2023-06-10 05:15:09
It’s a strange sight in the port of La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var): a huge floating bank, 1,750 manicured square meters placed on a motor trimaran, with a freshwater swimming pool, restaurant-lounge and deckchairs perfectly lined up, completely empty among freighters and cranes. This private beach, called Canua Island by its designers, is awaiting authorization to set sail and drop anchor off Mandelieu-la-Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes). Everything has been ready since May to welcome customers, who were to be transported by shuttle to the floating island, 300 meters from the shore.
But the 16 million euro project remains in port for the time being, due to a lack of shipping and navigation permits. A petition from local residents opposed to the project has already gathered more than 7,000 signatures. The president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Renaud Muselier (Renaissance), has already warned that he will legally challenge any authorization given to what he considers to be a “ecological aberration”.
The elected official keeps pointing the finger at a project “which makes absolutely no sense”even though the Côte d’Azur regularly finds itself at the heart of debates concerning its private jets and yachts, criticized for their environmental impact. ” It’s simple. The times are changing. What was acceptable yesterday is not necessarily acceptable today. explain the teams of the chosen one.
“Hundreds of jobs created”
At the origin of the project, Marc Audineau, former dinghy champion, and another athlete, Tony Philp, former windsurfing champion, threatened to have to “terminating contracts” of “the hundred jobs created” if the last authorizations “are not delivered at the end of the week”. They claim to have hired 80 catering professionals and 23 crew members.
“This is a project that is completely unacceptable in the current social and environmental climate.decides the office of the president of the region. We are living in a very special historical moment. People have lived through two years of terrible drought. We cannot ask them to deprive themselves and restrict themselves so that such an island, in a rather provocative way, settles in front of the beach, but remains reserved for those who can afford it. »
An opinion shared by the Secretary of State responsible for the sea, Hervé Berville, who, while visiting the harbor of La Seyne-sur-Mer on 1is june, simply commented “that it is[ssai]This is a project neither done nor to be done”. The two entrepreneurs assure that Canua Island “is not a whim of a billionaire”. In a press release written by a Parisian communication company paid for the occasion, they implore the State to “let work”.
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