The lead contractor who was selected by Project Green for restoration and maintenance works in Wied Speranza told The Shift that a section of rubble wall, which collapsed just six weeks after the site was inaugurated, will be rebuilt at his company’s expense.
Daniel Abela, the director of LBA Ltd and one of the owners of property servicing firm Mitari Malta, is listed as the contractor responsible for demolition, excavation, and building works in Wied Speranza.
When asked why the collapse occurred just six weeks after a €1.6 million restoration project was concluded, Abela stated that, due to the current water levels in the valley, they were unsure what caused the collapse. Once the valley dries up, contractors will be able to assess what caused the collapse and address it.
Due to the area’s ecological sensitivity, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) regulations prohibit any form of building and/or intervention between November and May, meaning the rubble wall will remain as is until next summer.
Based on preliminary assessments, Abela referred to previously unknown water courses that were not picked up in original site surveys as the possible reason why the wall collapsed.
“When we first started this project, there was an incredible amount of rubbish in the area. We removed over 200 truckloads of waste from the entire site, which stretches 1.5 kilometres. Though we don’t yet know what exactly caused the collapse, we’ve already agreed to repair it as soon as possible, with no additional cost to the public purse,” Abela said.
In November of last year, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli and EU Funds Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi visited the site to inaugurate the project funded by national and EU funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Besides rebuilding long stretches of rubble wall, LBA Ltd is also responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the area. The contractor also stated that “a permanent solution” will be found to ensure collapse doesn’t happen again.
Photos of the collapsed section of the rubble wall circulated quickly on social media when it was first spotted earlier this month, though earlier news reports did not disclose who was responsible for the work.
LBA Ltd is ultimately owned by an Italian architect named Linda Renda, who owns those shares through Tekne Holdings Ltd.
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Tags
#Environment and Resources Authority
#Environment-Ministry
#ERA
#EU funds
#LBA Ltd
#Linda Renda
#Miriam Dalli
#Mitari Malta
#Mosta
#Project Green
#Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi
#Tekne Holdings
#Wied Speranza
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The wall should be a retaining wall design, wuth drain holes so that No Water Is retained behind the wall. The soil distribution below surface should also pourous, so that no water is retained.in the soil, turning the soil into an hydraulic ram disloging the wall. Obviously the technology is missing.
I am not an expert but I have seen two comments elsewhere that suggested there is a basic design fault with the wall. If the commenters are right, the entire wall will need to rebuilt to ensure there aren’t further failures during wet weather. A promise to rebuild the failed section is not enough. Taxpayers deserve, at the very least, a report from reputable structural engineers.
“The lead contractor who was selected by Project Green for restoration and maintenance works in Wied Speranza told The Shift that a section of rubble wall, which collapsed just six weeks after the site was inaugurated, will be rebuilt at his company’s expense.” Are we expected to applaud?
Qed igibu l flus mil l EU taparsi biex jirrabilitaw l widien u dan huwa skop biss biex jaghtu l eluf kbar lil kuntratturi w jaqsmu bejniethom l miljuni l jkunu gabu w l poplu gahan jifrah ghax fil-widien qed ikaxkru kull ma isibu bil gaffef ghat taparsi pjanti w sigar invasivi! U kullhadd jibla!! Qatta kriminali kullimkien sehtu! Mbad jigu jibnulek dal kruha ta hitan!! U mbad tigi Miriam titnejjek bil-poplu! U l poplu itiha l prosit!
I fully agree. You couldn’t have put it better.
The corrupt lot in power are only squandering the EU funds and/or distributing the funds amongst themselves and their families and friends.
That is how it is.
Will the cost of repairs come out of project greens backhanders or will the contractor suck it up?
This linda renda merits further investigation