The transformation of Manoel Island into a national park has officially begun, with extensive cleaning and maintenance works now underway to make the island safer, cleaner and more accessible to the public.The first phase is being carried out by the Cleansing and Maintenance Division in collaboration with Project Green, marking the initial steps towards turning the island into a public open space for Maltese and Gozitan families.Ministers Miriam Dalli and Alison Zerafa Civelli visited the site to inspect the ongoing works.“Manoel Island has enormous potential to become one of the most beautiful open spaces in our country,” Dalli said, explaining that the government aims to preserve the island’s natural environment and historical heritage while improving public access. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)The clean-up involves pruning trees, removing dead tree trunks, clearing overgrown vegetation and cleaning the island’s entrance.Workers will also remove graffiti, abandoned metal materials, construction waste and disused structures.Importantly, unauthorised structures, including illegally built rooms, will also be removed as part of the operation.Before work began, inspections were carried out alongside the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to ensure the interventions would protect the island’s historical and environmental features.Zerafa Civelli said the initiative goes beyond simply cleaning the area, describing it as part of a wider commitment to improving public spaces across Malta and Gozo.The government says the ultimate goal is to transform Manoel Island into a national park where families can enjoy its coastline, natural surroundings and historical landmarks.However, no completion date for the national park has been announced.Are you looking forward to seeing Manoel Island transformed into a public park?•