Former Air Force depot in Cagliari: "Empty for 15 years, 3 million spent on custody"

Over the years, on paper it has become: a volunteer center, the operational base of the Forestry in Cagliari, the reference point for Caritas services, the office area of the Regional Environment Department, a large urban park with sports fields, a warehouse for materials discarded by the Region. And perhaps something is forgotten, between deliberations and declarations of intent.

In reality, however, it is: nothing. The former Air Force depot of Monte Urpinu, in Cagliari , is still an inaccessible and unused area. It happens fifteen years after its disposal (August 2007), which dates back to the agreements on military servitude between the then governor Renato Soru and the Ministry of Defense.

Well freed from soldiers and barbed wire, unused by the public administration, which now owns it on the basis of article 14 of the Statute. And there is no mention of little stuff: there are 15 hectares of land, very green, and 4 thousand square meters of buildings.

"But are we still sure that it was good to close the former fuel depot if in all this time we have not been able to create even a minimal redevelopment and enhancement project for one of the most beautiful places in Cagliari?": Paolo Erasmo asks himself this. , a former soldier who served within the structure and now a member of the Comipa (Joint Joint Committee on Military Easements). “As of today, September 2022”, he continues, “we have not even mowed the grass, with the risks we know well”.

Major maneuvers were recorded in July 2020, when Umberto Oppus was in the general direction of the local authorities (responsible for the management of disused assets): the Solinas junta had decided to create a large environmental center in Monte Urpinu and workers had cleared the buildings and reorganized the green. Then, nothing. Everything stopped.

In the meantime, Erasmus accuses, "an enormous sum was spent on custody alone: it can be estimated at around 3 million euros".

A waste of inaction: “It is necessary to involve citizens and associations”, is the wish of the Comipa member, “who can collaborate with the institutions with ideas and projects. All this must take place through public, transparent and participatory meetings ”.