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18 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 NOVEMBER 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Project Green has announced three major park redevelopment projects across Malta, with a combined value exceeding €5 million Project Green issues €5 million in tenders for three new parks IN just 16 days, the government's urban greening agency, Project Green, launched three tenders valued at over €5 million. The tenders are for three pro- jects with a combined area of 38,800sq.m, roughly equivalent to the size of five football pitches. The three projects – Għaxaq Picnic Area, Mqabba Family Park, and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq Park – are co-funded by the European Union under the Rural Develop- ment Programme for 2014-2020. The individual tenders include the following works: site clear- ance, excavation, civil works, con- struction of new paths, construc- tion of sanitary facilities, finishing works, installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services, installation of street fur- niture, installation of outdoor play equipment, planting of indigenous trees, and maintenance services. Ghaxaq picnic site A Project Green spokesperson told MaltaToday that the Għax- aq Picnic Site project aims to re- habilitate and restore the natural area at Taż-Żebbuġ, located on Triq L-Andar. The project, with a budget of €1.4 million, will cov- er 24,950sq.m and is designed to improve the quality of this green space while preserving its ecologi- cal and scientific significance. The government has issued a tender for development works, with a submission deadline of 17 December 2024. "The project aims to enhance the environmental resilience of Taż-Żebbuġ, a valuable natural asset for the local community, promoting ecological stability and contributing to biodiversity con- servation," the spokesperson said. This project will create a public recreation area while preserving the existing habitat. Key features will include a water cistern for sustainable water management, newly developed walking paths, and picnic tables with waste re- ceptacles. The project will also provide public amenities to improve the visitor experience, enhancing ac- cessibility and comfort for out- door gatherings. The developers plan to complete the project in 2025. Bahar ic-Caghaq Park Project Green's Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq Park in Naxxar will transform a 5,600sq.m area, located between a residential neighbourhood and the coast road, into a fam- ily-friendly green space. A ten- der has been issued for the park's development, with a submission deadline of 29 November 2024. The €1.6 million project will in- clude a picnic area, walking track, children's play area, and an open- air theatre. By preserving existing indigenous trees and introducing 575 new ones, a spokesperson said the project will establish a 3,500sq.m woodland canopy, pro- moting ecological resilience and biodiversity. "Sustainability is central to the park's design, with 90% of mate- rials sourced responsibly to min- imise environmental impact. The park will feature 220 metres of environmentally friendly walking and cycling pathways, encourag- ing active lifestyles. These features underscore Project Green's com- mitment to sustainable urban de- velopment and the integration of recreational facilities with natural beauty," the spokesperson added. Mqabba Family Park Spanning 7,241sq.m in the ODZ (Outside Development Zone) area of Tal-Mitħna, this site – formerly a quarry and now a dumping ground – is being rede- veloped into a new green space. With a budget of €2.1 million, the project aims to restore the ar- ea's ecological value. A tender for works has been issued, with a sub- mission deadline of 17 December 2024. A spokesperson said the project seeks to create a woodland en- vironment that improves biodi- versity and ecological resilience. By focusing on afforestation, the project will convert the area into a thriving green space that offers environmental benefits for both wildlife and the community. "The park highlights the advan- tages of outdoor, nature-based recreation, promoting children's mental, social, and physical de- velopment. Features will include an interactive insect and bee ho- tel, a story nook, play mounds, a ping-pong table, and informal pathways to encourage imagina- tive play. Green-roof canopies will provide shelter for nature-themed play equipment," the spokesper- son said. Sustainable water management systems, including an under- ground water reservoir and bi- oswales, will collect rainfall runoff and reuse it for irrigation. The project is due to be complet- ed in 2025. From top: the Ghaxaq picnic site, the Bahar ic-Caghaq Park and the Mqabba Family Park