Talk of giant leisure complex in Magalluf

The Calvia council and the Grupo Cursach Ocio have opened talks to create a giant tourist and recreational complex in Sa Porrassa near Magalluf. The leisure group hopes to extend the water park it now runs by the Sa Porrassa road, just behind Magalluf, in the medium term, converting it into a giant recreational complex. Council sources said that the expansion could include a dolphin and whale facility. Neus Pacheco, the councillor in charge of planning, said that the council was “receptive” towards initiatives of this type. She added that the council had wanted a large leisure area behind Magalluf for some time. Facilities there already include a go-kart track, Pirate Adventure, the Aquapark water park as well as the Western Water Park. The Cursach leisure group already owns 100'000 square metres of land in Sa Porrassa for the expansion and has an option to buy on several other properties, which could double the area available. Pacheco said that the council would approve the project if it had the approval of the Council of Majorca, as in order to grant the necessary licences, the General Plan would have to be modified or the Council would have to declare the project “of special interest.” The councillor said that it would improve the area, as various obsolete constructions and huts would be demolished. Sources at the leisure group confirmed interest in building a theme park on the land, but added that the project “is still very green” and there is nothing definite as yet. The project, would would involve an investment of more than 18 million euros, would take two or three years to complete. A few months ago, the Popular Party of Calvia filed a complaint against the expansion of Western Water Park, questioning the licence granted by the Calvia council to allow the construction of new water shutes, attractions, rest rooms, offices and parking spaces. The party claimed that the project did not have a visa from the Official College of Architects of the Balearics as it infringed planning regulations but two municipal reports gave the green light, saying that the General Plan could later be modified.