New Wied Speranza wall partly collapses after just six weeks

Updated 5.42pm with Project Green reply

A wall in Wied Speranza partly collapsed after this week's rainfall, just six weeks after the valley was inaugurated following a major regeneration project.

A chunk of the rubble wall that was re-built to prevent erosion collapsed during the holiday storms, sending boulders and soil into the watercourse it was meant to protect.

Wied Speranza was inaugurated less than two months ago, in November, after undergoing a major, EU-financed project carried out with the collaboration of the Environment and EU Funds ministries, Project Green and the Mosta Local Council.

In a reply to questions, Project Green said it was looking into the cause of the collapse. It also said the wall would be reconstructed by the contractor, but not before the summer, due to unsafe weather conditions.

A photo of the partially collapsed wall taken on Saturday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The restoration project included the removal of invasive species, cleaning of the valley bed, the planting of 300 new native trees and shrubs and the installation of a new, 1.4km irrigation system to help the newly planted vegetation grow.

Crucially, the project also included the repairs and reconstruction of traditional rubble walls, with 1.4km of walls restored to prevent soil erosion and stabilise the valley slopes.

Questions were sent the Environment and EU Funding ministries, Project Green and the Mosta Local Council.

They were asked what caused the wall to collapse a mere few weeks after it was reconstructed, whether their offices are looking into who is responsible for its failure to withstand the storm, and whether they are investigating the structural integrity of the rest of the wall.

'Contractor will rebuild wall' - Project Green

In a reply, Project Green said a full technical assessment of what happened is ongoing but said the wall was built "in line with approved permits and according to established traditional building methods".

"Checks are also being carried on the adjoining walls in the area to ensure they remain safe," a spokesperson for the greening agency said.

"Like all works the contractor is responsible for repairing any damage and carrying out the necessary rebuilding works. The contractor is also required to maintain the works for a period of five years."

She said Project Green is also working with the contractor to ensure the area remains safe until the wall is rebuilt. The rebuilding, however, cannot be done until after May, when the valley is not as wet.

"Being in the valley, works cannot safely take place between November and May due to environmental considerations. The present weather conditions impose limited access to safely conduct these works," she said.

"The safety of the public and the protection of the surrounding environment remain our top priorities."

Mosta mayor Joseph Gatt also replied to questions saying the local council was not involved in the construction works.

He said it only asked authorities to regenerate the stretch of the valley between the chapel of San Pawl tal-Qlejgħa and Speranza and later requested the regeneration of the rest of the valley, till the Mosta bridge.

When she first announced the project in 2022, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said it would cost €500,000.

The valley, which is known for its historic chapel dating back to 1760, contained tonnes of illegally discarded waste and was barely accessible to the public before the regeneration project.

But apart from its purpose as a public green space, Wied Speranza is essentially a natural watercourse for flood relief.

The valley serves as a primary catchment area for rainwater runoff in central Malta. The valley bed is designed to channel massive volumes of stormwater away from urban areas.