Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516098
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Submit your application COURT CLERK (MALTA COURTS) Aġenzija għas-Servizzi tal-Qrati Prospective candidates must have an 'O' Level standard of education and must be in possession of ECDL/ICDL passes in modules 2, 3 and 4. The salary for the post of Court Clerk is pegged to the Court Services Agency Grade 7. At 2024 rates, this is equivalent to €15,487 per annum, rising by annual increments of €350 up to a maximum of €18,637. Newly engaged Court Clerks start from Step 3 of this Grade, i.e. €16,187 per annum. This full-time post is on an indefinite basis and is subject to a probationary period of six months. Candidates must also be proficient in the Maltese and English Languages Candidates are to submit their letter of application, their qualifications and experience in a Europass Curriculum Vitae Format, a copy of their relevant scanned certificates and a valid Police Conduct Certificate by e-mail on recruitment.courts@courtservices.mt. Further information and a comprehensive description of duties can be obtained by contacting the Court Services Agency on recruitment.courts@courtservices.mt. Applications will be received till Friday 1st March 2024 at 13:00 hrs. Eligibility JobsPlus Permit No. 337/2021 THE pruning of the 145 majestic ficus trees lining Valley Road will be undertaken in three phases to mitigate the impact on roosting birds. The method statement for the works, which are due to start short- ly, was drawn up following exten- sive consultation with stakeholders undertaken in the past months. One-third of the trees will be pruned over the next two months, another third will be pruned be- tween July and August, while the final third will be pruned in Febru- ary 2025. A report prepared by a qualified arborist recognises the environ- mental importance of the trees, describing them as "living public resources" with the forest canopy having intrinsic value due to its shade-casting properties, which are an integral part of Birkirkara's natural heritage. Moreover, the canopy that has gradually developed at the site serves as a roost for birds while harbouring an ecosystem in a heavily urbanised zone. Night pruning to minimise traffic disruption One issue was to avoid major disruption for roosting birds. While Birdlife had recommend- ed pruning should be carried out during daylight hours after the birds have left their roosts and before they return in the evening, Infrastructure Malta insisted that works had to be carried out at night after the evening rush hour as it was not in a position to block a major traffic artery during working hours. Although a final decision was tak- en to carry out the works at night, to mitigate the effect on roosting birds, the works will be carried out in stages to ensure that the canopy will always be present. "This will allow birds to move to nearby un- pruned trees, whilst the phasing of works will allow already pruned trees to regrow enough foliage to serve as roost alternatives." While underlining the ecological importance of the trees, the report also acknowledged that certain trees require hard pruning due to their impact on the structural sta- bility of buildings. Tree canopy overhangs houses, offices The report refers to concerns by residents and business owners, not- ing that the tree canopy has spread wide enough to "overhang people's houses, apartments, and offices," and water sprouts are hanging dan- gerously onto the road, reducing the berth for vehicular and pedes- trian access along the kerbs. More- over, some trees may be subject to windthrow and thus require heavy pruning to avoid dangerous situa- tions. In fact, the first phase of the works will also see the pruning of all branches and foliage which are three metres from properties along the whole length of the road, with the works being carried out over a number of nights to minimise the impact on birds. The first phase will also see the pruning of all water sprouts along the whole length of the road, with the provision that this work will commence at one end of the ave- nue to the other in order to allow for free and proper pedestrian ac- cess. Intruding branches that inter- fere with vehicular access will also be pruned to 6 to 6.5 metres above the road level. Works covered by nature permit The works are covered by a na- ture permit issued to Infrastruc- ture Malta by the Environment and Resources Authority last year, following which a tender was awarded to contractor Nicholas Mizzi, who commissioned a pro- fessional forester and arborist to oversee the works. Consultation meetings were subsequently held with the Birkirkara local council, residents, and Birdlife Malta to de- termine the main issues to be taken into consideration in the pruning exercise. The trees lining this main thor- oughfare linking Msida to Birkirka- ra were planted in the early 1960s and are now close to 60 years old. However, the trees' canopy has not been pruned for some years, lead- ing to overgrowth and, in some cases, causing problems with resi- dents' properties. Valley Road tree pruning: Plan devised to minimise impact on birds Pruning of the 145 Valley Road trees will be conducted in three stages to minimise the impact on roosting birds