Opinion - George M. Mangion| Wednesday, 09 March 2008

Electoral promises

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 spokemen 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 pricincts. 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 masterplan 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 Gvernment 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 commerialisation 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 ie., 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 comercialisation 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 harboursides. 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 devine inspiration to issue its approval. Too often new styles of architecture bear no resemblance to the local vernacular. While achitects 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
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