A lake near Toulouse partly emptied for the creation of a leisure base, “an ecological aberration” according to associations
At Lac de la Thésauque between Nailloux and Montgeard in Haute-Garonne, the expansion of a leisure center is controversial. Local residents and environmental associations oppose the construction of a Waterjump. Work should begin soon. Part of the lake has been drained.
For seven years, the residents of Lake Thésauque and the private project leader have been arguing about the expansion of a water leisure base.
Suspended by court decision since 2018, the construction site should finally begin in the coming days. Part of the lake was discharged at the end of October in nature to lower the water level. The associations for the defense of the place are crying out for ecological scandal.
According to the associations “Les abords du lac de la Thésauque” and “Les amis du lac de la Thésauque”, the emptying of part of the lake was not made public and carried out on October 20th.
In a press release, the two associations explain: “this operation, financed with public funds, aims to sink concrete piles near the banks of the lake in order to build them and thus accommodate a private project: one of the largest “waterjumps” in France”.
Opposed to this project for more than seven years, the inhabitants and users of the lake argue “this controversial project is going to be carried out during the worst of the climatic periods known to our planet. This would represent, according to our calculations, 629 Olympic swimming pools and the value of 3 years of rainfall. This project is an ecological and economic aberration”.
Contacted by France 3 Occitanie, Nicolas Prudhomme, the Waterjump project leader, confirms that emptying of 650,000 m3 water was made at his request.
This is a routine maintenance operation with cleaning of the banks and uprooting of invasive plants.
Nicolas Prudhomme, owner of the Thésauque lake leisure center
The owner of the nautical base admits in half that this emptying takes place before the start of the work, but he does not wish to reveal the date of the start of the first shovels, preferring to “keep silent” on his project.
I am serene because I have a good conscience. This project is useful for tourism and leisure in the Terre de Lauragais community of municipalities. I create local employment. My opponents are a handful of owners who refuse the noise and crowds that it will generate.
Nicolas Prudhomme, owner of the Thésauque lake leisure center
Opponents of the extension demand the definitive suspension of the project or at least the holding of an impact study which has, for the time being, never been carried out. “She is the only one who can arbitrate us” forward Philippe Labau, the President of the association Les Amis du Lac. “The damage to the lake is already visible, the ducks have disappeared, the project leader is killing aquatic biodiversity.”
Nicolas Prudhomme replies that his extension has been halved compared to the initial project. He also assures that “the preservation of biodiversity is taken into account. In our leisure base, there is no motor boat, nor music. The impact on the lake will be minimal.”
To show their disagreement, the members of the associations for the defense of the lake and its surroundings called for a large mobilization called Chrysanthemes, on Sunday November 6, 2022. They planned to “bury” the Thésauque lake and its ecosystem.