Community Greening Grant Will Transform Derelict Spaces Into Vibrant Green Areas In Malta And Gozo
A community greening grant worth €10 million has been announced, enabling local councils in Malta and Gozo to revitalise abandoned or concrete areas in community spaces.
The grant, provided by Project Green, will facilitate the transformation of these derelict spaces into green open areas with educational or sports facilities that cater to the needs of the communities.
This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to increasing open spaces and ensuring that every individual is within a 10-minute distance from such areas.
Prime Minister Robert Abela emphasised the importance of community involvement in the selection of projects.
He stated, “It is clear that people want these projects. The choice on which projects we chose to invest in was done by the communities themselves.”
The prioritisation of highly urbanised zones reflects Project Green’s objective to allocate €700 million over seven years to urban greening projects, fulfilling the government’s commitment to increasing open spaces.
Environment Minister Miriam Dalli hailed the initiative as the largest scheme dedicated to the local environment in recent years.
Within a span of just four months, Project Green opened 32,000 square meters of public space, showcasing its significant impact on the local environment.
The first tranche of funding will be used to convert a cumulative area four times the size of Floriana’s Granaries into green spaces by 2025. Local councils will spearhead the projects, with support from NGOs such as Hospice Malta, Grow 10 Trees, and BirdLife Malta.
Here are some notable proposals that highlight the diverse range of initiatives:
- Santa Venera: Hospice Malta plans to transform an abandoned site into a public garden adjacent to their new palliative care centre.
- Mtarfa: The Mtarfa local council will establish the Fruit Forest project, converting a concrete-surfaced site near a local housing estate into a community garden.
- Birkirkara: A new educational garden, managed by volunteers from Grow 10 Trees, will feature a nursery of indigenous flora and a life seed bank to foster future green spaces.
- Mosta: The Reggie Cilia garden, situated behind the Mosta Rotunda, will be upgraded to include refurbished sports and community facilities, promoting alternative mobility.
- Triq il-Għasel, Mellieħa: The Mellieħa Local Council will transform a derelict area currently used as a dumping site into a public garden.
- Ħal Għaxaq: A neglected woodland in Taż-Żebbuġ will be rehabilitated into a public picnic area with improved walking paths and accessibility features, including cycle lanes.
- Msida: Pjazza Victor Denara will be transformed into a greener area outside a nearby school, providing space for outdoor educational activities.
- San Pawl il-Baħar: An inaccessible woodland next to the Simar Nature Reserve will be opened to the public, featuring sustainable picnic and walking areas managed by BirdLife Malta.
- Marsaxlokk: The Tal-Kavallerizza area will witness the development of new woodland, enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
- Gżira: A small green pocket next to one of Gżira’s busiest bus stops will be revived, offering residents a tranquil space.
- Għargħur: Sports Malta will create a new public park focused on various physical and sports activities for different age groups and mobility difficulties.
- Bormla: An underutilised garden near De La Salle College will be transformed into an educational green open space.
Do you think that Project Green is a step in the right direction?
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