The Benidorm City Council plenary session yesterday, Monday March 30th, authorised the city’s Strategic Renaturalisation Plan, a tool that aims to enhance the liveability, health, and well-being of the population by mitigating the impact of climate change and the progressive loss of biodiversity. The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has endorsed the proposal, which was submitted by the Councillor for Parks and Gardens, José Ramón González de Zárate, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), which is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme.
The proposition was approved with the backing of the local government of the People’s Party and the socialist municipal group, and the abstention of the Vox councillor.
The City Council is “a pioneer in the implementation of plans proposed by the European Union,” which include the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), the Sustainable Urban Transport Plan, and the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. The Councillor for Parks and Gardens began his address by noting that these plans have “laid the groundwork for an integrated approach to urban sustainability.” In addition, he clarified that this Strategic Renaturalization Plan is an additional advancement. It is a technical instrument that is intended to be used for analysis, planning, and proposals. Its objectives include the reintroduction of natural processes into the urban environment, the enhancement of ecological connectivity, the reinforcement of green and blue infrastructure, and the promotion of the generation of essential ecosystem services for the city.
The plan establishes four fundamental objectives to accomplish this: the enhancement and expansion of urban green spaces; the preservation and promotion of the ecological network; environmental justice, awareness, and knowledge; and adaptive management and governance.
González de Zárate emphasised that Benidorm “is an example of a green city concerned about the environment” and cited the actions that have been implemented in the past ten years to further this commitment, including the renaturalization of spaces in other public spaces, such as the courtyards of three Infant and Primary schools in the city, and in streets such as Doctor Pérez Llorca and Periodista Emilio Romero, among others.
The council also approved the declaration of expiration and the initiation of a new process for the PAI (Integrated Action Plan) and Urbanisation Project for the PP3/1 Industrial Sector. According to Councillor for Urban Planning, Lourdes Caselles, this will “finalise the project and make it a reality.” The councillor disclosed that a number of meetings have been conducted in recent weeks with proprietors to establish a new urban development consortium in order to advance the sector’s completion project. He also observed that the sector has already reached 75% development.
The Popular Group and Vox voted in favour of the motion, while the Socialist Group chose to abstain.
In March, the PP and Vox parties voted in favour of a motion presented by the mayor, Toni Pérez, while the PSOE abstained. The motion was also adopted during the regular session. Restoring and operationalising the San Diego reservoir is the primary objective of the motion, which is directed at the Spanish government. Lourdes Caselles, the spokesperson for the local government team, expressed regret that the proposal was not unanimously approved, stating that it is a “much-needed piece of infrastructure for the province’s water supply” and also supplies water to the Marina Baixa Water Consortium. The Socialist group did not participate in the defence of water, a motion that has been jointly supported in numerous municipalities of l’Alacantí and Vinalopó, where it did obtain the support of the Socialist group, she lamented.
This reservoir was intended to serve as a strategic infrastructure for the regulation of water transfer and the assurance of a consistent supply to the Alicante irrigation system, with a capacity of 80 hm³. However, it remains unusable as a result of its lack of waterproofing and the fact that it has been damaged.
Awards for the Local Police and the Water Cycle
The proposal of the Councillor for Citizen Security to initiate the procedure for bestowing awards and decorations by the Valencian Regional Government to three officers of the Local Police Force was also approved by the entire City Council by unanimous vote. The Cross of Police Merit with blue distinction will be presented to these officers in recognition of their over ten years of service in the police force and their numerous commendations. Mario César Martínez Villas, David Fontanet González, and Francisco Javier Sánchez Molina comprise the officers. According to Councillor Jesús Carrobles, these three officers “display exemplary conduct and stand out with distinction and perseverance in fulfilling their duties, which undoubtedly makes them deserving of this distinction.” He also expressed his optimism that “this recognition will serve as a token of gratitude and an incentive to continue performing their work.”
The City Council plenary session supported the proposal of the Councillor for the Water Cycle to urge the Government of Spain to immediately begin the bidding process for the actions at the Rincón de León and Monte Orgegia wastewater treatment plants for the so-called “Zero Discharge Project” in the current Hydrological Plan for the Júcar River Basin, which is valid until December 2027. The PP and Vox parties voted in favour of the proposal, while the Socialist group abstained. This proposal is outlined in the current Hydrological Plan for the Júcar River Basin, which is valid until December 2027.
