Controversy Over Building Plan Near Mincio River Shore

Even the Mincio River, as occurred on the Amalfi Coast for the Fuenti (recently demolished), could see a concrete monstrosity grow near Salionze just twenty meters from the shore.

Situation and planned intervention

The intervention concerns an area in decline (known as ex-Icomec), where abandoned warehouses still have asbestos roofing; according to the current Prg (General Urban Plan), this is designated as a zone for development, but with the restriction that it must host tourist-sport activities or activities related to the preservation area.

However, the company «Immobiliare Verde Mincio» has submitted a project proposing the construction of a tourist-hotel center with a volume of 21,000 cubic meters, requesting an amendment to the Prg of 4,000 cubic meters to create a residential area.

The amendment, approved by the center-right majority, faced strong opposition from the minorities, environmental associations, the Archeoclub (due to the probable presence of stilt settlements), as well as from a group of local residents.

Reactions and opinions

«We support an intervention to rehabilitate existing structures,» stated Mayor Fausto Sachetto, «which are now overgrown with grass and infested with rats. Otherwise, the current state of decay would remain.»

The response came promptly from Pietro Bedulli, councilor of the Ulivo: «The mayor forgets that we are in a park zone, that there is extensive legislation requiring structures to be at least 100 meters from the shore, and that the thousands of people riding bikes, walking, or skating along the Mincio bank, from Peschiera to Mantova have every right to enjoy this area.»