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MALTATODAY 22 September 2019

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JAMES DEBONO THE University of Malta has presented an application for an underground carpark providing 1,023 parking spaces and 3,700 sq.m of commercial facilities. In April 2018, the Planning Au- thority board refrained from tak- ing a decision on the University's proposed sports complex, to give the university more time to con- sider the inclusion of a car park beneath the facility, and incor- porate more renewable energy measures. On 5 September, the board gave the university another four weeks to present an application for the carpark. Speaking to MaltaToday, Gzira mayor Conrad Borg Manché insisted on a firm commitment that the parking facilities will be approved. "We have always insisted that the permit for sports facilities should only be issued if carpark facilities are incorporated in the project," he said. The two-level carpark will be accessed and exited through Ed- gar Bernard street through two separate ramps. The entrance will be aligned to Willie Arena street. The submitted drawings also include the provision of two stores (535sq.m), eight shops (1,140sq.m), two of- fices (1,140sq.m), a cafeteria (530sq.m) including a prepa- ration area and seating area (360sq.m). These proposed facil- ities will themselves require the provision of 100 parking space. According to the case of- ficer the addition of this com- mercial aspect (approximately 3,700sq.m) would require fur- ther assessment by Transport Malta. The application for new sports facilities envisages the demoli- tion of the existing sports insti- tute building and the construc- tion of a new one, a spectator stand with underlying sports research laboratories and the refurbishment of the existing ground and a new eight-lane athletics track. The revised proposal also in- cludes the provision of solar panels on the roofs of the build- ing (83sq.m) and the spectator stand (887sq.m). MaltaToday is informed that the car park will cost a stagger- ing €10 million – 70% of this sum will be paid from the Urban Improvement Fund, whose con- tributions are paid by developers in lieu of lost parking spaces, and is meant to finance environmen- tal and transport projects in dif- ferent localities. In this case, €7 million will be taken from the funds allocated to six localities – namely Gzira, Msida, San Gwann, Sliema, Ta' Xbiex and St Julian's. Gzira would be contributing €1.2 mil- lion, which amounts to 68% of its entire fund. Sliema and St Julian's will con- tribute €2 million each (39% of their funds). The local plan approved in 2006 rules out the development of parking spaces in or around the university campus in a bid to encourage pedestrian and public transport links to the University. But in April, board members pointed out that the increase in the university's population had resulted in the uptake of parking spaces in neighbouring localities like Gzira and Msida. Transport studies had con- cluded that the development of sports facilities would re- sult in a shortfall of 14 park- ing spaces, which was to be ca- tered for in the second phase of the project. But the planning board had in- sisted that not developing a car- park under the proposed facili- ties would have been a "missed opportunity". The question is whether the new carpark will itself encourage more students to use cars. 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWS Fondazzjoni Ċentru għall-Kreattività is launching a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) addressed to individuals, groups and consortia interested in the development and operations of an innovative Catering facility and an art merchandise outlet within its remits at Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier Castille Place, Valletta, Malta. The facilities shall be jointly developed with the Fondazzjoni's expertise in the arts and creativity sector and targeted to commence operations within the second quarter of 2020, jointly with and complimentary to the Spazju Kreattiv programme and other events held at St James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire(PQQ) can be downloaded through Government of Malta online e-tendering portal www. etenders.gov.mt. Candidates may download all details on PQQ document. A clarification meeting will be held on Wednesday 25th September 2019 at 10:00am, Spazju Kreattiv, St. James Cavalier Valletta, Malta. Candidates shall forward details of their representatives (maximum three (3) for each economic operator) on procurement@kreattivita.org by noon of Tuesday 24th September 2019. Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) must be submitted through the Government Electronic Procurement System (e-PPS) by Wednesday 16th October 2019 – 09:30am Central European Summer Time. CONCESSION TENDER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS OF A CAFETERIA, CATERING SERVICES AND ART MERCHANDISE RETAIL OUTLET SPAZJU KREATTIV St James Cavalier, Castille Place, Valletta F O N D A Z Z J O N I Ċ E N T R U G Ħ A L L - K R E A T T I V I T À kreattivita.org +356 21 223200 Spazju Kreattiv St James Cavalier Castille Place VLT 1060 1,023 car spaces for uni sports grounds Gzira mayor demands firm commitment for parking space before sports facilities are approved MASSIMO COSTA MALTA'S sky-high rent costs have outpaced the salaries of a large chunk of gaming industry employees, the head of an as- sociation of gaming companies has said. Enrico Bradamante, chairper- son of iGen, a representative group of the gaming sector that is one of the stakeholders dis- cussing the current rent reform Bill, warned that if the issue is not solved, Malta could end up losing its competitive edge. Bradamante, who is also CEO of Maverick Gaming, said that many gaming sector work- ers at the lower end of the sal- ary spectrum, such as customer care staff and copywriters, were finding it unaffordable to rent property. Such staff made up a consid- erable portion of all industry employees, and the gaming sec- tor offered them higher than average salaries for their line of work, he noted. Despite this, they are still finding it hard to keep up with steep increases in rent prices landlords charge when renewing contracts, he said. "I think the issue of the rental market in Malta is that it's an unregulated problem which is causing challenges for iGaming employees, and consequently for the industry as a whole. It is, I would argue, the biggest con- tributor to the cost of living in Malta and it is something which the government must address, and is addressing, with the new rent law," he said. He underscored that the gov- ernment was being very recep- tive to iGen's concerns and had pro-actively been engaging with the association and listening to its proposals. Bradamante added that he was confident the government would put in place the needed changes to the law. The rent reform Bill is currently passing through the normal par- liamentary legislative process. "I am confident that the re- quired changes will be made, because otherwise the industry would lose its competitiveness… Malta risks losing its competi- tiveness. This is an economic argument, the prices can't con- tinue to rise at this pace, which has outpaced the rise in salaries within the gaming industry," he said. Bradamante will be inter- viewed in the upcoming edition of BusinessToday. Rents outpace wages, gaming boss says Playground office: but now even well-paid gaming workers are feeling the brunt of Malta's rising rental prices

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