Almargem hopes that the project of subdivision of João de Arens, in Portimão, which envisages the construction of three hotels, is rejected with an unconditional negative opinion by the Algarve's Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).
In a note sent to the newsrooms, the environmental association considers that the project is «a clear error of casting from the standpoint of planning and a gross environmental attack, which goes against the effort so often touted by regional authorities in the pursuit of a (more) sustainable model for the region, in a clear repetition of the mistakes of the past, as if nothing if he had learned».
Almargem also questions “how it is possible to accept that one of the main arguments in defense of this project is that the region lacks more hotels (quality, of course), as is its epithet, when the sea of concrete is all too evident. which already occupies a large part of the coastline of the municipality of Portimão and its neighbors – where are so many other projects planned (Quinta da Praia and Quinta da Amoreira – Alvor, UP 11 Benagil and UP 12 Caramujeira – Lagoa, Praia Grande – Silves)?” .
For the association, «if there were more doubts, it would be enough to pay attention to the numbers presented by PROT (2007), according to which, in the first coastal strip of 500 meters from the coastline, the free and buildable area, discounting the conditioned buildability areas or impeded, does not already exceed a residual 1% of the total area».
From the analysis of the process that was in Public Consultation until today, March 15, Almargem considers that «the conclusions emanating from the Environmental Impact Assessment of the UOPG 3 project are clearly biased, ignoring or undervaluing the various induced impacts».
According to Almargem, there are cumulative impacts, "considering the impacts arising from other similar projects existing or planned for the region, which are not evaluated at all", and there are direct impacts "negative, very significant and non-minimizable, arising from the allocation of one of the few free zones on the coast of the municipality of Portimão, whose preservation was imperative, and which is characterized by the presence of unstable sandstone cliffs, and where the carrying capacity of the beaches is very low».
For the association, there are also impacts “on the alteration of the landscape, due to the visual intrusion of the buildings, moreover in an area whose artificialization does not seem justified in light of the standards provided for in the planning instruments in force, either in PROT or in POOC of the Odeceixe – Vilamoura section, awaiting approval, – which prohibit the construction of new constructions in the 500-metre range».
Biodiversity is also affected, «given the presence of semi-natural habitats with importance for conservation», in addition to «the location in question integrates the geographical area of natural distribution of the species algarvian linaria, an endemic species of the flora of the Algarve, considered threatened, which enjoys a legal status of protection».
For all this, Almargem says it hopes that this project, «like others that were recently evaluated by the CCDR Algarve – such as the NDT Nascente do PU of the UP 11 of the Lagoa PDM, Sunset Albufeira Sport & Health Resort» will also receive an unconditional negative opinion.
Even because, concludes Almargem, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of the Environment, said “a few months ago, when the announcement of the unfeasibility of a hotel on the dunes in Monte Gordo, that “the last hotel by the sea has already been built”, definitively preventing further construction on top of the cliffs or next to the dunes».
The subdivision in João de Arens is an "urbanistic operation" that "aimed at implementing the provisions of the UOPG3 PU", provided for in the PDM. In other words, it intends to put into practice what was contained in the Urbanization Plan of the Operational Unit for Planning and Management of Traditional Hospitality, approved in 2008 by the Municipal Assembly of Portimão.
And this UOPG3 UP had already received the environmental green light, in 2007, following the Environmental Assessment of 2007 and the respective Environmental Report, which received a favorable opinion from CCDR Algarve.
The allotment project is now being promoted by Top Building – Investimentos Imobiliários SA, a company to which the Portuguese businessman Miguel Pais do Amaral is linked.
The construction of three hotel units is planned, with a maximum of three floors, or 15 meters, with a total of 411 rooms. The proposal foresees that, in a total area of 460 thousand square meters, the three hotels occupy 11.500 m2.
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