VENICE – Only a few days into his mandate, Matteo Gasparato, the new head of the Venice Port Authority, says he has already spent the past four months fully immersed in the work of the lagoon port: «I have never stopped working from day one on all the issues, on all the files I found. I was very pleased to receive the Deputy Minister’s visit just two days after my appointment — I believe it is a sign of the Government’s attention towards Venice».
Gasparato laid out the agenda starting with dredging: «The Vittorio Emanuele and Malamocco channels. Regulations require the creation of a new island, let’s call it the “Trezze”, to receive all the sediments from these projects. I am absolutely convinced that we will be able to speed things up — for the new “Trezze” island we are close to a decision, I hope, because it doesn’t depend on us». As for the other projects: «Reviewing the Port Master Plan and revisiting the waterfront — but these are secondary». The same applies to his view on the offshore project: «My priority is to complete as quickly as possible the projects I have mentioned. That is a long-term project, with a longer perspective. It is absolutely untrue that I am not interested in it — I will carry it forward like all the others, but clearly it has different timelines. In the meantime, the channels must be dredged, and I intend to make sure that cruise ships do not leave Venice».
Speaking specifically about cruises, Gasparato stated: «Venice is still the most important hub in the Adriatic. If it does not restart in this sector, the entire Adriatic will face difficulties, and so I absolutely intend to push hard on this».
During the discussion with the port community, the president also clarified the issue of the regulated port: «In the new reform of the Port Authorities, Venice will receive special consideration — it will be considered a regulated port, and thus subject to dedicated regulations, as it deserves, because it is a lagoon and because the Mose exists». He added: «On the reform, the explanation we received was very interesting and satisfactory. The Deputy Minister said these are still draft documents that must go through the Council of Ministers and then be discussed with all stakeholders».
There will therefore be «a special chapter for Venice as a regulated port».
A question on the Secretary General — for whom no agreement has yet been reached — was inevitable: «I will take guidance, if any comes. But of course I intend to assess carefully, because the secretary is the closest operational figure to the president, and these two roles must work in deep alignment. I have my own ideas, but it’s clear: I am here for my professional merits, but also as a political choice. So I am not hiding the fact that if indications emerge, I will listen to them — but in the end I will decide, because the current law requires the president to make a proposal and the Committee to vote. I am here for professional merits, yes, but also with the political wind at my back — let’s say the Government is behind this».
«The meeting requested by Deputy Minister Rixi and President Gasparato proved very productive and encouraging. We are obviously pleased to have voiced our concerns directly, opening a constructive dialogue that places the needs of the Venetian economy at the centre. The Venice port community is the lifeblood of the only real alternative to tourism, and cannot be left to fend for itself» said VPC president Davide Calderan.
