St Julian’s Residents Fear for Safety Amid Cresta Quay Excavation

It’s 7 AM on a Tuesday, and the usually bustling streets of St Julian’s are still quiet. Suddenly, the ground beneath the feet of residents in Cresta Quay starts to tremble. Not a gentle shake, but a full-blown, windows-rattling, hearts-pounding earthquake-like sensation. This isn’t a natural phenomenon, though. It’s the work of heavy machinery, digging deep into the heart of Malta’s tourism hub.

For the past few weeks, residents have been living with this daily reality. The excavation work for a new luxury development, Cresta Quay Residences, has turned their peaceful neighbourhood into a construction site. While the project promises to bring new life to the area, the ongoing excavation has raised serious concerns among residents.

“I live in fear,” says Maria, a long-time resident who asked to be identified only by her first name. “Every morning, I wake up to the sound of drilling and the feeling of my apartment shaking. It’s terrifying. I’ve started sleeping in my daughter’s room because it’s further away from the noise and vibrations.”

The main worry for residents is the safety of their homes. The excavation site is just metres away from several apartment blocks, and residents fear that the digging could compromise the structural integrity of their buildings. They also complain about the constant noise and dust, which they say is making their quality of life unbearable.

“We’ve had cracks appearing in our walls and ceilings,” says another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous. “The developers keep telling us it’s normal, but we’re not convinced. We’re scared that one day, it might be more than just cracks.”

The developers, Tumas Group, have assured residents that all necessary safety measures are being taken. They also promise that the project will bring significant benefits to the area once completed. However, residents remain sceptical, pointing out that they were not properly consulted before the project began.

St Julian’s Local Council has stepped in, ordering the developers to reduce working hours and install noise barriers. However, residents say these measures are not enough. They want the excavation to stop until a full safety assessment has been carried out on their homes.

“We’re not against development,” says Maria. “But we want to be sure that our homes are safe. We want our voices to be heard. We want the council and the developers to take our concerns seriously.”

The Cresta Quay Residences project is just one of many developments transforming Malta’s tourism hotspots. As the island continues to grow and change, it’s crucial that we find a balance between progress and the well-being of our communities. It’s time for all parties involved – developers, local councils, and residents – to come together and ensure that everyone’s needs are taken into account.

“Malta is our home,” says Maria. “We want it to grow and prosper, but not at the expense of our safety and quality of life. We deserve to have a say in how our neighbourhoods change.”