Coastal improvements get 4.7 million euros

Joan Collins THE Balearic Minister for the Environment, Jaume Font, announced yesterday that his department had started the procedures to put seven infrastructure projects out to tender during this year. The projects will be for infrastructures in the coastal areas of Majorca and Ibiza and will cost 4.75 million euros. These actions are in the agreement reached in March 2004 between the Balearic Government and the previous central Government, ratified in April 2005 by the current central Government. This agreement envisages a total investment of 120.77 million euros, 50 percent from each administration. During a press conference Font said that “it is a historic step” that the Balearic Government has the authority to pursue its own projects under this agreement, with the blessing of the central Ministry which manages the coasts. “It is a very important step for the Balearic Government”, said Font, who said that his department's commitment is to make an investment of some 12 million euros in the coastal areas annually, although this year it is thought that it will reach “14 or 15 million” on additional coastal projects. One of the projects is the improvement to the wetlands in La Gola in Pollensa, where 820'428 euros will be invested to repair the banks, improve the paths and install benches to make the area more enjoyable for visitors. In Cala Marçal in Felanitx the camber of the road will be modified so that rainwater will drain into the sea. This will cost some 154'529 euros. Also, this year will see the start of the first phase of the botanical garden in Es Carnatge. The construction of the infrastructures to create the seedbeds for the future plant exhibition centre will cost 252'353 euros. Font said that this project, which will have a total investment of 18 million euros, was modified to abolish the building which was going to be the headquarters of the Coastal Demarcation department. The fourth project announced by Font is the stabilisation of the cliffs in Cala Fonoll in Andratx, works which will cost 549'034 euros. In the bay of Sant Antoni de Portmany 1.11 million euros will be invested to construct a paved walkway, gardens and to install benches.