“The Exotic Garden will not be able to reopen before 2023”: Georges Marsan, the mayor of Monaco explains himself
But what is the government doing? This is the question posed, in substance, by the mayor of Monaco Georges Marsan who sees nothing coming from the part of the executive while the work of the Exotic Garden is far from being completed.
Result: the second most visited site in the Principality remains closed without any closed reopening date. At best, it will be during 2023 …
Indeed, after the consolidation of the false rocks as a backdrop, the envelope that was to be allocated for the continuation of the work in 2022 and 2023 was 16 million euros. This sum must cover both the financing of the studies and the remaining work to be carried out. But today, the town ignores the government’s position, the mayor having received no official response to his letter to Minister of State Pierre Dartout at the end of last year.
Another problem with this file, “priority “ for the mayor: the future of the personnel of the Exotic Garden, to whom temporary measures and a reopening of the site were announced in June 2022. Today, the majority of the employees of the Exotic Garden are assigned to other positions and remain in expectation of a lasting and structured solution.
The public meeting of the municipal council in December was a rant from elected officials who regretted that no budget had been voted in the National Council for the continuation of the work of the Exotic Garden. Where are you today?
There are problems with the government on this point. Put him in emergency, at the end of 2020, a sum of more than two million euros for had learned the site with the false rocks. We had to close the Exotic Garden because it had become very dangerous – including Avenue Pasteur. It was then agreed with the municipal council six months ago, a reflection with a landscape designer appointed by the government, for the lighting, the change of coating, the repair of the networks. All this in the perspective of a new phase of work that would have started in 2022.
And this second tranche could not be launched?
It was also agreed the reconstruction of false rocks, the destruction and reconstruction of walkways and pergolas, repair of the belvedere, etc. We wrote to Minister of State Pierre Dartout last month asking him to put a sum in the budget to continue the work. I think that there is a dysfunction at the level of the priorities in favor of the services of the town hall and the government are in agreement.
Didn’t you plan protests in 2022?
I am even consulted with Robert Fillon, president of the Executive Committee of the commemorations of the centenary of the disappearance of Prince Albert 1st, because we cannot even make a partial opening of the site. Or, it is all the same Prince Albert Ier who is at the initiative of the creation of this Garden and we had to baptize a place on the site. Or, the Exotic Garden will not be able to reopen before the current 2023.
Did you not come to an agreement with the government before the adoption of the law on the original Budget?
I discussed this with the minister before the public sessions of the National Council. I asked Robert Fillon to intervene. But the government did not want to put this amount in its budget.
Besides this event, isn’t the slowing down of the construction site a problem in the overall redevelopment of the district?
This is a major point: the deterrent car park with 2,000 parking spaces must be delivered at the end of 2022 / beginning of 2023 and there should be a walkway at the entrance to the Exotic Garden. There will surely be another passage on the side of the greenhouses and other avenue Pasteur. But people must be able to go out on the Exotic Garden side. So, of course, this passage will see the light of day. But we will lose six months since we cannot deliver a footbridge if the garden is closed.
Is there no coordination between the different sites?
I work very well with government services. But on a problem on the coordination of the budget and government decisions. I told the Minister of State and the Government Councilor for the Interior Patrice Cellario. But nothing is happening. I do not understand.
The Exotic Garden deserves better?
This site has been classified the most beautiful garden in the world by the 2021 edition of the “150 most beautiful gardens in the world” of the Ulysses tourist guide. It is our national heritage. Work began and at the last moment “ciao”.
Perhaps the government will change its mind.
Perhaps, but it is extremely late. Such a budget is foreseen, with calls for tenders. What is also serious is the future of the employees of the Garden.
“The blockage does not come from the town hall”
Are they unemployed?
Out of a total of 46 employees. 11 gardeners, 2 supervisors and 3 administrative staff continue on the site. But 33 people were distributed in other departments, some of them at the ice rink, in the Christmas village… It is very uncomfortable. I explained to them that in 2022 the Exotic Garden would reopen. And then there is another chosen one that I don’t like very much …
What ?
There is a land transfer project at the cemetery level. It may be the project of the decade. The State must take 2,800 m2 of the public domain of the town hall and the counterpart is to redo the cemetery over eight years with cellar extensions and to completely restructure the Exotic Garden. But the government started telling us that we were asking for too much money.
How much are you asking him?
I’m not asking too much. This land was valued at 30 million, or roughly 10,000 euros per m2. I don’t want to make a profit on a public project. I think the government wins even if it redesigns the cemetery and the garden.
But where is this cemetery project?
We were reminded about this. But until we work it out, there is nothing. The blockage does not come from the town hall. But I will not sign a cession of land necessary for projects in the Îlot Charles-III area until I have an acceptable schedule and phasing for the Exotic Garden.
Is that a call you are making to the government?
I’m waiting for the work to be done as quickly as possible so that the Exotic Garden can open quickly. You can operate the site without all of the work being done.