Reconstruction plan for flood disaster area
Vote held over projects to fortify the Vega Baja
BETTER preparation and protection against the risk of future flooding, and improved road connections are the most popular projects to improve the Vega Baja area as part of the regional government’s Plan Vega Renhace.
The plan is intended to turn the catastrophe of the September floods into an opportunity to regenerate the local economy and society, and make the area more resilient during future torrential storms.
After months of public meetings and debates, 115 proposals from members of the public, associations and public institutions were divided into four categories – infrastructure, society, the environment and the economy – and put to a vote last week.
Although it was possible to vote online, as well as in person at some town halls, only 482 people did so, when the population of the area exceeds 350,000.
The 12 winning proposals were presented in Guardamar del Segura’s Plaza de la Constitución on Tuesday.
The top three were to establish proper emergency response plans, to divert the Rambla de Abanilla watercourse, and to widen the CV-95 road between Orihuela and Torrevieja.
Campaign group Segura Transparente suggested changing the course of the Rambla de Abanilla, so that floodwater could be diverted to controlled floodable areas of countryside, and compensating these farmers with insurance.
The regional government itself proposed that every municipality develop its own emergency plan, as well as one to coordinate all 27 municipalities in the area with training for residents to prepare for future floods.
And a member of the public presented the CV-95 plan to increase its capacity, reduce journey times and improve road safety.
The other proposals chosen in the infrastructure category were to assess the condition of the hydrological network, which would include detecting roads that block the path of floodwater and limiting use of floodable areas; and creating independent storm drain systems in town centres.
In the society category, they were approving the regional government’s Vega Baja territorial action plan (PAT), as reported in Costa Blanca News last week; affordable and environmentally friendly public transport links with other areas; and adapting existing housing in floodable areas to minimise potential damage.
The other environmental proposals were to set up an ‘extreme water’ research centre to study drought and flooding; and for the MUDIC science museum to teach schools about the problem of flooding in the area, climate change and pollution of the air and water.
Finally, the other economic proposals were to help local commerce by setting up cooperatives for farmers and wholesalers, and a fund in case of a future disaster; and to foster sustainable agriculture, with a Denomination of Origin (DO) for Vega Baja produce and a law to regulate irrigation.