In a remote area of Badajoz, next to the town of Castilblanco, the first earthworks have begun to build a new large amusement park, not very touristy. about Elysium City is a macro urban and touristic project where everything is perfectFrom an investment of 8,000 million euros to a surface covering approximately 12 square kilometers, half of which will be buildable.
The numbers leave no doubt about the enormous scale of the project: 18,000 hotel beds, 2,000 residences, golf course, casinos, football stadium with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, water parks, shops, train station… and all nestled on the shores of the García de Sola reservoir, an area of great natural beauty. Elysium has already been compared to ‘Eurovegas’ from Extremadura because of its parallels with the frustrated Madrid project.
Junta de Extremadura has always supported this initiative. and the relevant environmental impact permits. It was Castilblanco Town Hall a few months ago. Finally, the building permit was granted.Administrative process has been completed.
The company defends the rigor of the project
Castilblanco Elysium Corporation, the company behind the project, said in a statement that this amusement park was “a success story” as it was overtaken. “A difficult and complex administrative procedure”. “This project aims to open endless possibilities for employment, growth and opportunities for the region,” explains its main supporter, Francisco Nuchera, in the note.
The company assures that it will create up to 56,000 direct and indirect jobs with its million-dollar investment, “this is news that will undoubtedly transform Castilblanco and all of Extremadura.”
As enthusiastic as the organizer, the city council “This is an unstoppable and tangible fact, a historic turning point for Castilblanco.”as noted by the government team led by the mayor María Ángeles Merino (PP).
The Board, chaired by Guillermo Fernández Vara of PSOE, approved the Extremadura Large Amusement Facilities Act in July 2018, which fully protects and supports such businesses.
At the heart of the Biosphere Reserve
However, the environmental impact of such a massive initiative worries conservationists in the region. The land is included in the La Siberia Biosphere Reserve., however, the beneficiaries emphasize that the qualification in question is incompatible with the development of the planned works. “In no case was it built in a ZEPA (Special Conservation Area for Birds) site,” they recall.
Ecoologistas en Acción and Adenex, two of the largest environmental organizations in Extremadura, rated the city of Elysium as completely “unsustainable”. In the allegations made to the project at the time, both sides stated that Castilblanco’s natural resources would be “compromised and would be seriously threatened”.
Ecologytas en Acción points to “multiple points of disagreement” such as changes in the project and disintegration of its surface in order to escape the state forces in its jurisdiction.
In addition, the project owner confirms that he “accepted several cases of non-compliance with the regulations in the annexes of the submitted documents, stating that the presentation of environmental studies will be carried out later”.
“Noise, light pollution and waste of water”
City of Elysium to “significantly” increase ambient noise levels Add environmental claims during the years of construction and during the subsequent operation of the facilities.
The noise this amusement park will produce will “significantly worsen the habitats of the occupied area”, but in addition there will be a light pollution problem due to excessive light emitted from planned constructions.
Light pollution “will be at least ten times greater than that of Marina de Valdecañas”another controversial project in this autonomous community.
They also imply “water waste” from water parks, golf courses and construction Accommodation provided in the complex.
Specifically, the average consumption for residential use in Spain is 142 liters in Europe, while a consumption of 200 liters per capita per day is expected, which means “waste of water if we consider the context of scarcity of water resources”. Peninsula and especially in the Guadiana Hydrographic Basin”.
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]