The plan, promoted by the Commissioner for Recovery, Raúl Mérida, in collaboration with the Federation of Public Works of Alicante (FOPA), aims to reduce the territory's vulnerability through nature-based infrastructure. The objective is to improve flood response capacity and move towards a more resilient territorial model.
The first phase of this strategy by the Consell includes an investment of approximately 25 million euros for the Vega Baja region. Actions will focus on improving the hydraulic capacity of the Segura River, including reed clearing and the renaturalization of 25 kilometers of its course, to minimize the effects of future floods like those experienced in 2019.
Another significant project involves transforming the Monnegre River into a 22-kilometer green corridor, with an investment of 15 million euros. This space will traverse the municipalities of Tibi, Xixona, Mutxamel, Alicante, Sant Joan, and El Campello, and will include pedestrian routes and cycle paths.
Additionally, a riverside park will be created between Mutxamel and Sant Joan with an investment of 11.5 million euros. This initiative includes the construction of a collector and three interconnected lagoons to reduce flood risk, as well as reclaiming 60,000 square meters of green space.
Raúl Mérida emphasized that these strategic infrastructures will not only help manage floodwaters and reinforce urban area protection but also generate new public spaces and improve quality of life. The initiative is part of an autonomous strategy affecting all three provinces of the Comunitat Valenciana.
The commissioner also warned about the rising temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, which is registering historic highs and favors greater atmospheric moisture concentration, predicting this will translate into 'more rainfall this autumn'.
Finally, Mérida called on the central government for greater flexibility in emergency contracting and a review of public works prices, considering that current legislation does not provide an agile enough response to catastrophes.
