Bobsleigh track, green light from the TAR, Italia Nostra’s appeal rejected: «Legitimate project and contract»

Black Monday for the environmentalist front against the construction of the Sliding Center for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics: the TAR rejects Italia Nostra’s appeal and the Anac gives the green light to the appointment of Simico’s new CEO, Fabio Massimo Saldini. If that wasn’t enough, Giovanni Malagò’s response to those who claim that the works on the runway are not proceeding as scheduled: «Delays? Those who deal with it argue the opposite.”

The rejection

Front Tar. Italia Nostra expected the rejection but awaited the reasons for the sentence. What did you report in your appeal? The illegitimacy of the procedures, contesting in order: the approval of the definitive project, the opinion of the Via regional technical committee, the approval of the executive project, the calling of the open procedure for the awarding of works, and the landscape authorization issued by the Veneto Region on the second project. Having rejected the appeal with which Italia Nostra complained about the infringement of its right to participate, the judges concentrated on the technical reasons: the one claiming that «the new infrastructure would be incapable of coexisting with the “renaturized sign” of the historic track was unfounded , which instead had to be preserved according to the constraints imposed by the Ministry of Culture”.

The work

The TAR observed that the complaints “seem to be aimed at the initial project rather than the last one adopted” and in any case both “were subject to evaluation regarding compatibility with the interests protected by the ministry and the competent Superintendency” with an “assessment immune from illogicality”. Vas and Via: the work in question “does not require the strategic environmental assessment nor the Via, the environmental impact assessment”, because it does not fall within the parameters that require such assessments. Final response from the judges: there are no significant changes likely to affect environmental values.
Anac front. The green light has arrived for the appointment of Fabio Massimo Saldini. The National Anti-Corruption Authority, it is specified in a note released by the Ministry of Infrastructure, “has confirmed the validity of the appointment of the architect Saldini as CEO, according to the designation made by the government”. Again according to the Anac “the case of non-transferability of the task does not apply, Simico falling into the category of private law entities under public control, and not into that of public bodies”. Saldini’s appointment had been contested because the professional simultaneously held positions in the Pedemontana Lombarda.

The reactions

Finally, on the notes reiterated by environmentalists last Saturday in Cortina, M5s senator Elena Sironi returns: «About two months from what was supposed to be the start of the works, no progress has been made, if not the absurd deforestation with thefelling of centuries-old larches». Indirect answer from Giovanni Malagò, president of CONI, who spoke on the sidelines of a Bearzot prize ceremony in Rome: «Delays? Whoever is dealing with it claims the opposite.”