Our sound policies have brought both economic stability and an improved quality of life to all Gibraltarians.
Gibraltar is safer, politically, internationally, socially and economically than ever before. The GSD will continue to meet the challenges that have afforded us the success that we enjoy today.
When the GSD came to office in 1996, the Government did not even have a dedicated Environment Ministry and Department. The GSD has placed the environment very much at the forefront of its organisation and policies. We signalled the importance that we attached to all aspects of our environment by correcting this, and establishing a dedicated and separately resourced Environment Ministry in the GSD Government. Our policy embraces both the natural environment and the urban environment.
Our aim in Government has been to place the environment at the heart of all other Government policies, so the GSD Government has published an Environmental Charter establishing environmental objectives that have to underpin policy in all other areas of Government, and it has also published an Environmental Action and Management Plan to ensure implementation of the Charter. Now, every Government policy needs to be measured against and satisfy the Environmental Charter and its Management and Action Plan and the general public is able to hold the Government accountable to its environmental commitments.
The GSD Government has also devised and published a Climate Change Action Plan to ensure that Gibraltar contributes its part to the global fight against climate change.
An independent epidemiological study has been carried out by a Danish University Institute of global repute to check if the cancer incidence in Gibraltar is unusually high. The results were reassuring.
GSD policy has also included bringing Gibraltar’s environmental legislation right up to European standards and has thus invested a huge effort in catching up with EU directives ignored by the previous GSLP Government. Dozens of Environmental protection Acts of Parliament have therefore been drafted and passed into law.
• Air Quality Action Plan
• Gibraltar Waters Management Plan
• Energy Efficiency Action Plan
• Climate Change Programme
• Green Business Guide
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Guidelines
• Energy Performance certification Guidelines
• Dust Mitigation Guidelines
• Dredging Guidelines
The GSD Government also publish an Annual Report on the Environment in which data and information is placed in the public domain, and also a bi-annual newsletter covering a wide range of environmental issues, as well as running environmental awareness campaigns.
Ongoing air quality measurement and monitoring is a vital part of environmental management policy. We have put in place a system for the constantly and carefully measurement and monitoring of our ambient air quality and the results are placed on the Government website.
Gibraltar’s coastal and ground waters are now systematically measured for cleanliness, and terrestrial and marine monitoring is carried out to assess the conservation status of the EU and locally protected species and habitats.
Other core natural environment policies have seen the establishment of a Consolidated Waste Management Plan, the removal of the water catchments and the re vegetation of the natural sand slopes, the introduction of more than 50 pieces of environmental protection legislation, the establishment of many green and planted areas throughout Gibraltar, greatly increased funding for the Alameda Gardens, the restoration of the Mediterranean Steps and other areas in the Upper Rock, Cliff and coastline stabilisation works, the conduct of an Epidemiological study among many other policy initiatives. Never has the natural environment featured so prominently in Government policies and expenditure in Gibraltar!
The policy of the GSD is that Gibraltar should play its corresponding part in the international protection of the global environment, both by local action and participation in and support for global measures.
Ongoing policy initiatives that will have a dramatic, positive effect on our local environment is the imminent construction of a new, modern power station which will allow the closure of three much more polluting and inappropriately located existing power stations using latest and best technology for maximum environmental protection, the constructions of an urban waste water treatment plant and a waste to energy plant.
The GSD remains committed to meeting on time its EU target for renewable energy, and the GSD Government is actively working on proposals to achieve that.
Also underway now is the removal of the rubble mountain on the Eastside of the Rock and its use to increase the size of the Eastside reclamation.
Our physical urban environment is no less an important part of our environment and it also has undergone a hugely positive transformation under the GSD Government with a wholesale refurbishment and beautification of our streets, squares and leisure areas, the huge expansion of green and planted areas and pedestrianised zones, the refurbishment of buildings and provision of public amenities including:
• Casemates Square, John Mackintosh Square & Cathedral Square
• Main Street (Casemates to Referendum Gate)
• Trafalgar Interchange
• Catalan Bay Village
• The Public Market and Market Square
• Camp Bay and Little Bay
• Europa Point
• Westside Promenade
• Waterport Road and Waterport
• Numerous City Centre streets
• Sir Herbert Miles Road & Winston Churchill Avenue
• Europa Road
• Devil’s Tower Road
• Dudley Ward Tunnel Access
• Lovers Lane
• Fish Market Road/ Chatham Counterguard
• King’s Bastion
• Orange Bastion
• New frontier fence
• Bayside Sports Complex
• New Bus Shelters
• New public toilets
• Uncluttering and exposure of City Walls and Bastions
• Refurbishment and beautification of Government and home ownership housing estates
• Ocean Village
• Children’s playgrounds
Few would deny that practically the whole of Gibraltar has received a transformational facelift that has greatly embellished and beautified our city, and thus improved our living and urban environment.
Many more projects to carry on doing so are currently in progress, including at Eastern Beach, in the Upper Town at the old St Bernard’s Hospital and at Castle Street, at Europa Point, at Ragged Staff, in the area of the frontier and new air terminal, in the area of the Mid Harbour Housing Estate, and in many new and enhanced children’s playgrounds around Gibraltar.
The continuing prosperity of Gibraltar in the future, and provision for our future housing, economic and lifestyle needs requires Gibraltar to continue to host new buildings and other developments. This is essential. But it is important that it be done sensitively in a way that is balanced with other aspects of the quality of life, our urban environment and our heritage preservation all of which are equally important. This balance is now reflected and underpinned by the GSD Government’s new, very widely consulted Gibraltar Development Plan, and new Open Planning Procedure laws (including prior public notifications and appeal rights).
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