Ecologists express worries about POTALA

            The Plan de Ordenacion del Territorio del Area de Levante Almeriense (Territorial Planning for the Almerian Levante Area) or POTALA was approved definitively by the Andalusian territory council on July 23^rd. The POTALA includes plans for all infrastructures, urban planning and economic development in the area stretching from Pulpi to Carboneras. The Federacion Andaluza de Ecologistas en Accion, which has a seat on the council, voted against the plan and the Federacion de Ecologistas en Accion de Almeria (local filial of the former) has spoken about their reasons for being against the POTALA despite their initial reaction to the idea of this plan being positive.

            One of the ecologists’ group’s main complaints is the creation of the Los Llanos zone, the area behind Garrucha earmarked for the majority of new tourist oriented development in the Levante. The ecologists feel that creating another ‘urban nucleus’ distant from all the existing urban nuclei is simply fomenting a ‘dispersed city’ model, something unsustainable and which will need a notable increase in infrastructure. It is contrary to what has previously been approved in the similar Andalucian territorial plan, which encourages a ‘compact city’ model which creates economic opportunities within existing urban nuclei.

            Another complaint about the POTALA is the plan for the creation of the Puntazo del Rayo touristic development zone to the north of Carboneras. The ecologists point out that this area is protected under a special European Community scheme and that it needs a special authorisation from the European commission stipulating that the proposed zone respects the preservation of the environmental values of the area.

            The ecologists add that the POTALA does not provide a real forecast of water resources for the area or the impact of supplying water needs from desalination plants despite the plans authorisation for the creation of several new golf courses and the Andalucian Water Agency’s recognition of the fact that there is now a net deficit of water in the Levante area.