Friday 30 August 2013
STV Chemicals
Following the recent statement, the chemicals comment relate to the
pictures of the communities gardeners spraying throughout the resort.
Perhaps the Committee needs to satisfy itself that the chemicals are in
keeping with good local practice and are not affecting the local
wildlife.
IRM response
We acknowledge IRM's and the Committees recent statement::
The Committee of the Community of Owners of Hacienda Riquelme
To all owners:
Following
recent environmental issues raised firstly by the committee and
subsequently by a well-publicised small group of owners regarding the HR
Golf Course and its chemical usage and storage, below is a statement
from IRM, the Golf Course owners, in response to those claims.
For
the sake of clarity, the state of the golf course and the lakes is not
within the remit of your committee or Resortalia although, of course, we
do maintain communications between IRM and ourselves on the basis that
what is good for HR is also good for IRM and vice versa.
Dear Sirs,
I
am addressing you on behalf of INVERSIONES EN RESORTS MEDITERRÁNEOS,
S.L, (IRM) corporation which owns the golf course situated in Hacienda
Riquelme Golf Resort (HRGR), and in response to your request for
information on the products used for the conservation and, in
particular, about the reason why some fish have been found dead in the
lakes as well as our compliance regarding the applicable environmental
regulations.
In
this regard and all though we have already been in contact with
Resortalia, SLP in his capacity as the community management company
for HRGR owners to give appropriate explanations, we would like to
inform you that the products used in the cleaning and maintenance of the
golf course are plant strengtheners that are related to the nutritional
family , thus resulting environmentally friendly, complying in any
case all environmental requirements required by the current
legislation, and being handled and delivered with absolute diligence by
the responsible personnel, observing precautions even greater than
those that are required by the safety data sheet of each product.
Therefore,
we should exclude the cause of the appearance of dead fish in the lake
due to poisoning or water contamination by these compounds. Moreover, as
already indicated to Resortalia, SLP, this is because when the level of
water falls as a result of field irrigation, some fish are caught on
the area where the vegetation remains temporarily above the water level
until the lake is refilled and die from lack of oxygen, and come to the
surface once it reaches its original water level.
In
any case, we assure you that IRM performs its activity with a strict
compliance with the current environmental regulations, and complying as
you already know with the Environmental Impact Statement of July 14,
2005 (DIA). Similarly, IRM, carries out and duly delivers each year to
the General office of Environmental Quality, the Annual Environmental
Statement that is requested both by the Article 2 of said DIA as by
the Article 133 of the Law 4/2009, of Integrated Environmental
Protection of the Region of Murcia and also undergoes every three years
an Environmental Audit contained in Article 4 of the EIS.
Finally,
indicate to you that we remain as usual at your disposal for any
clarification or request for additional information concerning those
products, their composition, safety data sheets and use, as well as our
performance of the applicable environmental regulations.
Sincerely,
IRM
|
Wednesday 21 August 2013
From the president:
From the president:
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort - Presidents Newsletter
Regrettably, this newsletter is going to concentrate on some of our financial challenges.
Cash flow
Because of the decrease in revenue due to the increase in debtors (PW being by far the largest) we are generating substantially less cash than was forecast. Accordingly, we have embarked on an austerity program and are only spending on existing contracts plus essential repairs to maintain our security and infrastructure. Although we budgeted for 100,000? for long term repairs and renewals, our cash flow means we would be ?unwise? to consider committing to expense when we cannot be sure that we will receive all our budgeted revenue.
Holidaymakers
June, July and August are the months when those owners who rent their apartments seek to optimize their revenue so that HR resembles a holiday resort.
Unfortunately, too many holidaymakers are attracted by some of the extremely low rentals that can be had here but who do not understand that apart from the golf course, there is little else to do. If the holidaymaker does not have access to a hire car, their options are decidedly limited.
