Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543739
DIN l-Art Ħelwa council mem- ber Daniel Cilia has welcomed the decision to hand over Gozo's abandoned Qbajjar Battery to the NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa for resto- ration and management. Speaking to GozoToday, Cilia described the decision as a "dream come true," saying it follows 19 years of dedicated effort. He add- ed that there are already plans for the site once restoration is com- plete. According to Cilia, the battery could serve as an excellent venue for concerts as well as other cultural events. The decision fol- lowed a meeting at Auberge de Castille between Din l-Art Ħelwa President Pat- rick Calleja, the Prime Minister, Minister Ow- en Bonnici, and other mem- bers of Din l-Art Ħelwa. During the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the work being carried out by the NGO, and discussions also touched on the future of Fort Tigné. Ministers Clint Camill- eri and Owen Bonnici then made the announcement on Tuesday on Facebook. Constructed by the Knights in the early 18th century, the Qolla l-Bajda Battery formed part of a chain of coastal defences. It re- mains the only surviving artillery battery of its type on Gozo. Last year, attention was drawn to the Grade 1 scheduled land- mark as it had been subject to neglect, deterioration, and van- dalism. In April 2023, Din l-Art Ħelwa said that despite the government's pledge to transfer the property to the NGO, delays in the process were so prolonged that urgent restoration works risked coming too late, by which time the build- ing could be destroyed. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2026 • ISSUE 086 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt €1.00 CONTINUES PAGE 3 THE Water Services Corpo- ration (WSC) has suspended New Water production in Gozo after illegal discharges of farm slurry into the public sewer network disrupted op- erations at the island's sewage treatment plant. "The dumping of farm slur- ry into the public sewer is a breach of applicable waste and water regulations and causes direct harm to criti- cal national infrastructure," WSC said. "Anyone caught doing so will be processed for damages." Qbajjar Battery to be given to Din l-Art Helwa Farm waste dumping forces WSC to halt Gozo new water production CONTINUES PAGE 6 Din l-Art Helwa council member Daniel Cilia (inset) welcomed the decision to give the Qbajjar Battery to the NGO