One step closer: Altea’s new €16m marina project

MEETING last weekend, the Committee dealing with the ongoing matter of Altea’s waterfront finally passed a resolution determining the way forward, with the approval of a plan for its rehabilitation. The project will cost approximately €16 million and involves the replacement of the old levee known as ‘El Charco’ and reefs with a new artificial beach that will be useable by residents as such, and also perform its main function of coastal protection.

Even though the plan has been approved at town hall level, it still has to be passed by other higher authorities who have to rubber stamp the same before works can commence.

Before the works can even be put out to tender they have to have the approval of the General Directorate of the Ministry of the Environment, (Rural and Marine).

However the Mayor of Altea, Sr. Ripoll said he is confident that this will happen quickly and that once done and after the obligatory six weeks of public consultation, things will move on at pace.

Given the nature of the project, and its European dimensions in terms of funding and environmental impact, the tendering of works has to be on an international (European) level, with notification of requests for tenders being put in a European wide in the Official State Bulletin.

“I would like to have seen the start of works before the summer but if all goes to plan we should see things happening this year” said the Mayor.

The delay and polemic that has dogged this project has been very much centred around the Environmental Impact Report and Archaeological Report, as neighbouring Alfas (Albir Playa) has constantly voiced its concern over the impact that alterations to Altea’s marina area might have on its own shoreline, and in particular the feared increase in algae in what is a semi-protected zone. Hopefully these fears have now been addressed.

“This is great news for Altea as it will give us a beach from which we can look out to the sea again,” the Mayor said.

By Paul Deed