For now, around 2500 cubic meters (m3) of sand have been placed at Praia dos Cavacos, in Olhão. From mid-September the remaining 5 m3 of sand will be placed in this bathing area located in the Ria Formosa, on the mainland, bringing about the birth of a new beach in the Algarve.
In mid-July, the machines arrived at Praia dos Cavacos, to start to an intervention that is expected to take two months to complete.. But the Polis Ria Formosa's backhoes ended up staying only about a week, after spreading sand in what was until then a marshland.
The machines came out, the tourists came, who have taken the opportunity to use the beach, which in 2015 had already been the target of an intervention signed by Polis, focused on parking and access to the bathing area itself. These days, you can see many bathers “setting a square” in Cavacos, attracted by the sand carpet, more inviting than the salt marsh.
The option of starting the beach filling work when summer had already entered and at a time that, with or without sand, this beach is used by many, is justified by the mayor of Olhão António Pina with the emergence of «a opportunity". «Dredging had to be carried out along the Ilha da Armona, to clear the channel so that the career boat could access the bridge in safety, and we took the opportunity to place it immediately on Praia dos Cavacos», said edil.
The use of sand from the Ria Formosa is, moreover, contemplated in this project, which foresees the hydrodynamic valorization of the Armona bar and the artificial feeding of Praia dos Cavacos.
Although the owner of the work is Sociedade Polis Litoral Ria Formosa, the municipality of Olhão has also been “on top” of this intervention, as it is one of the Chambers that contributed to the social capital of this entity.
«It is not our intention to be dredging along Armona at the height of summer, nor to fill the beach with sand during the bathing season», guaranteed António Pina.
But, taking into account that it was urgent to dredge the bar and anchorage area of that barrier island, for reasons of navigability, it was decided to bring the removed sand to Praia dos Cavacos.
«This first intervention was the beginning of an improvement, which also helps people to realize the potential that that space has. With just this little bit, the improvement is noticeable and you see a lot more people there. This proves that that place, with a good sand, can bring a lot to the county», he considered.
The work is welcomed by local residents, with whom the Sul Informação he said, who are happy to see the beach being requalified. But there are also those who don't agree with it.
Carlos Fernandes, one of the owners of Casa Modesta, a hotel located in the vicinity of Praia dos Cavacos, defended, in statements to our newspaper, that he does not see «any advantage in moving this beach», not only because «there are more than enough beaches » on the barrier islands, but also because of the environmental impact of the intervention. This is because, during the week that the work was underway, «there were backhoes on top of the marsh».
Video captured by Carlos Fernandes:
"Our clients sometimes take a trail that gives access to Praia dos Cavacos, although it's essentially to go there and see the Ria Formosa, it's not to go for a bath," he said. In other words, they went in search of the natural beauty of the space, which Carlos Fernandes fears will be lost.
Criticism also emerged on social networks for the fact that the sand has a grayish tone, which is due to the fact that it was recently dredged. This is a temporary situation, as over time (and rain) the sand will eventually be “washed” and clear.
With defenders and detractors, it is certain that the work has already started and will return to the field soon after the summer season. According to António Pina, in mid-September the dredging of the Armona bar will resume, with the sand removed to be channeled to Praia dos Cavacos, an intervention that should "last about a month".
The total cost of the work is around 150 thousand euros, with community financing through the Operational Program for Sustainability and Efficiency in the Use of Resources, with the national counterpart ensured by the share capital of Sociedade Polis Litoral Ria Formosa.
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