Agenda21: On Clean air, Nautical fair, Auditorium, drought, whales and ecological corridors
Chris Jones
Chris
Spanish 'Energy-free' apartments win global award
Jan 30th
An apartment block in the province of Zaragoza is the second in Spain to win the Passivhaus Certificate, a global energy-efficiency award given to residential properties which use little or no power. Based across the borders of the towns of Valdespartera, Casablanca and Montecanal, the Residencial Scenia II is made up of 26 flats with as swimming pool, spread out over 13,576 square metres (33.5 acres) of land and is the brainchild of developers LOBE Group. 'Passive Houses' are homes which use practically no energy and supply themselves with power, with year-round indoor temperatures of 20ºC to 25ºC guaranteed without switching on any heating or air-conditioning apparatus. From: ThinkSpain
They save about 90% on typical energy bills for standard residential properties, or 75% on new builds, as well as offering multiple benefits for comfort, health and quality of life, LOBE Group says.
Brussels gives Spain an ultimatum to clean up its air
Jan 30th
The European Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, has summoned nine countries to Brussels which he plans to bring to justice for their breaches of air pollution standards. In Spain the problems are centred in Madrid and Barcelona and associated with nitrogen dioxide, that is, with traffic. Before bringing the nine breaching states to the EU Court of Justice, the Commission has given them one last chance : to present their plans against pollution before the end of next week. Basically, Brussels is asking them to explain "how they are going to try to comply with the European legislation on air quality". In addition to Spain, the governments of the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the United Kingdom have all been called to the meeting with Vella. From:El Pais.
Xàbia will host its first "Nautical Weekend" in March
Jan 31st
The 1st Nautical Weekend Fair will take place on 24th and 25th March on Avenida Augusta, on the section that separates the interior marina with the canal. Entry will be totally free. Juan Fuentes, manager of Marina Nou Fontana, organiser of the fair, pointed out that "the fair will be a must for all lovers of the sea" . Fuentes highlights that the exhibiting companies are from the entire area, "linked to high quality nautical services and activities with great respect for the privileged environment. " The nautical companies add some 500 jobs. The idea is to help de-seasonalise tourism in Xàbia. Many of the nautical clients come from Madrid and take a weekend off before easter week. The fair will feature "First, recreational motor boats between 5 and 9 meters in length. Second, diving. Xàbia is a benchmark in the Valencian Community and in Spain and within the marina there are seven diving centers. The third section is boat rentals, jet skis, excursions and the fourth, parallel activities such as talks and workshops. " from: Javea.com
Xàbia museum receives record number of visitors
Jan 27th
The Soler Blasco Municipal Museum in Xàbia attracted almost 24,550 visitors to its facilities during 2017, a record number which beats previous records, surpassing the 2016 number by 1,425 and demonstrates a continued interest in the town's history and development by both residents and visitors. With regards to a tourism attraction, the percentage of visitors from other European countries (and to a lesser extent other countries across the world) is very significant with 6,446 foreign visitors representing some 26.7% of the total, a rise of more than two points on 2016. Local visitors accounted for 4,434 visits, 18% of the total, with 10.4% coming from the Comunidad Valenciana and 45.2% from the rest of Spain. The municipal museum highlighted to work of the 'Asociación de Amigos de Mvsev de Xàbia (AMVX)' for its contributions to making the venue a continuing success. Since its formation in 2013, its members have managed to translate all the information in the museum, including the panels and information videos, into English and more recently into French which helps foreign visitors to better understand the content of the exhibition. For full story see: Javeamigos
Culture committee briefed on new projects for 2018 and the Auditorium
Jan 25th
Apart form the programme of cultural events, the briefing included information on the new auditorium, which should be completed by the beginning of 2019. They were alos considering the management model it should have. The auditorium which will be the only one in the region with the necessary infrastructure to be able to host operas and theatrical shows which require changing of sets as well as the added value that makes it accessible for people with hearing problems and its use as a venue for conferences, etc. The meeting was alos was informed about the future of the Central Cinema with the mayor pledging that the Ayuntamiento would not abandon trying to find a use for it and consequently had been seeking advice through CulturArts to study all of the infrastructures of a cultural use that Xàbia has and identify what role could be applied to the Central Cinema. For full story see: Javeamigos. For the Agenda21 proposal for use of the Central Cinema see: Agenda21 proposal Central Cinema
Amjasa joins project to manage drought
Jan 25th
AMJASA has signed a collaboration agreement with the Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, a collective that promote more rational and sustainable water policies through scientific knowledge, for the preparation of a methodological guide on the management of drought risk in small and medium-sized towns in the face of climate change, joining with Puente Genil (Córdoba) and Madridejos (Toledo). The project which will be developed over the coming year forms part of the call for funding for projects on adapting to climate change 2016 by the Fundación Biodiversidad. It includes an initial analysis of the supply system, a workshop and debate on the vulnerabilities and social capacities for drought risk management and a final meeting to validate and discuss the results and what needs to be done in the future. For full story see: Javeamigos
The new General Plan of Benitatxell will create an ecological corridor to link the Montgó with Bèrnia
Jan 12th
The new General Structural Plan of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell has been revealed as an instrument of strategic planning for the sustainable development of the Marina Alta according to the new editorial team led by the architect Alberto Morera. The key geographical situation of the municipality makes it a nexus of connection of natural areas of great importance, such as the natural park of Montgó, the cliffs (protected with the LIC Penya-segats de la Marina), the Serra de Bèrnia and the natural and rural areas of the interior of the region. The plan will create an ecological corridor that will connect the Montgó, the Garganta de Gata and the Serra de Bèrnia. In addition, it will preserve the agricultural landscape (it will also promote the recovery of this economic activity) and will protect the coastal front through a network of public viewpoints. From : La Marina Plaza
New outbreak of Xylella detected in Benissa, Gata, Xaló, Parcent and Llíber
Jan 1st
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has declared the existence of a fifth outbreak of the pest Xylella fastidiosa in the Valencian Community. This one affects the Marina Alta, which has adopted urgent phytosanitary measures for eradication and control. From: La Marina Plaza. To date, no known curative treatment can prevent the disease; the progressive spread of the pathogen can only be contained. Investigators are testing for the bacterium widely, and trees found to be infected have been burned and destroyed to halt the disease’s propagation. See: Access science for more details.
