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6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 NOVEMBER 2025 ANALYSIS A collective of 194 artists including painters, ceramicists, bronzists, sculptors, photographers and others. The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta Maltese Association _______________________ 24th October to 14th November 2025 St John's Cavalier Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 6.00 pm Sundays 10.00 am to 1.00 pm Order of Malta National Art Exhibition "Fragments of Memory" Clay and Wood 34 x 23 x 9cm Silvana Magro Bowsers seen watering Ta' Qali park during the night after criticism on gravelling resurfaces MOMENTUM has renewed calls for transparency after reports emerged that a water bowser was sent to water gravel at Ta' Qali National Park dur- ing the night. The party described the inci- dent as "deeply troubling" and symptomatic of a broader lack of accountability surrounding the park's controversial rede- velopment. The incident, allegedly taking place under cover of darkness, follows months of public out- cry over the decision to replace natural grass with gravel in one of Malta's most popular green spaces. Despite a formal Freedom of Information request submitted more than two months ago, the government has yet to release any documentation or justifica- tion for the project. "This latest act—watering gravel at night—suggests des- peration and a troubling at- tempt to mask the environ- mental damage inflicted on Ta' Qali," said Momentum leader Arnold Cassola. "Instead of en- gaging with the public and ex- plaining the logic behind this transformation, the authorities are resorting to covert actions that only deepen public mis- trust." "Once a vibrant space for fam- ilies, children and pet owners, the park now risks becoming a sterile and unsafe environ- ment", the party said. "Green spaces are not luxu- ries; they are essential to our well-being, biodiversity and community life," Cassola add- ed. "The new video evidence shows the area being secretly watered at night, behind every- one's back and without any transparent explanation. This is not maintenance—it is dam- age control done in the dark. Pouring thousands of litres of precious water onto gravel is beyond embarrassing; it is an insult to every citizen who is urged to conserve." Momentum said the incident reflects the authorities' aware- ness that the gravel decision was misguided. The group called for the removal of the gravel, the restoration of soil and grass, and accountability for those responsible. "This mess can still be fixed," Cassola said. "The Family Park at Ta' Qali belongs to the peo- ple, not to those who think they can act without oversight, con- sultation or respect. Momen- tum will continue to fight for transparency, accountability and the restoration of Ta' Qali's natural beauty." MaltaToday tried reaching out to Jason Micallef on Tues- day morning, but he did not respond. MaltaToday has also sent questions to the Public Works Ministry. On Sunday, Żebbuġ mayor Steve Zammit Lupi posted a photo taken on Sunday after- noon of the gravel in Ta' Qa- li. He said that while the rest of the Maltese countryside is starting to take on a green ap- pearance, in Ta' Qali this is not the case. Grass is only growing in the small patches of the area where no gravel was laid. "The grass can never grow as it used to," he said. "In fact, the only grass species growing in isolated patches is Bermu- da Grass (niġem), one of the most aggressive species (which grows in harsh and dry condi- tions." He quoted a MaltaToday in- terview with arborist Jonathan Henwood, who said: "Cover- ing the picnic area with grav- el intended to tackle the dust problem will only further im- poverish the soil, by effectively 'sterilising it'." Zammit Lupi said it was a major mistake to dump gravel in the area, but the authorities still have time to reconsid- er this. "Get your hands dirty, remove the gravel, expose the soil and give it good treatment. Then leave nature to recover and regenerate without further delay." KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Bowsers were filmed watering the area during the night just days after criticism over the area's gravelling resurfaced (Photo: Video uploaded by Arnold Cassola)

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