Huge casino development planned in Spain
Posted by Epiphany Solutions on 30 Apr 2009 at 10:04
The local government of a region of Spain is ready to pass a law meaning a huge casino and theme park complex could be built there.
BBC News reports the 'Grand Scala' project involves hotels, theme parks, and a racecourse among other facilities, near the village of Ontinena, Aragon.
According to the corporation, some local people including the local priest of a 13th century church are actually in favour of the plans.
Father Lorenzo, of the church of Saint Mary, Ontinena, is quoted as saying: "In general I think it's a good idea.
"I suppose it could bring economic development. But moral development, that depends on the individual."
Other people are largely thought to be in support of the plans, which have been drawn up by International Leisure Development (ILD).
The BBC says one survey discovered more than 80 per cent of residents locally support the scheme.
Once complete the plan is expected to see more than 30 casino hotels, theme parks, golf courses, a dog track, and a convention centre.
Ontinena is actually a relatively small village, currently home to 600 people and a two-hour drive from Barcelona. Nearby there is farmland and other property which could bring its owners a windfall if bought as part of the development.
The BBC spoke to Jaime Riera of ILD, who said land would be bought from local owners and that the company does not expect to find difficulty in raising $20 billion (£14 billion) to complete the scheme.
Quoted by the corporation, he said: "I am so confident because you can have the land, you can have the institutional support and you can have the money, but in this case I think we have everything to make the cocktail wonderful."
Angel Torres, Mayor of Ontinena, said the project is the future of the region and the whole country, and as a result the town council was behind it.
Around 200,000 people will be employed directly or indirectly by the so-called leisure city, and the Aragon local government is also throwing its support behind the development.
The BBC reports in order to go ahead local authorities must pass a new law, due to arrive at the end of June, which would put legal and environmental rules on the scheme.
However, not everyone is fully in favour. Already an opposition group, called stop Grand Scala, a community organisation, has been formed and says there have been insufficient environmental impact studies.
Comparisons with Las Vegas are obvious as if the project is built it will be next to the Monegros Desert.
The BBC also says that last year the city of Zaragoza, close to the region, saw the hosting of the World Water Expo - which saw discussions on conserving water and sustainable development.
But Ontinena could perhaps do with an economic lift as the BBC report also mentions the population of the village has gone down from 600 100 years ago to 2,000 now. Spain is also in a recession and has Europe's highest unemployment rate.
