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Costa del Sol |
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Water shortage fears lead call for a halt to developments
• 22 Mar 2007 •
 MORE THAN 200 people attended a meeting in Poligono La Rosa to review the water situation and the impact of major developments under construction and planned around Alhaurín el Grande.
A presentation was given on the likely impact the La Mota, Barranco Blanco, Alhaurín Golf and Altavista developments - that will add 8.000 homes, two commercial centres and three golf courses - will have on the main aquifer.
This is a source of rivers that provide water to Málaga, Fuengirola plus the Alhaurín el Grande and Coín surrounding areas.
The meeting was told that an 18-hole golf course consumes the same amount of water required to support a population of 14,800. It was also stated that in the area around La Mota six golf courses exist or are planned and yet recycled water is at present not available.
Claims were also made that golf courses and large scale development lead to cause pollution through pesticide and fertiliser chemicals used on the greens and gardens filtering down into the aquifer.
Sewage and storm water run-offs can also pollute rivers and kill aquatic life.
The meeting was told that Alhaurín does not have the infrastructure to support the developments through a lack of additional recycling or sewage treatment plants. Nor could it cope with a huge influx of traffic.
Concern was also voiced over the local beauty spot, Barranco Blanco, which was stated to be the last animal migration corridor between the coast and inland area, with many species of fauna and flora increasingly threatened by additional developments.
Ecologists in Action reported that the Aliminos and Las Pasadas rivers in the Barranco Blanco area are the habitat of endangered or protected animals, plants, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals and birds but developers had failed to take this into account. Nor had they noted current laws and European directives.
In view of this it was felt that the Junta should produce a full report on environmental impact.
The meeting called for a moratorium on further development until the Junta has fully assessed both the water and environmental impact on the area, as it was claimed most existing reports relied on data up to 10 years old, with the water situation now much worse.
While not against progress and development, the meeting said that large developments in the countryside are not in local interests long term as they will affect local water supplies and will not provide significant sustainable employment. |  Return to Top
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