José Ramón González de Zárate emphasised that these projects, which have been designated of General Interest since 2005 and are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the State, are crucial for the protection of the bay’s marine ecosystem and the provision of additional water resources for irrigators in the region. He also observed that they are included in the Júcar River Basin Management Plan for the 2022-2027 cycle, with an explicit start date in 2022 and a completion date in 2027. This plan is funded by the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and was declared urgent and a priority by the Congress of Deputies in June 2023. Although the Generalitat (Valencian Government) prepared implementation plans for these projects and submitted them in July and December 2023, they are currently experiencing an unjustified delay that has even led to the loss of European funds.
According to José Ramón González de Zárate, the region will benefit from the use of treated effluent instead of drinking water for irrigation, as the water for Benidorm and the Marina Baixa is also sourced from the Júcar basin. He subsequently expressed his disappointment that these essential infrastructures have yet to be implemented, despite the existence of initiatives and funds.
Additional motions that were approved
The councillors for Contracting and General Heritage proposed that all members of the Corporation vote in favour of the awarding of a concession for the private occupation of public land at 8 Tordo Street, Edificio Andalucía, with the intention of installing an elevator for universal accessibility. Jaime Jesús Pérez, the councillor for General Heritage, clarified that the City Council will permit the occupation of 4.31 meters of public right-of-way by this community of owners with this motion. He argues that the building’s configuration does not permit any other alternative for the installation of an elevator that ensures access to the apartments and complies with accessibility regulations. Additionally, he maintained that this issue is substantiated by all pertinent technical reports.
Article 184 of Law 8/2010, of June 23rd, of the Valencian Local Government Law, establishes a concession period of 75 years (including extensions). The concession requires the payment of a fee of €60 by each beneficiary resident, as outlined in article 6.3.d) 4 of the Tax Ordinance Regulating the Fee for Private Use or Special Exploitation of the Local Public Domain. (BOP 28/12/2021) and in accordance with the provisions outlined in the PCAP.
The annual extension for 2026 of the Consortium’s administrative agreement with the Benidorm City Council, which was signed on July 10th, 2025, for the implementation of the provisions of the Zone 6 Waste Management Plan, Management Area A1, was also unanimously approved by Mayor Toni Pérez. Councilman José Ramón González de Zárate clarified that this agreement must be renewed annually and that it encompasses the City Council’s collaboration with municipal staff, specifically a technical advisor and an administrative employee, who, in addition to their municipal responsibilities, also provide services to reinforce and ensure the Consortium’s ordinary and operational functioning.
Another item that was approved during the plenary session was the motion from the municipal group of the Popular Party. This motion requested that the Spanish Government suspend fiscal rules and allow for greater flexibility in the use of Treasury surpluses for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, in light of the socioeconomic consequences of the conflict in Iran. Lourdes Caselles, the spokesperson for the Popular Party, underscored that the armed conflict has resulted in a rise in costs, particularly for energy, raw materials, and basic goods. This has had a particularly significant impact on families, households, and businesses, with local councils being the most accessible entities to address the needs of our residents. He also noted that these regulations were once again tightened in 2024, resulting in municipalities being compelled to use their savings to pay off bank debt. He argued that it is necessary to make these fiscal rules more flexible, particularly for municipalities that manage their finances well and conclude their fiscal years with treasury surpluses and savings. This has already been done in the past, as evidenced by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the rise in energy prices, and the ongoing increase in the cost of the shopping basket. We are of the opinion that it must be repeated at this time.
“We are currently confronted with an extraordinary circumstance that has been precipitated by this armed conflict. The extent of its impact and the repercussions are uncertain. However, the municipalities that possess positive treasury balances are of the opinion that these funds should be allocated to assist our neighbours who require assistance the most,” Caselles stated.
The proposition was approved with the backing of the Vox councillor and the Popular Party. The Socialist Party, which had initially declared its support, ultimately refrained from voting after its councillors departed the plenary session.
Lastly, the plenary session was apprised of the audit report of the Benidorm City Council for the exercise of Internal Control in Local Entities, fiscal year 2024, and of order No. 133/2026 of the Administrative Court No. 3 of Alicante, dated March 18th, 2026, by which the Court consents to the approval of the extrajudicial agreement reached by the parties on March 17th, 2026, and the filing of the judicial procedure in relation to the APR7 of Serra Gelada.
Other Articles
