A historic wartime shelter currently administered by the Land Authority has been leased to the Kalkara local council for a five-year period. The property, located at the San Ġużepp steps in Kalkara and measuring about 330 square metres, will now be maintained and conserved by the council as a site of historical and cultural significance.

The intention is to transform it into an educational and community attraction that preserves collective memory and commemorates the experiences of those who lived through the war.

The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, stated that the project represents an important step in safeguarding national heritage. Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli noted that cooperation between government entities and local councils can convert historic sites into places of knowledge and respect.

Robert Vella, Chief Executive of the Land Authority, explained that the Authority's priority is to administer public property in a way that directly benefits the community. The lease to the Kalkara council gives new value to a site of historical and cultural importance

The Mayor of Kalkara, Wayne Aquilina, said that this acquisition will help strengthen awareness of the hardships borne by the local population during the Second World War. He remarked that the shelter, long forgotten and hidden near Villa Portelli, will eventually be opened to the public for the benefit of both residents and visitors.

The agreement was signed by Robert Vella for the Land Authority, Mayor Wayne Aquilina for the Kalkara Local Council, and Acting Executive Secretary Etienne Scicluna.