The project includes advanced monitoring with thermal imaging cameras, hydraulic infrastructure with reclaimed water, improved access, and first aid points for visitors
Benidorm will apply for a European grant to implement an integrated fire prevention and safety improvement system in El Moralet
If selected, the proposal could receive up to two million euros in ERDF funds, representing 80% of eligible costs
Benidorm City Council will participate in the fourth call for proposals under the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions (EUI-IA), through which the European Union seeks to test novel, creative, and bold solutions to address the most complex urban challenges facing cities across the continent.
The City Council will participate in this call in partnership with the company Veolia, with a proposal based on the development of an integrated system for the early prevention of forest fires and the improvement of safety in peri-urban natural areas, specifically in El Moralet Park. The so-called ‘MORALET Project’ (Monitoring, Observation and Resilience Actions for Landscape Emergency Threats) is strategically aligned with two of the key policy areas of the EU Agenda for Cities: climate action, environment and clean energy, and safety, protection of public spaces and preparedness,” explained the Councillor for the Water Cycle, José Ramón González de Zárate.
The integrated forest fire prevention system that Benidorm intends to develop is a response to “the growing risk of fires due to climate change and the expansion of urban-forest interfaces.” Therefore, the project will focus on local innovation, which means implementing an approach, product, or service “that is entirely new to the specific context of Benidorm, bringing transformative power to the municipality’s policies and systems,” the councillor stated.
The proposed system will implement monitoring, observation, and resilience measures against emergency threats, including advanced monitoring using thermal imaging cameras, hydraulic infrastructure with reclaimed water, improved access for emergency vehicles, signage and lighting, as well as first aid and safety points for visitors.
The call for proposals to which the City Council will apply has a total budget of €60 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and if the proposal is selected, the project could receive up to €2 million in co-financing, covering up to 80% of the total eligible costs of the initiative. The deadline for submitting the application, which will be presented by the City Council and Veolia, is June 15. If approved, a three-month initiation phase is planned to address the administrative and technical requirements. The subsequent implementation phase would last 24 months. “The project will consistently promote citizen participation and co-creation, integrating residents, target groups, and other stakeholders in the city from the outset through to the evaluation of the results. This will be a fundamental pillar for the long-term success and sustainability of the solution,” González de Zárate stated.
