After the lights of the shows and distinguished guests of its inauguration, the Rocher Mistral, a theme park on Provence, installed at the castle of La Barben, 20 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, is in front of the justice. Assigned by France Nature Environnement (FNE) which accuses in particular an attack on a colony of species of bats threatened with extinction and construction without a permit. “They are illegal on bats, on the passage of trucks of more than 3.5 tons on the small stone bridge, on the construction of the market, and on their parking lot of 500 places which would have required a study. impact ”, lists Stéphane Coppey, president of the FNE 13.
Charges essentially refuted by Frédéric de Lanouvelle, deputy general manager of Rocher Mistral. “There is a truck which passed once and which was not from our region. For the bat colony we worked with specialists, set up an express room, and the colony, which migrates every August, returned more numerous in April. Finally, for the parking, we rent a land from the zoo [situé juste à côté] He replies.
“There are 200 jobs at stake”
On the other hand, the park should easily recognize its responsibility for the development of the market, carried out without a permit: “It was refused to us and we developed anyway, because there are 200 jobs at stake. Everything can be dismantled: if tomorrow we are condemned to dismantle and well we will dismantle. But all the ticketing and reception teams can go home ”. Frédéric de Lanouvelle holds this market as capital, which makes it possible to “extend the experience” and assumes the forced execution of the works for a rapid opening. A “vital” condition for the success of this 30 million euro project, even if it means causing some hiccups.
“When we realize that there is a declaration that has not been made, often due to ignorance, we contact the State services to regularize the situation,” he explains. A regularization “in one week” well helped by a “good understanding with the prefect and sub-prefect”.
Audience Tuesday in Aix
However, the project, carried out in record time of 18 months, is not finished. “In its 2022 version, the park will be 8.5 hectares”. “The impact study is complete,” adds Frédéric de Lanouvelle. The Rocher Mistral is now awaiting the development permit. 80 hectares of agricultural land (pistachio trees, almond trees, lavender, beehives and vines), which visitors can browse, should see the light of day.
Overall, the theme park denounces the hostility “of the mayor, of three residents for whom daily life is shaken up, we understand them, and of an association”. The latter would lead an “ideological” opposition, he believes. Faced with the way in which the Rocher Mistral confronts legislation, the president of FNE 13, Stéphane Coppey, wonders: “Beyond the environmental aspects, we wonder if the laws apply differently depending on whether you are rich. or manant. The answer should not be long in coming. The hearing, if the lawyers do not claim postponements, is scheduled for Tuesday, at the Aix-en-Provence court.