In Montagnac, the luxurious golf project rejected in 2003 by the prefect of Hérault resurfaces with waste water

Le petit Versailles du Languedoc, bientôt résidence hôtelière ? Midi Libre – Midi Libre

Rejected by the prefect of Hérault in 2023 because it was too water-intensive, the designers of the Domaine de Lavagnac have submitted a new copy based on the reuse of treated water. For the time being, the authorities remain very reserved.

In late 2022-early 2023, while the region was experiencing a long period of drought, the project had caused waves for its water needs. A controversy, fueled by associations and elected officials of the territory, which pushed the then prefect of Hérault, Hugues Moutouh, to issue a negative opinion on May 11, 2023. The Domaine de Lavagnac, imagined in Montagnac with a luxury hotel and restaurant, 418 high-end villas and above all an 18-hole golf course, suffered a serious setback. One more, for an ambition born in 2011 around a 16th century castle once nicknamed “The little Versailles of Languedoc” but now partly in ruins.

“At a time when global warming is leading to periods of lasting drought, any project of old design deserves to be re-examined in light of the challenges we are facing”, justified Hugues Moutouh, while the water needs had been estimated at 300,000 m3 per year, including 170,000 to water the golf course and greens. In fact, his order required the suspension of work and the filing of a new environmental authorization with an impact study.

A purification plant, storage basins

At the time, Luigi Pisano, manager of Thesis Ingénierie in charge of studies, suggested that he was ready to revise his copy, considering it possible “to find points of convergence”. Since then, he has kept a low profile, even if the website praising the quality of the program, in particular the villas “marketed under the regime of sale in future state of completion“, has always remained online.

And now the Domaine de Lavagnac has resurfaced in a new version, deflowered by an opinion from the Regional Environmental Authority Mission (MRAE) of Occitanie, a public body responsible for studying the environmental impact of various projects. We learn that “the golf course must be fully watered by rainwater and the reuse of wastewater (REUT) from the estate”. Thus, “the project provides for the creation of a wastewater treatment plant and its network, as well as the creation of rainwater collection systems, waterproofing compensation basins and then the creation of water storage basins for irrigation”, reveals the MRAE in its report. Unsurprisingly. Faced with future conflicts over water use that are emerging in areas threatened by drought, more and more golf courses have opted for this choice. The Cap d’Agde project was the first to connect to a treatment plant, and the La Grande-Motte project followed suit in 2023, planning to use 250,000 m3 of treated water per year to meet 50% of its needs.

The “gaps” in the impact study

The rest of the project has not changed. Lavagnac still aims“to become the most luxurious hotel residence in the department” with “the rehabilitation of the castle” into a hotel, gourmet restaurant and wellness center and “the development of a real estate complex with the creation of 410 housing units for a capacity of 1,900 residents”.

Will this umpteenth version be the right one? We'll see. Because for the time being, recalling that “the preservation of water resources is the major issue in this case”, the MRAE points out reservations. First, the impact study attached to the file “has several shortcomings that harm its general quality and do not allow us to propose, as it stands, a relevant environmental assessment”. In particular, it lacks “the analysis of the vulnerability of the project to climate change” and “the description of reasonable alternative solutions examined by the project owner”. The MRAE also notes that the golf course irrigation plan “does not clearly identify the REUT water circuits, nor that of runoff water”. And notes different information, from one chapter to another, on the bodies of water created for the storage of water intended for irrigation. It therefore requests that “the presentation of the project be repeated”, both in its construction and operational phases.

“Using treated water is also a problem”

A new red light ? This opinion is not binding and the prefect can override it. But it is hard to imagine Hugues Moutouh’s successor, François-Xavier Lauch, ignoring the MRAE’s recommendations. Especially since associations are already speaking out. “All these big groups are baiting elected officials with great projects, talking about the economy and job creation. Fortunately, government services are working on compliance with the law […] Using the plant's treated water is also a problem because it means less water for citizens. Knowing that a good part of the water used to water a golf course evaporates, it means water is completely lost for the pleasure of a game of the wealthy”, reacted Gilbert Dargegen, from the association Toutes nos énergies Occitanie environnement.

Solicited by Midi Libre, Luigi Pisano confirms that for the time being he is only betting “on the reuse of water processed” and assures that he will speak in more detail soon. The mayor of Montagnac Yann Llopis, once seduced by the promise of some 200 jobs and a project that could make “a poor town” shine, did not respond to our requests. Sensitive subject.

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