International protection for the whale and porpoise corridor near the Marina Alta Coast
Jan 1st
The 20th Conference of the Parties (COP 20) of the Barcelona Convention (Conference of coastal countries responsible for protecting the Mediterranean) held in Tirana (Albania) declared the area off the Marina Alta coastline as a Specially Protected Area of Importance for the Mediterranean (ZEPIM). This measure affects more than 46,000 square kilometers between the coasts of the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia -to the south of which is the Marina Alta. Oil prospecting that was threatening the Gulf of València a while ago and now will no longer be possible because the Mediterranean cetacean corridor will have international protection, as with similar corridors of other seas and oceans of the planet. A direct consequence of this international protection is that the Ministry of Energy must file all projects and applications for hydrocarbon exploration and research permits that affect this protected area. The Government must now put into practice the agreement ratified in Tirana by issuing a decree declaring the Marine Protected Area. From La Marina Plaza
Marina Alta to receive 3 million for sustainable projects
Dec 12th
The Provincial Council of Alicante wants to allocate for the municipalities of the region a total of 2,993,984 euros from the Municipal Cooperation Fund. The distribution of these grants will benefit mainly the smaller municipalities. Taking into account the number of inhabitantsto give more support to smaller towns. Another criterion will be the area of the municipality, since "it is a determining factor in the maintenance of important aspects such as public roads and drinking water networks". Population density is another criterion. With these criteria, municipalities that do not exceed 500 inhabitants such as Benigembla, Castell de Castells or Murla will receive 73,352 euros, 88,592 euros and 68,888, respectively. Other localities near 5,000 inhabitants like Gata de Gorgos, El Verger and Poble Nou de Benitatxell will have 97,475 euros, 87,090 euros and 89,624 euros respectively. From: Las Provincias
New-build home values rise to 'pre-crisis levels'
Jan 5th
New build residential property rose in value in 2017 by more than any time in the last decade, according to the Surveyors' Society, with major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona seeing prices reach pre-financial crisis levels. A typical 90-square-metre property in a provincial capital city, which is likely to be a three-bedroom apartment, would now cost an average of €200,400, having increased in value by around 5% this year – or €2,227 per square metre. The Surveyors' Society says these increases in value for newly-constructed homes have not been seen since 2007, when property prices hit highs never seen before or since and just over a year before the economic crisis struck. For full story see: ThinkSpain
Foreign tourist spending in Spain up 12.9% in 2017
Jan 5th
Tourists visiting Spain shelled out far more cash in 2017 than the previous year, even though Catalunya's disputed independence referendum saw spending fall in the autumn. Year-on-year growth, as at the end of November, was around 12.9%, and for that month, holidaymakers spent 10.3% more in Spain than they did in November 2016. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in 2017 – excluding December, for which figures are not yet available – visitors parted with a total of €82.3 billion whilst on holiday in Spain. In November alone, they spent €4.64bn. For full story see: ThinkSpain
Xàbia to seek EU funds to convert the civil war air raid shelter in the port into a museum
December 27th
The Town Council has aggreed a request for a grant from the European Regional Development Fund Program (Feder) of the Valencian Region 2014-2020. (Aid for the protection, conservation and recovery of assets of Valencian cultural heritage.) to rehabilitate and convert the 1938 air raid shelter in the Port into a museum. According to the municipal archaeologist, Ximo Bolufer, "the intention is that people can visit it and learn a little more about the years of the Civil War, especially how the residents of Xàbia passed that period. ." The enclosure was sealed more than 40 years ago. The refuge is about 30 square metres, divided into two galleries. The outer gallery of approximately 12 square metres, would be renovated to accommodate public visits. The second area is more deteriorated. Bolufer states that it is not even finished, "the war ended before it was finalized." The years they have taken a toll and technicians can not yet determine if it could be restored. According to the archaeologist, "there are water leaks, a study is needed to determine what can be done there." The Museum project has not yet been drawn up, it could just be an audio/visual display. The important thing is to secure the funding first, since the concrete slab sealing the enclosure is at risk of collapse. Basic refurbishment would cost an estimated €100,000 - €110,000 which would be 50% co-financed by the Town Hall. Bolufer added: "there are other historical buildings in the town but the budget that would be needed is much higher. You can not allocate so much money from the municipal coffers to these improvements ». From: Las Provincias
Arenal social centre moves next to Tourist office
Dec 27th
The Civic Punt del Arenal social centre, an initiative developed by the Ayuntamiento de Xàbia almost five years ago to energise the community in the area, has changed its location from Jávea Park to a new municipal premises in Calle Saint Tropez next to the Tourist Info Office in Avenida del Pla. In addition to being a social centre for children, the Cívic Punt acts as an administration office which aims to create a sense of community where residents of the area can meet and have their concerns heard, particularly by councillor Pilar Zamora, the area representative, who attends the office on a weekly basis. For full story see: Javeamigos.
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Cullen Hightower