The Government says that the projects for the construction of luxury villas on the sand dunes of Praia da Galé Oeste, in Albufeira, are in accordance with the Orla Costeira Burgau-Vilamoura's Land Use Plan, concerning «private land», outside the «public domain maritime".
The PCP denounced the case and said he was perplexed "since the place where luxury houses are to be built is a dune area of great sensitivity."
This answer from the Ministry of Environment's Office, dated yesterday, July 3, follows the questions from the PCP's Parliamentary Group, from June 9th, and from the communist deputy Paulo Sá, on the 12th of the same month.
In the letter from the Government it is said that "in 2010 an alteration to the subdivision permit was requested, with the Portuguese Environment Agency having considered that this alteration was compatible" with the Orla Costeira Burgau-Vilamoura's Land Use Plan.
“The performance of the Administration is and must be guided by the principle of legality, in compliance with the law and applicable law. Thus, the analysis and evaluation of any intervention project on the coast is carried out in compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory standards and the respective coastal development plan», adds the Government.
Walkways were built in this area to "prevent environmental damage", according to the PCP. « It is exactly on these dunes that luxury villas are now being built. Apparently, the trampling of the dunes damages them, but building houses on them, no!», considers that political party.
For the communists “it is important to remember that, to justify the recent demolition of houses in the population centers of Hangars and the Farol, on the island of Culatra, the Ministry of Environment repeatedly invoked environmental values and people's safety. But now, at Galé Oeste beach, facing the construction of luxury villas on top of the dunes, a few meters from the sea, these criteria no longer apply».
In view of this, the Government responds that “we are dealing with the use of private land and not, as in the case of the barrier islands of Ria Formosa, with the exception of the island of Faro, in lands in the maritime public domain, which are by nature affected by the use and enjoyment of the general public».
Deputy Paulo Sá, of the PCP, elected by the circle of Faro, informed that he again questioned the Ministry of the Environment on these issues, namely if "does the Ministry of the Environment confirm that the hundreds of meters of walkways built on the beach at Galé Oeste aimed to protect the dunes from trampling, preventing environmental damage?" and “how is it authorized to build houses on dunes, which are so sensitive that people must not step on them?”.
To these is added the question “will the Ministry of Environment review its position on the construction of luxury villas on the dunes of Praia da Galé Oeste?”.
Comments