The €5 million rehabilitation of Chadwick Lakes aimed at restoring it to its optimal state is projected to be completed by the end of next year.

€4.3 million come from European Union funds for Regional Development.

With the project’s planning permission for rehabilitation and restoration works had been approved earlier in the year, the works will include removing debris and silt deposits and restoring existing dam’s storage capacity, whilst rebuilding banks and retaining walls in an environmentally-friendly way.

Other primary elements of the project include the restoration of the valley ecology to high status, the reinstatement of the ecology balance, and water conservation.

Speaking from a press conference on-site, Minister for Energy & Water Management Joe Mizzi explained that the area will be able to contain more than 100 million litres of water, which he said would be enough to cater for 3,000 individuals in one year.

He added that 5,000 trees will also be planted in the area.

Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia encouraged the use of natural resources and said that this project would benefit both locals and tourists.

Rabat mayor Sandro Craus celebrated the project as a dream come true for locals after having chased various administration year on year for them to intervene.

A brief from the Planning Authority had said that the valley has a historical wealth dating back to Punic Times and the Knights of St John.

“More recently, the potential of water storage of this valley has been recognised by British engineers with the first experimental dam built in 1884. Most of the original infrastructure designed by Lord Chadwick have been left unmaintained and are presently in a derelict state. Therefore this project plans to valorise the British period infrastructure.”