At the beginning of November, the Vila Real de Santo António City Council will launch the public tender for the rehabilitation of Praia de Monte Gordo, initiating an intervention that, in total, foresees investments of 200 million euros, largely the responsibility of private individuals. This is «the biggest work ever to rehabilitate the county's coastline», says the local authority.
The construction of a two-kilometre pedestrian walkway – one of the largest in Sotavento -, along the entire seafront, will be the first step in this operation that will renew the Monte Gordo. “Because of its size, it is also one of the most visible interventions,” says the Chamber of VRSA.
The construction of the walkway will have a base value of 1,3 million euros and is intended to guarantee access to the sand and new beach facilities, allowing people to travel along the bathing areas. It will be illuminated throughout, will have rest areas and will create a new pedestrian and leisure circuit on the waterfront.
In parallel, the plan already approved contemplates the demolition of the old beach supports, which will be replaced by around 20 new supports spread over 10 bathing areas. «The proposal also integrates the continuity of the corridor and the areas affected by fishing activity, safeguarding this important sector of the Bay of Monte Gordo», notes the Chamber of VRSA.
At an environmental level, the entire dune cord will be recovered, while the constructions to be implemented will be elevated, in order to avoid trampling on the dunes and vegetation, and will comply with sustainable materials and projects.
For Luís Gomes, Mayor of Vila Real de Santo António, “this is a clear sign of the change that will be carried out on the beach in Monte Gordo and it is the starting point for the dozens of interventions that will be carried out during 2017 and which include the construction of a high-end hotel unit or the creation of new leisure and restaurant equipment». These other interventions will give rise to the creation of a “great seafront promenade”, says the Chamber of VRSA.
Added to this equipment is the possible implementation of a series of tourist units, by private investors, in the area of the former campsite of Monte Gordo, valued at 120 million euros, as well as the construction of a new tourist development in the eastern part of Monte Gordo, valued at 50 million euros.
«The Coastal Waterfront Planning Plan only provided for the construction of eight beach supports, but through its review and the series of meetings we developed with the Portuguese Environmental Association (APA), we managed to install more than 16 units, being that all entrepreneurs who had activity on the beach and have their situation regularized before the APA will not need to submit to a tender», adds Luís Gomes.
“All these measures have as their key point the end of what was done wrong in our municipality, especially with regard to planning. For this reason, this unprecedented operation will bet on quality equipment, with low urban density, providing the Monte Gordo the maintenance of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the Algarve», continues the mayor of VRSA.
The intervention will be supported by the Operational Program for Sustainability and Efficiency in the Use of Resources and by the Portuguese Environment Agency. The VRSA Chamber will be responsible for the application and will bear the financial charges for the project, inspection and coordination of the work.
All these actions fully comply with the indications of the Vilamoura – Vila Real de Santo António Coastal Waterfront Planning Plan (POOC), approved in 2005, whose review process was underway during last year.
This rehabilitation of the beach of Monte Gordo joins the seafront requalification process, also promoted by the VRSA municipality.
Corrected at 16:14 pm, changing the title, to adapt it to the content of the article
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