JUSTNature Stakeholder Meeting with Infrastructure Malta

14 February 2023, in anticipation of the first stakeholder workshop, members of the Research Innovation Unit (RIU), on behalf of the Gzira Local Council met with Architect Walter Portelli (Head of Implementation – Major Projects of Infrastructure Malta) and Architect Joseph Galea and Manager Emeline Fenech of Infrastructure Malta.

The meeting focused on the creation of green spaces within the redesign plans of Sliema Road, Gzira. This street is the main pilot area for the Gzira implementation of European Commission JUSTNature Project.

Fabian Borg (Head of RIU) introduced the objectives of the JUSTNature project and the concepts of co-creation, co-designing and co-governance that such project fosters. Borg presented thermal, air, and noise pollution analyses that require countermeasures through Nature Based Solutions (NBS). Architect Portelli explained the traffic management and survey conducted in the pilot to diminish traffic build-up of idling internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, while Architect Galea explained civil and infrastructural works within the draft plan.

This positive meeting ensued with an ad-hoc working party from all attendees to create new green/blue spaces within the draft plans and the possibility of creating green corridors within the dense urban zone of Gzira. The draft plans including the green spaces and blue solutions would be presented during the first Local Stakeholder Workshop of JUSTNature, scheduled for the 24 February 2023.