Gzira promenade: after lido, Transport Malta wants 216 berths

Transport Malta is proposing 216 berthing spaces for boats along the Gzira promenade.

The two clusters will occupy a 22,864sq.m footprint of seabed. One cluster will be located near the Manoel Island bridge and another immediately next to a hotel lido being constructed.

The berths for boats of up to 6m widths, will provide uniform mooring for boats, which are presently anchored at random. The current anchoring system will be replaced by new concrete anchors, replacing damaged or deteriorated anchors.

But the increased number and size of the boats is also expected to have a negative impact on the harbour views from the pedestrian promenade,  already impacted by a lido on reclaimed land.

The new berths will also affect views from the new hotel lido itself, which includes a pool, two restaurants, and a two-metre passage serving as a pedestrian walkway.

The Environment and Resources Authority has obliged TM to carry out a benthic survey to identify any ecologically important features or habitats in the area, to ensure effective monitoring during construction.