The budget presented this week has placed the environment at the top of the country’s agenda with a long-term plan. Malta will continue to move at a rapid pace in its ecological transformation, shifting from a linear to a circular economy and implementing tangible reforms in sensitive sectors such as construction and planning, with measures and incentives that will push the necessary change.
This was stated by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia during a press conference with the Parliamentary Secretary for Construction Chris Agius.
Environmental strategies and initiatives by a progressive government
“Our commitment to a better environment goes beyond statements and empty, recycled promises. In fact, we are investing to drive the environment forward, aware that this is a controversial sector in itself. We are proud that we are increasing the financial allocation in the environment of our country and this despite the financial impact of the pandemic. These are unprecedented investments into climate change and the green economy, environmental site management, afforestation and urban greening, waste management, and sustainable planning and construction. The initiatives and strategies we have drawn up and the plans we have set out reflect the thirst for change driven by a progressive government as well as the will to ensure a better environment for ourselves and future generations. We are clearly showing the push for open and safe spaces away from pollution, even in urban areas. Green recreational spaces for people close to their homes,” Minister Farrugia said.
Two green infrastructure projects on the agenda for the coming months
The Minister explained that Government has made progress on two major projects of urban greening and mitigation of the impact of heavy traffic. “In the Santa Venera tunnel roofing project, the government has moved forward with more elaborate studies than the initial ones carried out in 2019 and is working on financing this project where the concept of a public-private partnership is also being considered. This is because the residents of this area deserve better. For the project in St. Anne’s Street in Floriana, following geological studies we will now move on to traffic impact assessment, structural and archaeological studies, as well as environmental and landscaping studies in order to turn this busy arterial road into a garden that will stretch all the way to Valletta,” said Minister Farrugia.
The Minister said that the work on the open spaces and new green areas in the urban area in Żabbar, Ħal Qormi, Ħamrun, and Mosta, the renovation works in the gardens of San Anton, several urban greening projects such as the St. George Preca High School, Romeo Romano, Spencer Garden and the Belvedere Garden, will be completed by the end of next year.
Environmental protection
The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) will continue to draw up the Management Plans on Natura 2000 sites, while intensifying works on Comino, il-Magħluq in Marsascala, the Victoria Lines and the Yellow Lake. The Minister also spoke of the largest investment in waste management our country has ever seen, that of €500 million for the ECOHIVE complex through which our country will continue to move from landfills to open spaces, from waste to resources. The minister announced that in the first quarter of next year, construction of the waste-to-energy plant will commence.
Intelligent planning and heritage preservation
The Minister said that in the area of planning, various measures to improve our urban environment and preserve the Maltese heritage were announced. He said the government is incentivising the purchase of vacant homes as well as the development of homes built in a tradition style through various schemes including the abolition of stamp duty or capital gains tax on the sale of vacant properties, properties in UCAs or properties with traditional Maltese characteristics.
The Planning Authority will also be launching an aesthetic policy to move towards planning that better suits our islands. It will also be launching a study on incentives for comprehensive development with a view to addressing areas with abandoned buildings and so-called pencil developments. In the meantime, a reform of the strategic plan for the environment and development will continue.
“This is a budget that will be leading our country towards the next step to achieve the environmental aspirations of the Maltese and Gozitan people. This is the Malta we want to leave to our children,” Minister Farrugia said.
Sustainable construction
From his end, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said this is a budget that truly demonstrates the government’s social democratic credentials. This is a budget of social measures that will benefit our families, pensioners and the most vulnerable. The Parliamentary Secretary stressed the importance of the newly established Building and Construction Authority, which is now working on regulations governing the construction sector in the near future. He also mentioned regulations on the minimum skills of workers in the sector—the licensing of contractors.
He also said that the first parts of the National Building Code have reached the final stage. The Parliamentary Secretary reiterated that in the future there will also be changes in the times when excavations and demolition of buildings can take place.
He added that those working in the property sales sector will be required to have a license by January 2022. He said that in the first three quarters of this year, 10,440 new contracts were made with a total value of over 2 billion euro. In the same period in 2018 there were 9,400 contracts worth over one billion euro. The increase this year compared to 2018 is about 500 million euro. He closed by thanking those involved in this sector for their important role in the economic growth of recent years.
