors to the area. It is a pity that Mepa rejected the cable car project proposed by the Viset Consortium that would connect Pinto Wharf to Valletta. If approved, this modern method of mass transportation would provide a fast and scenic service for visitors. Travellers to Asia will recall a similar cable car system linking Sonoma Island to the Singapore mainland. There is no doubt that the original plans can be modified by Viset to respect the surroundings and a fresh application can then be submitted to Mepa. Once the cable car is in operation it will certainly improve accessibility into and out of the city. Another plan linked to the Grand Harbour upgrade was the conversion of Dock No. 2 to be used for the repair and maintenance of super yachts, extending the current super yacht operation which is now restricted to Dock No. 3.
Dockside areas that are now part of a privatised operation in Cospicua are neglected and subject to high levels of deprivation. This is a scar on the landscape that welcomes so many cruise liners visiting the Island. And on this subject, it is an open secret that cruise liner agents have been making a case for more facilities to enable larger ships to reach port, as the current quay is practically operating at full capacity. The Viset consortium that runs the terminal has often publicly lamented the fact that they have had to turn down business because of a lack of space. Perhaps this is the sin of our success.
The Harbour Project also included the restoration and rehabilitation of various buildings, the upgrading of public areas and the possible demolition and redevelopment of specific buildings. It goes without saying that serious urban design is a crucial factor in providing easy access for both visitors to and residents of the glorious city. Perhaps more street furniture and public spaces will be restored to revive the city which, unfortunately, has few visitors after the shops have shut. It is accepted that, due to the limited funds available, this restoration can only be a long-term plan, but the first step on a long journey is very important. Little did we realise how the privatisation of the Cottonera waterfront by a consortium has resulted in heavy investment that has successfully renovated its lovely palaces and provided a yacht marina of international standards. All this has happened since 1998. There is a lot to do and much more capital is needed to finish the job, with several buildings requiring immediate intervention, as a result of their present state of decay – some having been extensively damaged during WWII.
It is sad to ponder how the rhythm to redevelop the area has slowed down.
We could wake up one morning and witness a transformation linking Rinella to a completed SmartCity complex that is in turn linked to the Cottonera and Valletta waterfronts as one contiguous development. We are warned not to repeat the mistake of approving permits to over-develop the coastline – just stop and consider the overcrowding that mars the Tigné Point coastline as seen from the Valletta side. One could say that this is the price the country has to pay for the restoration of the fort on Manoel Island. But not all is doom and gloom and we find that the magnificent Casino di Venezia is now occupying a restored Scamps Palace, where patrons can gamble leisurely in its former glory. The hotel adjacent to the Casino is slowly taking shape, but one has to question the wisdom of issuing permits to build the unsightly apartments at the end of the street, with a façade replete with ugly grey steel girdles facing Fort St Angelo.
However, we must be thankful for small mercies. History tells us how, 13 years ago, a contentious Cottonera Waterfront project (now fully implemented) prompted a no-confidence vote in parliament that eventually brought down the Labour government. So now that we can rejoice in the splendour of both Valletta and Vittoriosa waterfronts, are we to freeze the inner harbour restoration project? The answer is a resounding No, even though such redevelopment can take a long time, even decades. Any large-scale conservation project will inevitably stimulate the regeneration of a key area. It is a difficult task for architects to design a historical revival linked to functional considerations of a busy 16th-century city boasting of an active cruise liner terminal and various promenades teeming with multifarious commercial, cultural and leisure activities.
Yet, even in the times of the Knights of St John, when the GDP was nowhere what it is today, no expense was spared and the best architects were engaged to erect fine palaces and auberges in baroque splendour. Our ancestors bequeathed to us a jewel of a fortified city and it is now our responsibility and duty to restore it for the enjoyment of future generations.
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The writer is a partner with PKF,
an audit and business advisory firm