Luqa to have new playground under Capital Projects Fund – Owen Bonnici

Misrah iz-Zaghzagh is the only place in Luqa that can be developed into a playground that has been in the works for some years, said local government minister Owen Bonnici.

“As you can see the area is not in the state we would like it to be and unfortunately there aren’t any other areas that can be used for this project,” Bonnici said addressing journalists at a press conference earlier today.

“The Luqa local council has been working on this project for years and it already has MEPA permits and plans in hand. The tender for the actual construction will be published in the coming days,” Bonnici added.

Bonnici explained that the project would include a playground for children of varied ages and an increase in playing areas equipped for the safety of all users.

“This locality will be benefitting from two recreational areas; one in Hal Farrug, officially inaugurated some days ago and another in the heart of Luqa,” Bonnici said, adding that these projects were all a result of the efforts of a hardworking council that collaborated with the government to receive money from the capital projects fund.

“This project will be divided over two years and a total of €65,000 will be given for the first phase.”

The minister explained that the government believed that local councils were one of the ways that people, families and businesses could be given a service that was closer to them, while at the same time serving as a centre where communities can attain the best service from within their own locality.

“The majority of councils are working well, but we are at a point where we need to look at all the structures that regulate them and take more innovative and efficient initiatives,” Bonnici said.

Bonnici reiterated that an efficient local council would mean a better service for citizens and less weight on other governmental departments.

“This is the reason why we launched an initiative that gave local councils the opportunity to submit their proposals for funding,” Bonnici stressed referring to the capital projects fund.