The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) board approved a Ministry for Gozo project for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Cittadella in Gozo.
 
The Authority has given the green light to the outline application related to the implementation of the Cittadella Master Plan recommendations. The Master Plan, commissioned by the Ministry for Gozo was made possible through the EEA Financial Mechanisms. The multi-disciplinary Master Plan drawn up following a wide consultation process with all key stakeholders proposes ten key actions for the restoration, rehabilitation and proper management of the Cittadella. The actions of the Master Plan range from the restoration of key buildings and public spaces, the installation of new services, the creation of visitor interpretation facilities and related amenities to accessibility and lighting amongst others.
 
During the same sitting, MEPA approved also the third of a series of full development applications addressing specific actions for the Cittadella namely, the restoration and conversion of a historical unused reservoir into a state-of-the-art visitors’ centre which would provide the much required interpretation and ancillary facilities for visitors. The reservoir, an architectural gem which has been hidden from public eye for more than a century and a half will be restored and rehabilitated to welcome visitors to the Cittadella and provide multi-media interpretative facilities which would help visitors to understand better the history and importance of the Cittadella and its fortifications.
 
Earlier this year, MEPA had also approved two other applications related to this project – one for the restoration of facades of important public buildings within Cittadella including the Gozo Law Courts, Governor’s Palace and Old Prisons and the trenching works for services inside the Cittadella which include the repaving of all the streets and walkways, thus increasing accessibility for all to most parts of the site.