The Central Link project, which has attracted a raft of protests since its approval, has been described as “sustainable” and “unfortunately necessary” by Environment Minister Jose Herrera.
Asked by The Malta Independent whether he felt that the controversial project is sustainable, Herrera said that from advice given to him by the ERA and given the reduction in environmental impact of the project, the fact there will be a net increase in the number of trees, and the infrastrucural necessity of the project, it was his conclusion that it is sustainable.
The environment minister had attended a protest in 2017 against the proposed development of a school on ODZ land in Pembroke, emphasising the need for public land to be protected and for development to be sustainable.
Asked whether he would be attending any of the protests planned as a result of infrastructural projects such as the Central Link project and the Santa Lucija underpass to make a similar statement, Herrera was coy, noting that in this case the infrastructural projects proposed are “unfortunately” necessary.
He noted that he had pronounced himself as of late on several other developments, and that the ERA had also begun to take action against other developments, showing that it is acting well in its capacity as the environmental regulator.
He said that it was an electoral pledge to address Malta’s infrastructure as there was a general feeling that Malta’s roads are not adequate for the needs of the present day, adding that therefore the government had a responsibility and that he is hence one of those who has such a responsibility.
Speaking on a personal level, Herrera said that the project is “unfortunately necessary” as otherwise there would have been full congestion.
This is why, he said, there has to be balance and compensation for these losses. He cited environmental projects above Regional Road in Santa Venera, Benghajsa, Ta’ Qali, and Wied Fulija which are all going through a process of environmental embellishment to be changed into parks as examples of this balance being played out.
He said that his job as environment minister is to minimise the impact of development and balance it out, which is what he is doing.
Asked about the transplantation of trees which is currently underway in Santa Lucija, Herrera said that this process is being monitored by the ERA which has its own experts in this field and noted that Transport Malta will “definitely” not act without the guidance of the ERA.
Ryan Vella from the NGO Ghaqda Sigar Maltin told The Malta Independent in an interview published yesterday that one does not have to be an expert to know that transplantations are best done in winter when the tree is dormant, and not in July or August when it is at peak growth, for the best chances of survival.
