“CIt is with great pleasure that I learned, from our lawyer, of the decision of the administrative court of Toulon of October 24, 2022, by which he rejects the appeal of the Azur Bio Treatment association.
With this message, did Alain Decanis, mayor of Saint-Maximin, just close the file of the wine effluent treatment plant on the distillery site? Not really. But it is still a victory for those who opposed the project. A little backtracking is a must.
Micmac at the old distillery
Three years ago, the Azur bio-traitment company submitted a project for a purification station for wine-growing wastewater to a public inquiry, which would have triggered a wave of protests in the city, and particularly among the residents of the chosen site. It was in the old distillery that the creation of this factory was envisaged. And for opponents, it meant multiple potential nuisances (smells, noise, traffic, etc.).
Three years later, we are back to talking about this dossier which had provoked a great mobilization of the population, with key demonstrations and petitions. But the prefect of the time, Jean-Luc Videlaine, abruptly blocked the project. Despite the favorable opinion of the public investigator, the state representative had decided to reject the request for authorization to install this plant.
A decision that had been contested by the project leader, Azur bioprocessing. And it is this dispute that was judged, not long ago, in the administrative court of Toulon.
“We are happy, but not entirely reassured.” This is the sentiment shared today by Nicolas Trucchi, then one of the most active members of the opposition. Member of the collective against nuisances of the Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume distillery, then president of the SOS cadre de vie association created to fight against the project, the man remains attentive to what is happening on the side of the courts .
Possibility of appeal
“A big step has been taken. This decision of the Administrative Court confirms the decision of the prefect, which did not necessarily come from the source”.
A victory in any case, therefore, which will be celebrated properly with a shared aperitif on November 20 (1), but which must not make us forget that the case is not completely closed.
“Azur bio-processing (2) remains the owner of the site and we need to be careful what happens next.”
Already because the decision of the Administrative Court can be challenged by the company. But also because new projects could be born there.
If this were to be the case, we can bet that Nicolas Trucchi and the others will still be there on the road to the project leaders. And they are not small opponents…
1. Regalette Park, 11am
2. We were unable to reach the company.
