The land where the future Dreams casino would be built was rejected by the Hydraulic Works Directorate.
Chile.- The Hydraulic Works Directorate rejected the project presented by the Central Agricultural Guild Association, which proposed the construction of the new Dreams casino on a plot in the city of Talca. According to the local media Diario El Centro, the project aimed to fill the lands of the ExFital sector, an area known for its flooding during heavy rains.
The DOH authorities argued that the plan does not effectively address the problem. "It is not feasible to think that creating islands of filled lands will solve the problem of risk zones," states the DOH report. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to evaluate land use beforehand, according to the Regulatory Plan, before presenting a definitive solution.
It is worth remembering that the Central Agricultural Guild Association previously submitted a Relevance Inquiry (CP) to the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) of the Maule Region. In this document, information was provided about the modification of the facilities of the former FITAL, where the construction of the new Casino Dreams is projected. However, this request generated concern, as, according to the local newspaper, it could allow the project to evade the corresponding environmental assessment.
Dreams intends to build a new complex on an eight-hectare site that previously hosted the International Fair of Talca (Fital), adjacent to the Claro River resort.
These lands are currently in the hands of the Central Agricultural Association and during the government of González Videla (1940s) were ceded for the development of agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities (not a casino).
The floodability of the place, declared high risk, was evident in August last year, due to an intense frontal system that affected the central-southern area of the country and which in the case of Talca, meant the rise and overflow of the Claro River, affecting the renovated park.
The potential effects on the Claro River Wetland and the flooding problems that the area has suffered in the last two years would not be evaluated through the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). This raised doubts about whether it really was a modification or if, instead, it corresponds to a new project that should undergo the environmental assessment process.
In this context, the local media explained, it is crucial to define what mitigation works will be required to face the floods in the sector. The community and various environmental organizations are on alert.
It is worth remembering that last year, when the problem of the "floodability" of the land came to light, the mayor of Talca, Juan Carlos Díaz, said: "When they asked us for our statement, we stated that it was a floodable area according to the categorization it had and mitigation measures must be proposed first and carried out before building, to avoid problems like those we experienced with the recent rains."
At that time, the community leader indicated that construction could take place on the lands of the former Fital, but "complying with the requirements that must be established by the corresponding technical bodies," specifying that in this case it would be the municipality and services like the Hydraulic Works Directorate, with measures of river defenses.
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Last year, Díaz explained that, first, a folder with the project must be submitted and once it is known in detail, the requirements for construction will be indicated. "We report that in the current Regulatory Plan that is a floodable area. With the recent floods, that level increased and we have to conduct prior studies such as the return during 50, 100, and 150 years to perhaps also make modifications and greater demands for those who want to build," he warned.
On the other hand, Mayor Díaz anticipated that work would be done on the update of the Regulatory Plan of the commune and would advance with the prior studies that this entails, as well as with a series of other relevant studies for the development of Talca.
Among these other initiatives, the community leader mentioned a Master Plan for the Renovation of the Historic Center, the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Mobility, a Master Plan for Rainwater Evacuation, and a new study of flooding in areas adjacent to the Claro and Lircay rivers. "This should modify the conditions and requirements for housing or commercial projects like the new casino," insisted Díaz.
The new gaming establishment will have an investment of USD21m. This ambitious plan will include a casino, a boulevard of restaurants and shops, an amphitheater for 1,500 people, a museum, and children's play areas, within the historic fairgrounds of the former Fital.
Construction is expected to start during the first half of 2025 and the execution period is expected to be about a year and a half, approximately, so that the casino can begin to receive its visitors by the end of 2026.
The project will occupy 7,000 m², a small part of the total 90,000 m² of the fairgrounds, and aims to offer local entrepreneurs a modern space to display their products and attract thousands of visitors. The project is part of a broader plan for regional development, generating jobs and contributing to local economic growth.
Dreams Maule will include a casino, an amphitheater with a capacity for 1,500 people, a boulevard with restaurants and shops, and green areas. Additionally, the project will have event halls and a museum, all designed to offer a complete entertainment experience.