We have already had a serious incident when one of a group of teenagers renting a second floor apartment apparently tried to jump off the apartment wall. He failed to walk away from his misguided attempt. This same group had earlier been smashing glass on to the road and had an altercation with our security.
If you rent, please make sure that your tenants understand the limitations of our facilities. HR was designed as a 5* golf resort and is just not suitable as a general holiday resort.
Our owners and renters must also appreciate that they have no rights to enter the golf course area, which includes the buggy paths unless they are actually playing the course. Any unauthorised person who is on the golf course is trespassing and there at their own risk. If they, or worse, their child, are hit by a golf ball, they would not be covered by insurance and the golfer would have no liability for the injury.
Phase 7 storage area
Owners on Phase 7 are understandably upset about how the storage area is being used by contractors which causes them varying degrees of nuisance depending on their position. Successive committees have recognized this and endeavored to improve matters for Phase 7 but, regrettably have had little success. It would appear that some Phase 7 owners believe that the committee does not care about this issue but nothing could be further from the truth.
The problem lies with the issue that there is nowhere else for our contractors to use that is remotely as effective as the storage area. The alternative areas for contractors to use are both outside our perimeter so would need to be secured before they could be used. One of these areas is adjacent to the pump house to the left of the road to Sucina and the other is outside our security fence opposite the end of Phase 6. We understand that both these areas are owned by PW or IRM so the golf course machinery could be moved to these areas but our gardeners would have no right to use these areas. This would mean that we have nowhere for our gardeners to base themselves.
Moving these operations will involve costs which, eventually, would be passed through to us ? either in increased golf course costs or increases in gardeners? costs. For these reasons, the majority of the committee has not been supportive of the idea to force the contractors to move although we have tried to have the contractors reduce the nuisance of the storage area and to reduce its adverse visual impact.
Some owners on Phase 7 have now had enough and are taking matters in to their own hands by initiating legal action to have the contractors removed. The majority of the committee is not prepared to support the action because they believe that such an action would not be in the best interests of the HR community as a whole.
We should also have a concern that the golf course is owned by a consortium of banks who have no choice but to take a tough commercial line. They have already told us that they are making a loss on the HR course with no sign of an improvement until they can source cheap water. We need to be mindful that if we push them in to a corner they could choose to close the course. I have had the benefit of being in communication with IRM so have a very real fear that this could well be their response so have this comment to say to the good folks on Phase 7: ?Be careful what you wish for?
Nigel Bradbury
President,
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort - Presidents Newsletter
Regrettably, this newsletter is going to concentrate on some of our financial challenges.
Cash flow
Because of the decrease in revenue due to the increase in debtors (PW being by far the largest) we are generating substantially less cash than was forecast. Accordingly, we have embarked on an austerity program and are only spending on existing contracts plus essential repairs to maintain our security and infrastructure. Although we budgeted for 100,000? for long term repairs and renewals, our cash flow means we would be ?unwise? to consider committing to expense when we cannot be sure that we will receive all our budgeted revenue.
Holidaymakers
June, July and August are the months when those owners who rent their apartments seek to optimize their revenue so that HR resembles a holiday resort.
Unfortunately, too many holidaymakers are attracted by some of the extremely low rentals that can be had here but who do not understand that apart from the golf course, there is little else to do. If the holidaymaker does not have access to a hire car, their options are decidedly limited.
We have already had a serious incident when one of a group of teenagers renting a second floor apartment apparently tried to jump off the apartment wall. He failed to walk away from his misguided attempt. This same group had earlier been smashing glass on to the road and had an altercation with our security.
If you rent, please make sure that your tenants understand the limitations of our facilities. HR was designed as a 5* golf resort and is just not suitable as a general holiday resort.
Our owners and renters must also appreciate that they have no rights to enter the golf course area, which includes the buggy paths unless they are actually playing the course. Any unauthorised person who is on the golf course is trespassing and there at their own risk. If they, or worse, their child, are hit by a golf ball, they would not be covered by insurance and the golfer would have no liability for the injury.
