Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
The project to build a massive sports and leisure complex on the outskirts of Coín, ‘Transcendence’, is going full steam ahead despite growing opposition from local residents.
It is estimated that the urban planning project will be the largest of its kind in the province of Malaga for the past few years. Its impact on the town of Coín in the Guadalhorce Valley will be unprecedented.
The local council should not miss this opportunity. The numbers are irresistible: €300 million of investment is expected to come in with the project, the creation of about 700 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs is on the cards, and 185,000 visitors a year are hoped for.
On the other hand, local residents have been up in arms at the prospect of the project, and banners hang from balconies and fences around the town and its outskirts reading ‘No con mi agua’ (not with my water) from the grassroots campaign ‘Mesa de Agua’, who argue that the drought-stricken municipality cannot afford to lose so much water when many in the surrounding areas have been relying on lorry deliveries for the last few years.
The most controversial waterpark for drought-affected areas is Transcendence.
One of the biggest parts of the project is an area named ‘Mundo Agua’ which will occupy more than 130,000 square metres, a large pool with a wave machine, a ‘rapids’ channel, an Agua Surf centre of 1,500 metres, and the surface of water needed for this gigantic aquatic space would be a volume of 217,975 cubic metres.
As well the project includes the planting of 12,000 trees in the area, plans for a ‘Mundo Tierra’, with a skatepark, climbing centre, mountain biking tracks, BMX circuits, reception, bar/cafe, a logistics zone, shops, and changing rooms.
Then there is the ‘Mundo Fuego’ with an area of 116,751 metres, set aside circuits for buggies, motocross, and karting. ‘Mundo Aire’, including 6,150 square metres for a wind tunnel (artificial skydiving) and zip lines, and several other sections for adventurous sports, including kitesurfing.
There are 518 cabins of various sizes and prices planned, as well as approximately 1,000 houses and 2 golf courses.
The council will have three months to approve the project, which would change the economic fortunes of the city. The environmental impact of this project, according to many locals, could be catastrophic for families who depend on the aquifer as a source of household water or for agricultural purposes. All the local authorities in the surrounding areas have already refused to participate.
