Work has started on a €2.1 million project to rebuild the Ta' Mlit reservoir in Mosta, with the aim of reducing flooding in the area, increasing water storage capacity and eventually creating a new recreational space for residents, the government said Monday..
The project, being carried out by the Department of Public Works, will involve demolishing the existing reservoir and rebuilding it with a stronger structure. The new reservoir will be excavated to a greater depth and will have the capacity to store more than four million litres of water.
The investment was announced during a site visit by Local Government and Public Works Minister Alison Zerafa Civelli, accompanied by Stephen Bonello, Director General of the Works Division within the Department of Public Works, and Mosta mayor Joseph Gatt.
Zerafa Civelli said the project reflected the government's commitment to addressing residents' needs and investing in infrastructure where it was most needed.
She said the works would respond directly to concerns in the area by helping to reduce flooding, strengthening infrastructure and providing a new space where families could spend time together.
The existing reservoir needs to be rebuilt because of several structural and level-related problems, particularly affecting its roof. The new structure will consist of concrete columns and roofs, while the deeper excavation will allow it to collect and store a greater volume of water.
Public Works Department Director for Coastal and Stormwater Mario Ellul explained that the rebuilding was necessary to address the problems affecting the current reservoir while increasing its storage capacity.
The water collected will be used to irrigate trees and plants in various locations, contributing to more efficient use of water resources.
The reservoir works are expected to be completed within 60 weeks. Once these are finished, Project Green will proceed with the construction of a proposed garden above the reservoir, providing a new recreational area for residents in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Mosta mayor Joseph Gatt described the project as important for the locality, saying it would address one of the challenges faced by residents while creating an opportunity for environmental improvement and additional community space.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between the government and the local council in delivering projects that produce tangible and sustainable benefits for residents.
The project is one of the commitments included in the government's electoral manifesto and is being implemented during the first months of the current legislature.
When completed, the development is expected to combine improved stormwater management with increased water storage and a new public garden, creating infrastructure intended to serve both environmental and community needs.