Żebbuġ residents looked on as more than 60 trees were uprooted from Vjal il-Ħelsien last week, making way for the rebuilding of this artery road.
Forty-three citrus, nine olive (olea Europaea), six ficus Australis and six palm trees (Washingtonia robusta) were uprooted as part of the road’s €1.1 million rebuilding project, co-financed by the local council and the government.
When contacted, the local council said it had obtained permission from the planning authority to remove the trees.
Mayor Alfred Grixti said the project involved the rebuilding of the dual carriageway, the installation of new water and drainage services on both sides of the road, a new storm water culvert, the provision of ducting for other services such as electricity wires, cable TV, telephony and internet, a new street lighting system and the laying of new paving blocks.
It was impossible to retain the trees because the roots would cause extensive damage to the services placed below the road, something that had already happened in the past.
Moreover, the trees were not protected by the Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations, 2011 (Legal Notice 200 of 2011) and no permit was required to remove the trees, Mr Grixti said.
The planning authority, however, advised the council to transplant the trees.
The uprooted olive and citrus trees were replanted in the Tal-Grazzja area in Żebbuġ.
The palm trees were taken to the Magħtab waste management complex, following the Plant Health Department’s policy of not replanting the Washingtonia robusta to stop the spread of the red palm weevil.
Mr Grixti said it was not deemed worthwhile to replant the ficus Australis because they were brittle on the inside.
Transport Malta said on Saturday it was prepared to take action against a contractor after workers illegally uprooted a number of trees at Spencer Garden in Marsa.
Transport Malta was slapped with an enforcement notice after the planning authority confirmed the trees had been illegally destroyed.
The uprooting, part of the reconstruction of the arterial December 13 Road, started on Thursday morning when workers used heavy machinery to cut down the trees in the area overlooking Hexagon House at Il-Menqa.
Transport Malta said it regretted the incident leading to the damage of two trees earmarked for transplanting. Attempts are still under way to try to save one of these trees.
“Transport Malta would like to assure the public that it will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that all contract-ors engaged on all projects under its remit adhere to the conditions imposed, and that defaulting contractors will be duly penal-ised.”
The project, which is expected to take just under a year, involves narrowing the existing wide centre strip between the two carriageways on December 13 Road.