ARCHIVED - Portman Bay regeneration project delayed yet again until 2024

Extensive renovation plans for the bay in the municipality of La Unión have been riddled with setbacks

The long-awaited regeneration of Portman Bay, in the municipality of La Unión, which has been stalled since 2019, has hit yet another setback and been delayed until 2024.

During a meeting to discuss central government measures for the recovery of the Mar Menor in Cartagena today (Friday October 28) the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, confirmed that the project will have to be submitted to a global strategic environmental assessment and not partial, as initially believed. This will require an extension to allow for the final works project to be drafted.

The Ministry for Ecological Transition already has a first draft of the new fishing port and marina earmarked for the bay. The regional government approved renovation plans last November, but the State Attorney dragged its heels approving the contract, meaning the regeneration project remained up in the air ahead of the summer.

The renovation and transformation of the bay is expected to take nine months and cost almost 340,000 euros.

In recent years, modifications have been made to the original plans, drawn up in 2019, to ensure the protection of the natural environment and public health.

Between 1957 and 1987, open-cast mining operations in the bay left Portman filled with millions of tons of sterile waste, creating a huge and toxic landfill.

However, pledges to regenerate the area and draw tourists to the natural enclave over the years have yet to be fulfilled.

The aim of the Secretary of State for the Environment's visit this week was to give an update on a 150-million-euro package of measures for the recovery of the Mar Menor and inaugurate a conference which will set out exactly how Campo de Cartagena farmers can access an aid package of 20 million euros.

Earlier this week, 1,000 of these farmers gathered in Torre Pacheco to protest against the Law of the Mar Menor and other regulations that limit their activities.

Also read: Mar Menor fishermen reeling over damaged nets caused during government inspections

Image: Archive