Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1114117
MASSIMO COSTA IF land reclamation is considered, it will not be an excuse to erect "skyscrapers and ho- tels", Jose Herrera has vowed. At least, not while he remained en- vironment minister, he said. In a frank interview with MaltaToday, Her- rera reiterated his be- lief that land reclama- tion could be used to enhance the country's open spaces but insist- ed there were no con- crete plans. A study by the Envi- ronment and Resourc- es Authority to identify sites where reclama- tion could take place with the least environ- mental consequences was not cast in stone, Herrera add- ed. MASSIMO COSTA AN undeveloped area behind the Freeport in Birzebbugia is set to be transformed into a 30,000 sq.m park with 8,000 trees. The afforestation project will cost €400,000, and will see the site in Benghajsa, which was previously ear- marked for an extension of the Freeport, turned into an area which can be used for picnics, camping and tourism purposes The project was an- nounced yesterday by Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi and Environment Minister Jose Herrera. The news comes days af- ter the Prime Minister said that the creation of the largest open space in Malta in a generation was being planned. Joseph Muscat had said the government had vari- ous options regarding what to do with the site, but had decided to turn it into a park. WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post WEDNESDAY • 8 MAY 2019 • ISSUE 637 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY EDITORIAL • PAGE 9 PAGE 3 Out comes the old guard to galvanise the Labour vote Malta study finds over-35s are becoming increasingly 'moderately lonely' LONELINESS ANALYSIS PAGE 4 PAGES 6 & 7 PAGE 3 Developers have been calling the shots for 50 years - Herrera Minister justifies scepticism on land reclamation Shannon Mak murderer showed no emotion on arrest Not on my watch: Herrera says land reclamation will not be an excuse to erect skyscrapers and hotels Jose Herrera vows no land reclamation will be used to build skyscrapers and hotels - at least, while he serves as environment minister PAGE 2 Trees and picnic areas on land previously earmarked for Freeport extension The site in Benghajsa had been previously earmarked for an extension of the Freeport