Serious conflict of interest between the Piñera government and real estate project planned for the Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary.
The Navarrete Rolando family, owner of the OXIQUIM holding company, is seeking to build a massive real estate development at the Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary in the eighth region — a project opposed by communities in the area. OXIQUIM — which has recently come to light due to the contamination of Quintero Bay — has Fernando Barros as president of its board, a lawyer for President Piñera and partner of the husband of Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, creating an obvious conflict of interest at a time when the real estate project is being reviewed by government authorities in the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA).
This is the same family that attempted to build in Bosque Panul in 2012, a project that was rejected following a massive mobilization.
After failing in their attempt to build in Bosque Panul, the Navarrete Rolando family is now seeking to carry out an ambitious project at Fundo Ramuntcho, a property they own. It covers 327 hectares and is located in the heart of the Hualpén Peninsula Nature Sanctuary in the Bío Bío Region.
This area contains one of the last coastal sclerophyllous forests in the region, categorized as "critically endangered," with species such as the Queule (Gomortega keule), Pitao or Canelillo (Pitavia punctata), and the Red Toad (Eupsophus Roseus) facing extinction.
The project in question — which involves the sale of 343 plots across just over 100 hectares of native forest, with a minimum plot size of 1,250 m² — has an obvious conflict of interest that came to light with the environmental disaster at Quintero Bay. This is because the Navarrete Rolando family, owner of Fundo Ramuntcho, also controls the OXIQUIM holding company, whose chairman is Fernando Barros, longtime legal advisor to President Piñera and partner of the husband of the Environment Minister.
These connections are being revealed at a time when the real estate project is under review in the SEIA.
The evaluation process is ongoing. We invite you to review it and submit observations to stop it.
In the local community of Hualpén, a strong citizens' opposition has emerged through various collectives, who are mobilizing to raise awareness and defend the Peninsula. We invite you to learn more about this struggle and about some organizations that are defending the Peninsula at the following links:
Grupo cultural Hualpenche
Grupo el Queule
Coordinadora Territorial Wallpen
Red Precordillera.
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