Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1403840
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 AUGUST 2021 One of them is Alex Muscat, parlia- mentary secretary for citizenship, who is responsible for the funds generated by the golden passport scheme, which will bankroll a new lighting system for the Mosta dome and the proposed garden by the Mosta windmill, all in his constit- uency. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, par- liamentary secretary for EU funds, also takes the limelight for EU-funded projects, while Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield, as chair of the Cottonera Foundation, has €7.6 million at his disposal for much-needed restoration projects in this historical gem. And tourism minister Clayton Bartolo is also re- sponsible for the Foundation for the Development of Tourist Zones. The rush to rehabilitate, upgrade or create new spaces comes amid growing concern on overdevelop- ment, resulting from the extension of building boundaries in 2006 and increased heights enabled by the tinkering on planning rules by the current administration. In Mosta for example, the new 4,000sq.m garden pales in comparison to a proposed five-storey development on two sites of 80,000sq.m of fields. And while ministers take credit for greening pro- jects, they are more reluc- tant in taking paternity on controversial projects like the proposed yacht marinas in Kalkara and Marsaskala, which are being pushed by Transport Malta, the transport regulator. As a general election approaches in 2022, embellishment projects can be expected to become more common as a way of appease con- stituencies frustrayed by the con- struction madness. In announcing a carbon neutral garden in Rinella together with Miriam Dalli, finance minister Clyde Caruana (a second district MP), announced that the next budget will have more funds allo- cated "to embellish our country, and above all, create more open spaces." But in a bid to ensure swift ap- proval of these projects, they have been exempted from the need of a planning permit thanks to a le- gal notice published earlier in the year, creating a new class of devel- opment which does not require any planning permission. Fast-tracking embellishment pro- jects Such projects include greening projects by government agencies, the installation of playing equip- ment within greening projects, green projects on schemed roads, the resurfacing of pavements with paving blocks and the installation of green walls. They are not subject to manda- tory public consultation, perpet- uating the top-down approach of ministers taking decisions. Although largely beneficial to the public, their design can be as controversial as is the case with the proposed garden in Mosta in a space which already includes a green space in and of itself. The proposed introduction of a playing area and a kitchen garden in one of the presently closed citrus groves in the Romeo Romano gar- den in Santa Venera – which is also part of Aaron Farrugia's constitu- ency – received a mixed reception, especially from those who value the garden as a place of contemplation. Although such projects are exempt from seeking a plan- ning permit, prior approval has to be obtained from the Superintendent of Cultur- al Heritage for sites within Urban Conservation Areas and scheduled sites. Prior approval from ERA is need- ed for the uprooting of trees. For example, although an upgrade of the Romeo Ro- mano gardens in Santa Ven- era –including the introduction of a playing field in a closed part of the garden – was announced three months ago, plans had to be changed following consultation with the SCH. A spokesperson for the SCH confirmed with Mal- taToday that the latest drawings submitted to the Superintendence are "for a reduced and toned-down proposal from what was origi- nally proposed". Interventions will have to be reversible, and natural materials sympathetic to the architecture of the gar- den will be used. The latest proposal has been deemed ac- ceptable from a cultural herit- age point of view. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Seven garden projects proposed by ministers in their own constituency in 2021 Romeo Romano in St Venera Playing field in reopened part of garden Minister: Aaron Farrugia Constituency: Farrugia contests 1st District which includes Sta Venera and Hamrun Agency: Greenserv Investment: €1 million Mosta 'Cikku Fenech' garden Garden in 4,000sq.m field Ministers/PS: Alex Muscat Constituency: Muscat contests the 11th district which includes Mosta Agency: National Development and Social Fund/Greenserv Investment: €1 million Embellishment of Zurrieq Belvedere Bedding of plants along 700m Belvedere Minister: Miriam Dalli Constituency: Dalli contests the 5th district which includes Zurrieq Agency: Parks Malta Benghajsa family park Benghajsa Family Park will cover 60,000 square metres of land Minister: Miriam Dalli Constituency: Dalli contests 5th district which includes B' Bugia Agency: Parks Malta Investment: €4 million Gnien ir-Rinella Malta's first carbon-neutral park, with self-sufficient irrigation systems and an emissions-free experience. Ministers: Miriam Dalli and Clyde Caruana Agency: Parks Malta Constituency: Caruana hails from 2nd District Investment: €1 million Sir Alexander Ball garden in Safi Restoration of Sir Alexander Ball Garden in Hal Safi. Minister/PS: Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi Agency: European funds managed by the Gal Xlokk Foundation Constituency: Zrinzo contests 5th district which includes Safi Investment: €216,000 Embellishment of Ghadira bay Embellishment of roundabouts, planting of more trees and a 1.2km footpath route Minister: Clayton Bartolo Agency: Foundation for the Development of Tourist Zones Constituency: Bartolo contests 12th districts which includes Mellieha. Investment: €2 million Ministers of embellishment: Aaron Farrugia, Ian Borg, Miriam Dalli, and Alex Muscat, all had a wade in some sort of 'urban greening' deliverable, a sign of growing concern over recreational areas amid rampant overdevelopment as a general election looms closer. Many of these ministers launched projects which touched on their constituent bases