In the context of the public inquiry into the project declaration for the establishment of an agri-food platform and the compatibility modification of the POS (Local Urban Plan) of La Gaude, Annebelle Jaeger, regional councilor, Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise, metropolitan councilor of Nice Côte d’Azur, and Alain Ginouvier, municipal councilor of Cagnes-sur-Mer have submitted observations highlighting the “economic and ecological absurdities.”
The Green Party elected officials request the Inquiry Commissioner to:
– Reject the establishment of an agri-food platform (in place of the current MIN) in La Gaude, and in accordance with the DTA recommendations, find a location on the left bank of the Var,
– Suspend any new removal of agricultural lands in the Var Plain until a comprehensive development plan for the Var Plain, particularly its agricultural project, is proposed.
Here is a summary:
This project does not seem justified economically.
Indeed, an activity report of the Min, presented for approval to the metropolitan councilors on December 21, 2012, shows that it is not a structure in danger.
The MIN appears as a significant and crucial entity in supplying the department, particularly the Nice metropolitan area. Consider these figures:
– 1650 jobs
– Processing of 77,800 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, with a substantial increase in organic products
– 281 producers using the MIN’s services
– Over 3000 buyers sourcing from the MIN
It becomes apparent that the suppliers and buyers, listed on very explicit geographic maps, mostly come from the nearby coastal strip and the Nice metropolitan area. Realizing that the majority of merchandise will therefore make a coastal – La Baronne round trip, we face an economic nonsense…
… And an ecological one if we project into a near future where it will become imperative to resort to rail freight due to the rising costs of petroleum fuels.
Besides consuming 25 hectares of nourishing land, the location of the future agri-food hub faces strong constraints: drainage channels imposed by the PPRI, protected plant stations like a species of orchid, presence of high-voltage lines.
The project itself will generate a series of nuisances:
– Mass effect linked to the building dimensions: creation of significant noise nuisance and waterproofing of large surfaces,
– Very significant increase in traffic: 1,200 movements of heavy goods vehicles/day and 5,200 light vehicles/day with 800 vehicles/peak hour,
– Creation of an interchange very close to the village area to channel the traffic,
– Significant air pollution is to be feared…
Economic, ecological, and geographical logic would thus require that the MIN either be renovated on-site or recreated at the location initially planned by the DTA, on the left bank of the Var, in St Isidore, near the highway, the railway (Provence railways), and the future tramway.
