The work at Parque Ribeirinho was included today in a session marked by the announcement of funds for more works by the Polis da Ria Formosa and by the protest of shellfish collectors and nurserymen from Faro. One of the interventions for which money will already be guaranteed is the dredging that has long been requested by the professionals who live in the lagoon area, but they are only convinced when they see action on the ground, they said.
The ceremony had a double face, with the official entities and guests getting together on the small wharf at the Panasqueira site and the shellfish collectors crowding a few meters to the side, carrying protest posters. The demonstration was, almost always, silent.
They thanked the speakers, who only saw their communications disturbed by the constantly blowing wind.
«Fares will be proud to have, within a year, the best garden in the Algarve, next to the Ria Formosa. And they will have the pleasure of inviting friends and acquaintances to come here to spend the weekend with them and enjoy the Ribeirinho de Faro», summarized the mayor of Faro, Macário Correia, on the sidelines of the ceremony.
“This work has been talked about for at least 30 years, it had a boost for 20 years that was not very successful, a small work that was done and was not properly followed up”, he framed. This first intervention was abandoned and what was done was “almost everything destroyed, due to vandalism”.
A situation that the mayor believes will not be repeated. «I think we've learned enough so that it's not an empty space, in a suburb of the city. It will be a living space, because we are going to create jobs here. There will be kiosks, bars, restaurants, leisure spaces and this requires the permanent presence of professionals», he considered, adding that, in this way, «surveillance is another».
As for the maintenance of public equipment, it will be the responsibility of the Chamber of Faro. «It is the municipality of Faro which will have to do with this public garden the same as the Jardim da Alameda and the other gardens in the city. Take it as your own and insert it in your permanent conservation and management plan,” he said.
The first phase of Parque Ribeirinho de Faro today, enshrined in the creation of «several squares, an open-air amphitheater with a capacity for 250 people, bird observatories, catering facilities, interpretive walking and cycling routes and leisure areas».
When the announcement of the consignment of the work appeared, the PS went public claiming the merit of the project and criticizing the executive for the long time it took to take the work off paper and put it on the ground. Macário Correia said today that everything was linked to bureaucratic and financing issues.
“The work costs more than 3 million euros and in times of difficulty it is not easy to find that money. So, it was with a very meticulous financial engineering that this solution was managed», said Macário Correia.
«There were other issues, which forced the due consideration of this project in its different delicacies. It is a project that obviously requires the approval of several entities, as it is in an area of Public Maritime Domain», he justified. "But now all the conditions are met for the work to be done in a year," he assured.
To the Riverside Park of Faro to follow «soon» more works by Polis
More than talking about a work that took place at a very advanced stage, the recently sworn in president of Sociedade Polis Ria Formosa Manuel Lacerda preferred to talk about the future, not least because part of the recipients of the message were right next door.
The new person responsible for the Algarve Polis announced that yesterday, Thursday, «the candidacy of Polis Ria Formosa to the Operational Program for the Enhancement of the Territory (POVT) was approved, in the amount of 22 million euros». Money that is intended for "priority works, which will be done soon".
In all, 14 projects are contemplated, including renovation of riverside areas, interventions to protect the Ria Formosa and improvement of its hydrodynamics and Beach Plans.
11 million have been earmarked for the protection and enhancement of the Ria Formosa, which seafood professionals and nurserymen have been claiming for a long time, half of the amount now guaranteed.
In this field, the “hydrodynamic enhancement” of the lagoon area is foreseen, which will undergo dredging to improve the circulation and oxygenation of water and strengthen the dune cord. The new bridge to Praia de Faro, among other works.
Promises that did not convince the members of Vivmar - Association of Shellfish and Nurseries of Ria Formosa present. Macário Correia and Manuel Lacerda made themselves available for a meeting with the fishing professionals right after the ceremony, but they refused to be present at the meeting, saying that they will only be present “when there is a ceremony like this one to start the dredging”.
According to the leader of Vivmar and president of the Parish Council of São Pedro Vítor Lourenço, the shellfish gatherers and nurserymen are even congratulated with the work launched today, but considered that «first the Ria is cleaned from the inside, then the outside is cleaned. ».
In addition to these interventions, the requalification of other riverside areas is planned, namely the creation of «Parque Ribeirinho do Ludo» and footpaths between Pedras del Rei and Santa Luzia, in Tavira and Lacém and Manta Rota, in Vila Real de Santo António. The requalification of road access to the Quatro Águas, in Tavira.
Comments