17th century coastal tower, Xghijra Work on the 17th century coastal tower at Xghijra is almost over. Last remaining part of the project is the installation of a new set of timber apertures built on researched designs for the period by Dr Stephen C. Spiteri. Work here consisted of the general re-pointing of all the tower surfaces, waterproofing of the roof, reconstruction of the upper part of same, strengthening of one of its salient points, replacement of eroded stonework and buttressing of foundation rock- face that was seriously eaten away. This work is planned to be completed by the end of the current year. It has been funded by Mepa – the Malta Environment and Planning Authority through their EIPP – Environmental Initiatives Private Public programme.

Lascaris War Rooms, Valletta For the last few months, FWA has been engaged on the massive undertaking of restoring the old Malta War HQ to what it used to be like in World War Two. This property that covers some 9,000 sqr. mts. consists of a huge labyrinth of tunnelling excavated deep under the Upper Barracca gardens in Valletta and exiting into the Lascaris ditch. From here the British and later their allies – the Americans waged war against the Axis forces. The air defence of Malta was largely directed from here, mainly from the Royal Air Force Sector Operations Rooms and the Gun Operation Rooms of the Royal Artillery. In 1943, all separate operations rooms of the respective services were grouped together into the first combined operation centre housed in a new facility within the Lascaris Tunnel. The first stages of Operation Husky were directed by Generals Montgomery, Alexander and Eisenhower from this place. At present FWA is directing all its efforts to restore the RAF Sector Operations Room with all its attending facilities such as the Radar Filter Room etc. to their original state. Work on this part should be finished by the end of  2009 by which time it will made accessible to the public. Work will then move on other parts of the complex till the whole of it is completely restored. This phase of work is funded through a grant received from the Good Causes Fund of the Ministry for Finance.

Extension of the Malta at War Museum, Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa FWA has been granted €500.000 in European Regional Development Funds to redevelop and extend the Malta at War Museum housed at Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa. Additional property has recently been obtained from the Land Department to allow the re-organisation of the museum into a walk-through gallery comprising some nine rooms as opposed to the present two. This will allow better organisation of the attraction allowing the display of thousands of items held by FWA and which are currently kept in storage due to lack of space. The new museum will comprise of a time-line based exhibition outlining all the aspects of daily life in wartime Malta. New to this attraction will be sections describing food and nutrition, personal hygiene and public health, the passive defence services, the enemy, wartime reconstruction, religion and faith, childhood, life and death and much more. The museum will remain open throughout the works for public visiting.

Notre Dame Gate, Vittoriosa With the completion of works in most of the interior of this building, final touches are being applied to the interior of the left hall. This is being turned into a temporary open storage facility for the depositing of all the artefacts from the Lascaris War Rooms that need restoration. An application has been lodged with government for the landscaping of the immediate vicinity of this monument. Plans are also at hand for lighting up the building at night. Application for European Regional Development Funds to assist in the conversion of this gate into a visitor attraction focusing on the rich history of the Cottonera region were declined.

St. Thomas Tower, M'Scala Following a through clean-up of this property from years of accumulated junk work is currently at hand to water-proof the building before the onset of the rainy season. Discussions are being held with a potential sponsor for this work. Plans are also in place to start the restoration of all timber apertures and the remains of the original bascule-type of bridge, which is the only one left anywhere in Malta. The Armed Forces of Malta have been contacted to assist with the clearing of the surrounding dry-ditch and the removal of hanging shrubbery on its walls.

Madliena Tower, Pembroke Built in 1635, this tower went on serving a military role of sorts till fairly recently. Following its role as a coast watching post from where alarm of invasion was given to the inland defences, this tower went to on serve as an anti-smuggling post and much later as a musketry guard post in conjunction with the nearby military musketry ranges. During WWII, it has regained some of its past defensive function when it was converted into a beach-gun complex against invasion. In 2009, FWA obtained this property from the government for restoration and management. This was done along with a number of other minor heritage sites in the area: a WWII stone pill-box, an infantry trench complete with a fighting light position, the ruins of a Victorian examination coastal battery for 3 x 12-pdr Quick-firing guns and a stone fougasse from the Knights period. Preliminary conservation work is currently at hand on all these sites along with the tower to ascertain what interventions are necessary. Following the conclusion of this report, work will commence in conjunction with the Malta Tourism Authority and Nature Trust. European Regional Development Funds were sourced for this project. Date of completion will be 2013.

Fort Rinella, Kalkara Major landscaping works are currently in place at this site. These are aimed at restoring the original defensive belt around the historic Victorian fort back to its original state. Works include removal of unsightly bird trapping sites and accretions, cutting down of non-indigenous trees which were in the way and the carting away of years of accumulated building dumping. As part of the same initiative, a new masonry boundary wall has been built modelled on a 19th century British pattern used at military establishments at the time. An original iron palisade is currently being restored for enclosing a gap in the wall facing the rear of the fort to allow public view from the road. This work is planned to be completed by the end of the current year. It has been funded by Mepa – the Malta Environment and Planning Authority through their EIPP – Environmental Initiatives Private Public programme.

Saluting Battery, Valletta A major re-haul has recently been applied to the Saluting Battery meant to freshen it up and make it more enjoyable to attending visitors. The work lasted some three weeks. As a result, a new audiovisual theatre was established in the former central side-arm store. A new museum office was installed in the right gunpowder store and a new recorded commentary to be played during the daily Noon-day gun firing has been made. New signage has been prepared to be installed shortly and a new multi-lingual history hand-out is also being worked on. A reconstructed gun powder magazine in the late 19th century fashion remains to be seen to. This is being sponsored by the Central Bank of Malta. All other work was funded through the central conservation fund. In the coming weeks, major works will start at this place by government through the Valletta Rehabilitation Project to water proof the open spaces of the battery and improve storm water management. This work will certainly help solve the major issue with water seepage reaching the underlying Lascaris War Rooms. Another project at this site is the restoration and reconstruction of Col.Henry Anderson-Morshead from 1832. Archaeological investigations have already been completed of the site to ascertain if the Anderson-Morshead is still interred at this place. An architect has now been commissioned to produce working drawings for the re-erection of the memorial as close to the original as possible. A sponsor is being sought for this project.