Corvera airport, green light given by environment ministry for phase II
Region of Murcia news, Corvera Airport amplification plans given environmental green light.
2010-04-14
Jose Ballesta, Minister for public works, announced today in the Regional Assembly that the Ministry of Medio Ambiente, ( environment) have given the green light for phase two of the construction works of the International Airport which will effectively double its traffic potential to 3 million passengers a year.
The environmental minstry have given their approval for the amplification of the airport in the form of a Declaración de Impacto Ambiental favorable,which is a positive report from an environmental point of view, saying that they are happy that the works will not have a negative impact on the environment
It's a most peculiar announcement to be making when we are still waiting for a verdict from Brussels as to whether the loan guarantees given by the Regional govt for the first phase of the airport are legal, with papers agreeing the financing of phase 1 still unsigned, but undoubtedly is designed to keep spirits up and keep sending out a positive message to the doubters.
He said that the Region had presented the project for the amplification back in October of 2008, which would require an environmental impact study before it could be taken any further, the results of which were now positive and would enable the community to continue with the amplification project.
The works are now well advanced, with the structure of the terminal building virtually completed, only missing its' external metal coating. The control tower is structurally complete and the control annex is completed to first floor level.
The runway and plane transit areas are about 50% completed, and the access works from the regional roads are completed already. Access from the A-30 is under construction with the workers about 25% of the way through the project.
He then went on to wax lyrical about the commercial advantages which the airport would bring to the Region of Murcia and its vital role in creating solid business opportunities for the regions businesses.
Opposition politicians, however, are distinctly unimpressed by his announcement, the spokesman for the IU and LV, Jose Antonio Pujant expressing his complete opposition to the airport project, citing the case of the attempts to build a privately run airport in Castilla La Mancha which was supported by the government and savings bank of the region, but had to be bailed out by the bank of Spain. He was keen to point out that he wouldn't want to see a "fiasco" such as this occurring in the Region of Murcia.
He expressed his concerns that the proximity of San Javier and the airport at Alicante, both of which were undergoing improvement works would make it more difficult for the new airport to compete in an already competitive and over-subscribed marketplace, and that the failure of the private enterprise building and running the airport to obtain private financing for the project pointed to its lack of viability, and that it presented a very real danger of becoming a debilitating drain on the region, not an asset.
He also criticised the use of 200 million euros in the construction of the airport saying it could be used much more efficiently in the small and medium sized businesses of the region to create stable and sustainable employment.
All of which are very good points, but, along with those of Ballesta are completely irrelevant if Brussels stops the bank guarantee by finding it illegal, a decision which we are all still waiting to hear.