The Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri together with the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett announced that the restoration of over 30 kilometers of rubble walls throughout Gozo has been completed.
The restoration and rebuilding of rubble walls was carried out by the EkoGozo Directorate within the Ministry of Gozo and is financed by European funds amounting to more than €10 million.
The project started about two years ago where works were carried out in the locations of Xaghra, Nadur, Xewkija, Għajnsielem, Għasri, San Lawrenz, Ta’ Sannat, Il-Qala, Santa Lucija, KerĽem, iz-Zebbuġ and Victoria with a total of around 40 roads with several extensive works of rebuilding rubble walls.
Minister Clint Camilleri explained how in this project, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, kilometers of rubble walls that had collapsed over time, and were in a bad state, were restored and rebuilt. He stated that “this project is considered to be of national importance, particularly in light of the Government’s commitment to transform Gozo into an ecological island and for its contribution as support for Gozitan farmers and villagers “.
Minister Camilleri concluded by saying that the Government has committed to continuing with its work to carry out more projects for Gozo.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that €10 million was invested from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in order to repair 30 kilometers of rubble walls throughout Gozo. “With this investment we have not only continued to beautify the characteristic in the rural areas in Gozo but we have continued to protect the environment. Committed that as we carried out this investment, from the new operational programs we will continue to invest in the island of Goztija and in projects like this,” said Parliamentary Secretary Bonett.
The rubble walls are an important feature in the Gozitan rural landscape and apart from the visual impact they leave, they also have a great environmental importance because they prevent the soil from eroding when it rains.
