Hundreds of people and families attended the open day organised as part of the public consultation process on the Grand Harbour Revival Plan.
The activity, organised by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation together with Enemalta, gave the public the opportunity to experience firsthand the site in Marsa that will be central to the first phase of the project. Various activities were organised for the whole family, with an emphasis on educational and interactive engagement related to the harbour and its history.
Numerous children took part in several activity stations, including shipbuilding activities and games related to maritime life. One of the main attractions was a virtual reality (VR) experience, which allowed visitors to take a virtual “harbour cruise” in the Grand Harbour and appreciate its scale and significance.
Educational aspects also highlighted the history of the harbour, including the fact that it was one of the most heavily attacked ports during the Second World War.
Those who attended also had the opportunity to see up close the site of the former power station in Marsa, where many expressed how impressed they were by the scale of the place and noted the contrast between its past industrial use and its strong future potential.
The Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli, said that this initiative was intended to bring people closer to the vision of the project. “We wanted people to get a real sense of this site and its potential. This place will be an important part of this phase of the Grand Harbour regeneration in Marsa. While meetings with stakeholders are ongoing, in the coming weeks we will also be launching the pre-market consultation. It was important for us that people see for themselves what can be done here and how we envision this area being transformed into one of the most important and vibrant spaces in the country,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.
The Grand Harbour regeneration plan is a long-term project that will be implemented in different phases, with the aim of creating a modern, sustainable, and internationally recognised space. The first phase focuses on transforming the Marsa waterfront and the former power station site into a mixed-use area including economic, cultural, social, and recreational spaces.
This project is being developed with the involvement of international experts, including the renowned firm Chapman Taylor, and is based on continuous consultation with stakeholders and the public.
The regeneration plan aims to respect Malta’s historical and maritime heritage while creating new opportunities and bringing the harbour closer to the people as a centre of economic, cultural, and social activity.
Photo: MEEC