Phase 7 storage area
Owners on Phase 7 are understandably upset about how the storage area is being used by contractors which causes them varying degrees of nuisance depending on their position. Successive committees have recognized this and endeavored to improve matters for Phase 7 but, regrettably have had little success. It would appear that some Phase 7 owners believe that the committee does not care about this issue but nothing could be further from the truth.
The problem lies with the issue that there is nowhere else for our contractors to use that is remotely as effective as the storage area. The alternative areas for contractors to use are both outside our perimeter so would need to be secured before they could be used. One of these areas is adjacent to the pump house to the left of the road to Sucina and the other is outside our security fence opposite the end of Phase 6. We understand that both these areas are owned by PW or IRM so the golf course machinery could be moved to these areas but our gardeners would have no right to use these areas. This would mean that we have nowhere for our gardeners to base themselves.
Moving these operations will involve costs which, eventually, would be passed through to us ? either in increased golf course costs or increases in gardeners? costs. For these reasons, the majority of the committee has not been supportive of the idea to force the contractors to move although we have tried to have the contractors reduce the nuisance of the storage area and to reduce its adverse visual impact.
Some owners on Phase 7 have now had enough and are taking matters in to their own hands by initiating legal action to have the contractors removed. The majority of the committee is not prepared to support the action because they believe that such an action would not be in the best interests of the HR community as a whole.
We should also have a concern that the golf course is owned by a consortium of banks who have no choice but to take a tough commercial line. They have already told us that they are making a loss on the HR course with no sign of an improvement until they can source cheap water. We need to be mindful that if we push them in to a corner they could choose to close the course. I have had the benefit of being in communication with IRM so have a very real fear that this could well be their response so have this comment to say to the good folks on Phase 7: ?Be careful what you wish for?
Nigel Bradbury
President,
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Tuesday 13 August 2013
Environmental Impacts
Environmental Impact Statement of the Department of Environmental Quality on the transformation project land, golf course Hacienda Riquelme" Sucina, in the municipality of Murcia, at the request of Hacienda Riquelme, SL dated 17 August 2005.
(see http://www.borm.es/borm/documento?obj=anu&id=130581)
The Official Bulletin of the Region of Murcia, called the ?BORM?, is the official journal of the Murcia Local Council and states all laws, decrees, resolutions, provisions, communications and other actions of the Autonomous requiring such publication. One such BORM reference is the Environmental Impact Statement issued according to established the Law 1/1995 for Hacienda Riquelme dated 17 August 2005 which documented the main measures to contribute to ensuring biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, for the transformation project pf land, golf course and resort sewage in farmland known as Hacienda Riquelme, Sucina, in the municipality of Murcia, This clearly includes clauses for:
? Regional protected wild plants of the Region Murcia, which must be preserved at all times. Most are concentrated in the area of the field aimed at conservation and environmental improvement. Furthermore, as mentioned in the said report, the area is an owl home range and is real particular interest for heron, so the pro-project to develop certain measures should incorporate bird friendly measures as listed in this annex.
? Also, given the zone boundary SPAs with the aforementioned situation, the project has been subject to appropriate assessment of its repercussions on the Natural 2000 site predictably affected as established by Directive 92/43/EEC of May 21, and Royal Decree 1997 /1995 of December 7 on measures to contribute towards ensuring biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, within the Impact Assessment procedure conducted as established arrangers
? Additional training of Royal Decree 1302 /1986 of 28 June on Environmental Impact Assessment such, introduced by Law 62/2003, of December 30. As mentioned in the report dated 22 June 2005 Information Service and Integration Environmental training Environment Directorate Natural that the record shows the possible condition sold DRIA determined by diffusion impacts on the SPA Monte El Valle and Altahona saws and Escalona (ES0000269), so measures should be put to incorporate into the project evaluated that contribute to the conservation of bird species of Annex I of the Directive or regular migratory arrival have justified its designation as SPAs. These measures avoid the implications for the site of Natural 2000 and other for the conservation of the natural environment included in this Annex, together with the measures das corrective and proposed Monitoring Program in the Environmental Impact Study, enable the evaluated project compatibility with the conservation of natural values of the area.
