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 The
race for the best ideas on how to regenerate the inner harbour area
has been the clarion call to woe voters championed by both elected
parties. It has been gathering momentum months ago. It serves to
capture the imagination of party spokesmen vying for votes. Now that
the election is over, and reality has set in, can we risk doing
something in haste? The answer is a resounding no. Again can we
afford to indulge in an expensive capital behemoth. Well, the
prognosis for 2007/8 looks promising so now is as good as ever. The
next seven years should bring ?850 m in E.U funds.
The economy last year expanded by 3.8 per cent on a year earlier.
Growth was generated mainly by higher net foreign demand, as exports
rose while imports declined. Consumption also had a positive impact
on growth, even though it expanded at a slower pace. Tourism is on a
five year high, thanks mainly to partial financing of low cost
airlines. This augurs well for us to embark on an ambitious plan
which includes converting Sir Boffa cancer hospital into a five star
hotel. The foul-smelling Marsa power station will be phased out.
Surely regenerating the entire inner harbour area is a monumental
task and deserves serious planning ,a holistic solution . It
involves urban mobility and possibly better education of some
depressed areas yielding the lowest literacy rate such as Marsa and
Bormla. For town planners ,it is a geographic and spatial planning
opportunity and may be integrated with the regeneration and
redevelopment nodes in the City and around the Inner and Outer
Harbour precincts. The common issue most waterfront cities share
across Europe is the decline of traditional port activities, such as
cargo handling and fishing, and as a result the consolidation of
business in fewer and larger ports. Evidently politics will came
into play in this sector prior to elections.
 Then
as well, with I-thought-of-it-first as the rope for yet another
tug-of-war. Now that the electorate have given its mandate to the
Nationalists, the chicks came home to roost. Promises will be
honoured in good time, one hopes. It is amply clear that all this
merits extensive consultation with interested parties . No prizes
for guessing who earns the kudos for being the firm of architects
selected to come up with a sustainable solution .Politics apart,
there is a long overdue upgrade in Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa
locations . On a positive note we observe how during the past
legislature sterling attempts were made to improve Valletta
precincts. In fact , parts of the Valletta bastions, which were torn
apart years ago, were restored to their original glory and the old
bridge between Valletta and the breakwater, destroyed in World War
II, will be rebuilt.
Tunnels passing under the Upper
Barrakka Gardens will also be restored and opened to the public.
Historical tells how Grand harbour served as a trading maritime hub
much like the proverbial umbilical cord linking us to other nations.
Ever since the services rundown the harbour ceased to be managed by
the HMS and it is regrettable that parts of it has become a victim
of glaring neglect. Party apologists now blow their trumpets
announcing government ‘s inspiring vision to redeem our sins.. The
proposed master plan incorporates 20 new capital projects .The
blueprint makes a case for the removal of all heavy industrial
activity from the Senglea side of French creek, where the current
quay will be upgraded and converted into a new cruise liner
terminal. The Three Cities are bound to get a major boost from
cruise liner tourism, which is growing year after year.
 The
number of passengers in July alone last year were close to 60,000,
over 16,000 more than in the same month previously. During the first
seven months of 2007, total cruise passenger traffic amounted to
223,056, an increase of 28.3 per cent over the same period last
year.This helps underpinning the debate on merits for the cable car
project as proposed by the Viset Consortium. Such a structure,
connects the Pinto Sea Port to Valletta. Apart from aiding mobility
for visitors ,this complements the regeneration theme. This
regeneration project includes the restoration and rehabilitation of
old buildings, the upgrading of public areas, and possibly the
demolition and redevelopment of specific buildings. This
rehabilitation approach is based on research conducted by Mimcol,a
Government agency. Prior to last election, the proposals were listed
in the Grand Harbour vision and programme of project steered by Dr
Austin Gatt, then minister responsible for Investments.
It now waits the approval by the
new parliament next month. Once approved it has the advantage of
being administered by one body, the Central Government. It is
imperative that a bold start is needed. This is a long term plan
even bigger than that involving the commercialisation of Cottonera
waterfront and marina . The financing of the project may attract EU
funding as has happened in other ports. Again, Mepa now falling
under the Prime minister ‘ portfolio may make haste to issue permits
considering that time is not on our side .Various buildings require
immediate intervention, as a result of their present state of decay
(some damaged extensively due to war and never repaired ). Ideally
we can wake up one morning in the next five years and behold a
transformation linking Rinella i.e., SmartCity, the Cottonera and
Valletta waterfront as one contiguous development . Cynics moan
about past mistakes in over zealous construction .Typically the over
crowding of the Sliema coastline due to the the MIDI project in
Tigne’ and delays in restoration of Fort Manoel island and Lazarreto
which also suffers from neglect. Since the contentious Cottonera
Waterfront project which twenty years ago kindled a no confidence
vote and brought down the labour government of a one seat majority.
Perish the thought; we cannot afford a repeat scenario to happen
over parliamentary squabbles concerning the regeneration of the
inner harbour areas.
 Granted
that you cannot please all the stakeholders. Since time immemorial
‘urban’ design is a emotive subject yet done well it provides
free-flow and permeability of the city and public or common spaces.
Waterfront redevelopment can take a long time, even decades. Just
remember the ill-fated plans and consultancy fees forked out on
designs of a new City Gate and the re-building of the State Opera.
Trusting that we learnt our lessons from past profligate whims. It
is now rumoured that Dock No. 2 will be converted and used for the
repair and maintenance of super yachts, extending the current super
yacht operation, which currently limited to Dock No. 3.
Also tenders have been issued for commercialisation of dock no one.
Inevitably dockside areas often became neglected and subject to high
levels of deprivation. However, increasing pressure for land in the
three Cities for new build has led to renewed political pressure to
rehabilitate declining harbour sides. Mepa must not repeat mistakes
in design. Suffice to mention the unslightly steel framed apartments
built hugging the historical Fort St Angelo. One wonders where Mepa
got its divine inspiration to issue its approval. Too often new
styles of architecture bear no resemblance to the local vernacular.
While architects and designers may differ. One must respect and show
sensitivity for aesthetic values and historical significance blended
with the functional considerations of a busy cruise line terminal
and a promenade with multifarious commercial interest. There must be
space not only for the commercial aspects but equally for cultural
and leisure activities. There is no doubt that this project runs on
parallel principles adhered to by the Knights of St. John - that of
having the vision of making Valletta a contemporary City - a Citta`
Nuova - .
 Like
many projects undertaken by the Knights, the entire scheme including
the Cable Car Proposal is innovative, provocative, and functional.
Cruise liner agents have been making a case for enhanced facilities
at port as the current quay is practically operating at full
capacity .Let me conclude that it is commendable that there is a
race to honour a political commitment to give life to an area that
is a natural harbour.
George Mangion
gmm@Pkfmalta.com
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