Ministry signs over Cabrera buildings

The central ministry of the environment will spend more than 12 million euros on restoring the former military installations on the island of Cabrera. The first step towards this project was taken yesterday in the municipality of Ses Salines, where minister Jaume Matas, a former leader of the Balearics, and defence minister Federico Trillo, signed an agreement which will allow the National Parks Authority to use 85 per cent of the defence ministry buildings and installations. The final objective of the agreement is to develop the integral plan for use of the park, which has been approved by the joint management committee formed by the central and Balearic environment ministries. Work is due to start in the summer. The first stage will include restoring and improving various buildings dotted about the island, particularly those in the bay and the port, as well as the cemetery and the Guardia Civil houses. Dry stone walls will be repaired and the soccer field covered with plants. The second stage of work involves restoring and improving the port and paths, and the Ensiola lighthouse. Matas described the agreement as “a very important step forward” which will mean “a significant improvement to Cabrera” which will become an “emblematic park in the network of national parks.”Trillo said that the agreement will “cover the needs of citizens” and the concession has been made in the general interest. The central environment ministry also plans to spend 23 million euros on the construction of two visitors centres. One will be at the Torre den Pau in Cala Gamba (Cabrera comes under the jurisdiction of Palma) and the other will be in the Colonia de Sant Jordi. A permanent exhibition on Cabrera will be opened in a multifunctional hall in Ses Salines.