? Prior to the work of creating the resort strict occupation zone of works including access roads, parks machinery, office area and changing rooms, areas stocks of materials and topsoil, facilities auxiliaries, etc, in order to minimize occupancy the soil, the vegetation condition and that the transit of personnel and equipment is restricted to the bounded area.
? Will be projected parkland and gardens so as to maintain the characteristics of the landscape and composition of the natural vegetation of the area, avoiding making parks and artificial formations.
? It must be ensured at all times (phase construction and operation of all actions) compliance with the provisions of Decree n. # 48 /1998 of July 30, Environmental Protection against noise by adopting, where appropriate, the measures necessary to ensure compliance with the noise limit values do set in the same, for different uses soil, or in the bylaws if be more restrictive
? Upon completion, proceed to the withdrawal of all facilities as well as the suitability of the site by removal or destruction of all remaining fixed works or foundations. The rubble or debris materials produced during the work of construction and materials that can not be reused in the work will be divided according to their natural future and intended for its proper management.
? Pesticides, biocides and / or substances used in the care and maintenance of field golf, gardens and green areas shall meet standards in force governing its use.
? Packaging and packaging waste with have these substances are intended to be correctly managed, complying with current regulations of packaging and packaging waste, and the in specific product packaging pesticides.
? The owner of golf course shall apply for entry in the Register of Small Pro-conductors Community Hazardous Waste Aut?noma of the Region of Murcia.
? All waste potentially recyclable or recoverable, must be designed for this purpose, avoiding do their elimination in all possible cases as Article 11.2 of Law 10/1998.
? At all times control the discomfort odors and / or noise, eliminating at source through preventive measures in operations causing them.
? When such measures are not effective, proceed to close all facilities where origian odors and / or noise. Thereby be available suitable facings that allow attenuation sound levels to acceptable limits in the regulations. Also, if necessary, be held temperature control inside the enclosures: this will be monitored and will adapt the emissions so that the cessation of be effective odor nuisance
? Environmental Monitoring Program: Monitoring Program will ensure compliance merit of protective and corrective measures contained in the Environmental Impact Study and the pre this Annex.
? Control actions as necessary to ensure at all times compliance effect on emissions, noise, waste and landfills for all the ACTIONS
This environmental impact study was formally adopted in 2005 before the HRGR resort was built and forms part of the formal planning agreements that are in force today
Status:
On 7th August 2013 the Association was notified that:
1)Dead fish have appeared again in the first week of August 2013 in the HRGR lakes. The aforementioned photos show proof. This could be due to the lack of water in the lakes, insufficient oxygen content in the water that does exist or chemicals within the water which is of great concern. We are also informed that 5 other IRM golf courses have lakes at the same water levels and some of the other resort lakes have been filled with desalinated water which is not good for the environment or in keeping with the Environmental Impact Study for the HRGR region of land.
2) We are informed by a fellow owner that chemicals have been thrown in the surroundings of the workers compound. This is illegal and dangerous for wildlife, pets health and potentially human health depending on what has been dumped and where. Has this happened due to our formal request of a list of all chemicals used on site?
3) We have been told by another fellow owner that SEPRONA, Guardia Civil's Nature Protection Service, believes the present situation of the HRGR lakes is also now illegal.
4)The destruction of the reeds in the water beds in the lakes has caused an ecological disaster.
5) Many species of birds especially Owls protected under the Environmental Impact Study have disappeared from the resort
6) Health problems are an increasing risk for wildlife, pets and even people
7)The resort was included in the area that the Murcia Town Hall wants to be declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
8) Many owners have had their investments materially devalued
We have therefore notified the Murcia council, SEPRONA and a number of environmental bodies
HRGR Association
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