Momentum has renewed its calls for transparency following reports that a water bowser was deployed at Ta' Qali National Park during the night to water gravel.
The party described the incident as "deeply troubling", calling it symptomatic of the wider lack of accountability surrounding the park's controversial redevelopment. The watering, allegedly carried out under the cover of darkness, comes after months of public criticism over the decision to replace natural grass with gravel in one of Malta's most beloved green spaces.
Despite a Freedom of Information request submitted more than two months ago, the government has yet to publish any documentation or rationale behind the project.
"This latest act - watering gravel at night - suggests desperation and a disturbing attempt to conceal the environmental damage inflicted on Ta' Qali," said Momentum leader Arnold Cassola. "Instead of engaging with the public or explaining the reasoning behind this transformation, the authorities are resorting to covert actions that only deepen public mistrust."
Momentum warned that what was once a lively park for families, children, and pet owners now risks becoming "a sterile and unsafe environment."
"Green spaces are not luxuries; they are essential for well-being, biodiversity, and community life," Cassola added. "The new video evidence shows the site being secretly watered at night, without transparency or explanation. This is not maintenance-it's damage control done in the dark. Pouring thousands of litres of precious water onto gravel is not only wasteful; it's an insult to citizens who are constantly urged to conserve."
The party said the incident demonstrates the authorities' own awareness that the gravel decision was a mistake. It reiterated its demands for the gravel's removal, the restoration of soil and grass, and accountability for those responsible.
"This mess can still be fixed," Cassola insisted. "The Family Park at Ta' Qali belongs to the people - not to those who believe they can act without consultation, oversight, or respect. Momentum will keep fighting for transparency, accountability, and the restoration of Ta' Qali's natural beauty."
On Sunday, Żebbuġ mayor Steve Zammit Lupi shared a photo taken that afternoon showing the gravel at Ta' Qali. He remarked that while the rest of Malta's countryside is turning green, the park remains barren-grass only appearing in small areas left free of gravel.
"The grass can never grow as it used to," he said. "The only species managing to appear in isolated patches is Bermuda grass (niġem), one of the most aggressive types, which thrives in harsh, dry conditions."