Part of Rinella Bay closed due to Storm Harry works

Extensive works at Rinella Bay to repair damage caused by January’s Storm Harry are expected to continue into the summer, the Kalkara local council has explained.

Part of the small beach has been closed while the works are carried out but the rest of the bay remains accessible, the council said.

“We do not want another storm to take us back to square one,” said the local council about the “long-term” nature of the works being undertaken.

It said they did not involve any new buildings but that the breakwater would be rendered safe.

The recent sight of drilling into the sea and the insertion of massive steel columns raised questions

On Wednesday, large stones were removed with a digger as part of the clean-up but the local council said the Infrastructure Malta project was not just about clearing them away.

According to local council meeting minutes from May, plans to repair the damaged part of the promenade were ready to kick off by the middle of the month, following preparatory works, including clearing, studies, the drawing up of plans, permits, traffic sign installations and the building of a dividing wall.

To carry out the needed interventions securely, in accordance with the local council’s plan, part of the bay will be temporarily closed off, the minutes noted. The rest of the bay and quay would remain accessible and a temporary ramp in the sandy area was built to ensure safe access to the beach, while fishing activity would be unhindered.

The local council had unanimously decided that the works in Rinella Bay would be more “sustainable” and “holistic”, rather than temporary, as was the case over the last few summers.

Kalkara mayor Wayne Aquilina had informed councillors about a meeting with an Infrastructure Malta architect to discuss how the work would be organised in the bay.

The first phase focused on the foundations – piling works – which involved closure of part of the bay from the public convenience to a second staircase leading to the beach.

While it was agreed that pedestrian access to the small bay had to remain available, the road would not be open to cars and temporary diversions were required, the minutes noted.

While this information was available to the public from the local council’s website, some residents seem to have been left in the dark as to what was going on and the recent sight of drilling into the sea and the insertion of massive steel columns raised questions.