Ecologists unhappy about Paramount Park Alhama environmental decision

Work could begin as soon as the council of Alhama de Murcia passes the urbanization plan

Ecologists are up in arms over the decision to allow work on the Paramount theme park in Alhama de Murcia to begin as soon as the Town Hall passes the urbanization plan, meaning that the much-delayed construction work could start this summer.

The Department of the Environment has apparently decided to accept the environmental protection and conservation document submitted by Premursa as part of their technical description of the project, rather than subjecting the theme park to a separate environmental impact report. In other words, in return for the company’s promises regarding the reduction of noise, atmospheric and soil pollution, as well as commitments to waste and waste water management and forest fire prevention, the regional government has effectively decided to waive the obligation for a separate environmental impact report to be compiled. In this way the start of construction can be brought forward by a few months.

One of the aspects of the project which most upset the environmentalists is that 3.36 hectares of the planned car parking facilities actually lie within the El Valle-Carrascoy regional park, but the only concession made by the regional government is that “special precautions“ will have to be taken within this area. As for the rest of the project, the reports already compiled discount any “significant effect” on the local flora and fauna due to the mainly agricultural nature of the site, always assuming that the proposals made by both Premursa and the government are adhered to. Among these is a specific plan to protect the spur-thighed tortoise, which is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The bodies consulted in reaching this conclusion include the Hydrographic Confederation of the Segura basin, the Town Hall of Alhama, the central government delegation in the Region of Murcia, the Department for Culture and Tourism and the ecologist organizations ANSE and Ecologistas en Acción. However it appears that the opinions of these last groups have been overruled by the other interests involved.

Ecologistas en Acción believes that the whole project should be halted on the grounds that “21% of the land involved” is within the regional park, and that as such an environmental impact report is essential. Atmospheric, light and noise pollution will be considerable, they maintain, and the amount of water consumed is another factor which ought to be evaluated.

This view is backed by ANSE, who point out that the ecological health of the Region, and specifically the El Valle-Carrascoy park, is already under threat from the new airport at Corvera, various quarries and other projects.

However, the regional government is firmly behind the planned project and keen to support the promotor in his continued hunt for financing by placing as few obstacles as possible in the path to finding the necessary money to start building and create much needed jobs for the local economy.
On the 31st January it was reported that construction was unlikely to begin until after the summer. Whether this latest development will change that situation is unclear.

Click for the full archive of Paramount Park Alhama articles dating back to February 2010 when the project began.
 

Image: The Paramount site, copyright Murcia Today