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Controversial golf course development in Murcia raises environmental concerns
The Mar Menor Technical Office has warned of flood risks and degradation of the lagoon if the ‘El Escobar’ project goes ahead
The Mar Menor Technical Office (OTMM), under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco), has raised major concerns about a proposed development project, 'El Escobar', which includes a golf course and urbanisation in Jerónimo and Avileses, Murcia.
The project, which was initially started 16 years ago but halted after only three, is now resuming, sparking worries about its potential impact on the fragile Mar Menor lagoon.
On July 5, the Murcia City Council approved the reactivation of this tourist-residential development, with a total of 2,900 homes planned across 500 hectares, divided into 9 phases. However, the OTMM warns that this project could have detrimental effects on the lagoon and its surrounding area, which has already faced significant environmental challenges due to chaotic urban sprawl and agricultural activities.
One of the main concerns is the risk of flooding, which is already a significant issue in the Campo de Cartagena. The OTMM highlights that the development, which is already 30% completed, is located in an area with a high risk of flooding downstream, affecting the municipalities of Torre-Pacheco and Los Alcázares in particular.
According to the group, this development could interfere with ongoing projects aimed at minimising flood risks and promoting environmental restoration in the area.
The list of issues goes on, and MITECO experts are pushing for a complete review of the plan before another block is laid. It is, after all, 20 years since planning was originally given, and a lot of factors have altered since then.
MITECO therefore recommends waiting for the approval of the Territorial Planning Plan for the Vertiente Basin (POCTV), which should have come into force in July 2023, to gain a better understanding of the potential impacts of such developments on the environment and to ensure that the planning is consistent with the latest regulations and environmental impact safeguards.
Also of interest: Conflicting reports stir debate about the recovery of the Mar Menor
Image: MITECO
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