The city is not so smart, Ramblers concerned over heritage
James Debono
After MaltaToday revealed the concern of Malta’s heritage guardians on the effects of the proposed Smart City development on the country’s heritage, the Ramblers’ Association have called on the government to act on a warning by the government’s superintendence for fortifications.
The superintendence warned that no attempt has been made by the Smart City developers to incorporate the historical military features present on site within the overall design.
“Such strong statements from bodies which are doing sterling work call for an immediate reaction from the very Government which set them up,” the association said, warning that the government would be sending the message that the superintendence were “just puppets whose strings are meant to be pulled only when convenient.”
Both the Superintendence of Fortifications and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage are up in arms against the obliteration of the St Peter’s Battery, a unique World War II relic that will make way for 77 townhouses for the Dubai-financed Smart City.
The heritage guardians are also concerned that another 50 villas to be constructed near St Rocco Fort will affect the integrity of the site.
The developers reacted to the objection, by slightly modifying their plans for the construction of villas beneath Fort St Rocco and the St Peter’s area by retaining “a part of the rifle butt and the beach post near the Fort” as well as “three gun emplacements in St Peter’s Battery.”
Energy concerns The Ramblers Association has also expressed concern on the energy costs of Smart City.
The Malta Resources Authority has already expressed serious concern on the “lack of a serious Energy Management Plan” and MEPA’s own natural heritage panel had also declared that there is no estimate or even consideration of the impact of this additional power requirement on Malta’s carbon footprint, which is strictly limited by the European Union.
The ramblers say Smart City’s energy demand will be double that forecasted when it becomes fully operational, resulting in a tremendous increase in emissions and the national carbon footprint.
The RAM observed that even without Smart City, Malta is already far from reaching set targets. And unless Smart City doesn’t lower energy demand, Malta could be liable to legal procedures and unprecedented fines.
“The government cannot remain silent on this probability while mockingly it offers free energy-saving lamps,” the association sarcastically noted.
In a statement issued on Monday, Labour environment spokesperson Leo Brincat also augured that the new city will adhere to energy efficiency regulations and would use renewable sources of energy. “There can be no doubt that the promoters of the project have no problems in finding the capital and the technology to ensure that these standards are abided to.”
According to the MLP the Smart City project can serve as a model for the sustainable use of resources by the building industry.
In a statement issued on Monday SmartCity CEO Fareed Abdulrahman reiterated that the new city will be abiding to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and green building initiatives.
But the EIS shows little commitment towards this goal.
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