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MW 24 August 2016

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8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 AUGUST 2016 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA Malta lacking serious afforestation plan, report finds PAUL COCKS MALTA has yet to implement a serious afforestation exercise and to fully embrace large-scale ecological restoration projects, according to a report drawn up by ecology experts Louis F. Cas- sar and Elisabeth Conrad. The report notes that despite several afforestation initiatives over the years, there was no consolidated national effort to extend the coverage of wooded areas in a coordinated and sys- tematic manner for both conser- vation and social ends. The report – commissioned by the environment ministry and now opened to public consulta- tion – was launched by environ- ment minister Jose Herrera on Tuesday. "It would have been unwise for me not to action this report, which will complement other developments aimed to increase Malta's natural capital and which will be announced in the coming weeks", Herrera said. The minister said he believed the report – which also gives de- tailed information on the present situation of tree planting in vari- ous sites and localities in Malta – could definitely serve as an overarching vision and philoso- phy for actual and effective im- plementation of an afforestation strategy. The report proposes a series of phases and actions that need to be taken, and which the minister said would make a marked dif- ference to Malta's natural capital. The government is looking to create a smaller version of Buskett grounds (pictured) in the centre of the island Mtarfa housing estate residents living in danger as tender gets held up Attorney General still mulling whether to take legal action against architect behind faulty Binja Buqana housing estate after damning inquiry was completed last February TIM DIACONO RESIDENTS of a notoriously un- safe housing estate in Mtarfa are still living in danger and incon- venience, despite years of com- plaints, inquiries and political pomp, and recent repair works that cost €3 million. Pictures recently seen by Malta- Today clearly show severe cracks in the ceiling of Binja Buqana, pieces of concrete that had fallen off the balconies, and sewage wa- ter leaking out of the f loor. Mal- taToday is also informed that the lifts in the estate are both out of service. The apartments were built in 1994 and sold at subsidised prices as part of a government scheme, and its residents first f lagged cracks in the building just two years later. However, their complaints had fallen on deaf ears at the Hous- ing Authority and the architect who designed the estate, Paul Camilleri, had repeatedly denied allegations that the structure was faulty. The incumbent Labour gov- ernment pounced on this case to highlight the inefficiencies of previous PN administrations, and issued a €4 million tender docu- ment for repairs on the building. The tender closed at the start of July, but Social Solidarity Minis- ter Michael Farrugia told Malta- Today that it is still at evaluation stage "due to the complicated nature of the technical adjudica- tion". "The [repair] works are to start as soon as the technical adjudica- tion is complete and the tender awarded," he said. "This process depends on various factors, name- ly the clarification responses of the bidders. Once works start, the whole project is expected to take 35 weeks." When asked whether immediate action will be taken to safeguard residents in light of the falling concrete, leaking sewage and faulty lifts, Farrugia said that the Housing Authority will take ac- tion on structural repairs while "non-structural issues" have been left in the hands of an association of Binja Buqana residents. Farrugia also confirmed that the Attorney General is still mulling whether to take legal ac- tion against Camilleri, a former president of the Chamber of Ar- chitects, over a damning inquiry report. "It's a very complicated legal matter," he explained. The minister ordered the in- quiry last year, after consultants from engineering firm Arup con- firmed that the buildings were in need of urgent structural work and posed a safety risk to resi- dents and passers-by. In some cases, areas of roof concrete had been prodded and pieces up to a metre in size had fallen. Other problems included beams that had not been properly covered with concrete and fallen to effects of humidity. The inquiry, headed by retired judge Philip Sciberras, concluded its findings in February this year, upon which the government or- dered urgent structural works at a cost of around €3 million. Back then, Farrugia had con- vened a press conference to an- nounce that the inquiry had uncovered clear shortcomings, including "incompetence, irre- sponsible conduct, a laissez-faire attitude, the use of inferior ma- terial that didn't conform to the tender documents, and a lack of adequate professional surveil- lance". However, he refused to publish the findings so as to safe- guard the residents' commercial interests. "While the government will not shoulder civic responsibility for the shortcomings of previous Na- tionalist administrations, we feel that it is the state's duty to take the initiative to ensure that all necessary repairs are carried out," Farrugia said. "The families living in the estate have been left in the dark for several years, and we will now put their minds at rest that their health and safety are being safeguarded." tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Severe cracks in the ceiling at the Binja Buqana housing estate in Mtarfa Sewage water leaking out onto the ground floor at the Binja Buqana housing estate

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