fbpx
Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me

Create an account

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
Name *
Username *
Password *
Verify password *
Email *
Verify email *
Captcha *

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-NEWSLETTER TODAY

For the latest Local News, Lifestyle News, Community Events, Property and more...

Please use a valid email address as we will send a confirmation email to this address.

Property

Salgados development - permission granted in shock decision

lemosIn what history may judge as a defining act of environmental vandalism the Secretary of State for the Environment, Paulo da Silva Lemos, has decreed that the building of the 360 hectare Praia Grande resort next to Lagoa dos Salgados, Silves can go ahead on one of  the last remaining wildlife havens left along the Algarve's coastline.

The man in charge of Portugal’s environment has allowed the developer, Finalgarve, to proceed with its monster plan to build over this sensitive birdland area with the construction of tourist accommodation, three hotels, and a golf course opposite the existing and extensive Herdade dos Salgados golf course, tourist accommodation blocks and conference centre.

Lemos’ ‘Favorable with Conditions’ rubber stamping of the deeply flawed and controversial Environmental Impact Assessment has astounded local environmental organisations and other concerned parties as the impact assessment was based on just one fifth of the area to be affected, the first zone to be built over, rather than the whole project.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik from the European Commission is “aware of the issue and my services are in correspondence with the Portuguese authorities regarding it."

The sketchy environmental assessment, paid for by the developer, first was reviewed by the CCDR - Algarve which added its approval for the project as it has the task of 'implementing environmental policies, as well as giving strategic planning support to regional and local authorities and their associations anticipating solutions to contribute to overcoming the constraints to economic and social development of the region within a framework of sustainability and optimisation of available resources,' according to its website.salgados

‘Friends of Salgados’ members are swiftly reviewing the disastrous decision and have already sent copies of the decision and impact assessment to the European Commission. Lacking funds to go to court in opposition to powerful lobbies within government the engagement of the EC is seen as a more likely course of action and now the battle lines are defined there are various appeal options open.

The office of Euro MP Nuno Melo already has stated that the European Commission is "closely monitoring" the case of Lagoa dos Salgados, and has sought an explanation from the Portuguese authorities which has not been answered.

The Portuguese MEP was informed that the European Commission is monitoring the case after questions were asked in parliament last November about the large tourist project.

Can Silves council’s new mayor help the environmental campaign to halt this development? Rosa Palma is against the destruction of a significant part of her council area and prefers to keep the wetland and countryside as amenity land rather than another resort of the type starting to litter the Algarve, unfinished or empty but as it stands there is now little to stop the bulldozers moving in.

The developers have approval from the government and a local project approved by the former regime in Silves under Isabel Soares so building could start whenever Finalgarve tackles the criteria and conditions put in place by Lemos.

In fact the criteria in place represent six environmental hurdles that must be overcome by the developer before building starts, and around 100 monitoring measures to reduce the impact of the resort on the natural area.

One of Finalgarve's problems is that it only owns the phase 1 land that it has permission to build on, and on which the Environmental Impact Assessment was based, but not the rest of the land for stages 2-5, the remaining 2/3rds. The company intends to compulsorily purchase the land necessary but this has already run into trouble with landowners complaining in court over the price suggested. With planning permission in place, the price of the various farms and fields affected will have rocketed in price. Will the landowners be forced to accept a price far lower than the current market value? Is this 'constitutional?' - they think not.

The main aspect of this development that could further hold things back is money, the company, by its own admission, lacks the funds to build this development and Finalgarve's aim always has been to sell the deal on to a company which has the money to complete it.

With questions over the land ownership, planning hurdles now in place, and the fact that the developer has to obtain further permissions for licenses for each stage of the 5-stage project, will certainly put off many would be buyers when there are easier options on the market. The image of another half finished project lying for years in the Algarve countryside causes concern even to those that are pro-building.salgados aerial

Public opinion in the form of 22,000 signatures on a petition accounted for nothing at the end of the day as a powerful and inter-connected minority of business interests again overcame legitimate public concerns and desires for an area of natural beauty and harmony.

Big business and the bankers will not have to live on or near this area of concrete and standardised green areas and can watch from afar as the Algarve now vies with Spain in its destruction of important green spaces.

When the Secretary of State for the Environment Paulo da Silva Lemos writes his memoires during a long and peaceful retirement he may then divulge the political pressures exerted on him to make this extraordinary favourable decision in the face of legitimate environmental concerns and nature tourism options. Until then his reputation as an environmentalist, he has a long history of environmental organisation management, has hit a defining low point in his career path.

This decision also illustrates that the government's push for off-season tourism is a sham, a half-hearted lip-service to minority tourism interests and nothing more than flavour of the political month.

The confused thinking behind this decision, if that it all that was in play, shows the extent to which the country's politicians and controlled by business, and the poor calibre and ever spinning moral compass of those we trust with our leadership.

To read the 'Declaraçao de Impacte Ambiental' CLICK HERE.

___________

To sign the 'Save Salgados' petition, CLICK HERE

___________

The 'Friends of Lagoa dos Salgados' platform includes the following organisations:

A Rocha, Aldeia, Algarve123, www.algarvedailynews.com, Almargem, Birding in Portugal, Birdwatching Algarve, LPN, Portugal Resident, ProActiveTur, Quercus, SPEA

 

Pin It

Comments  

+2 #9 A80T 2013-11-12 17:16
I have been to Pera marsh a few times and it is an oasis next to a concrete eyesore. Money speaks far louder than humanity, of all the barren land in the Algarve they opt for what is the last remnant of the most important feeding grounds for rare breeding and migratorary birds for miles around.

pathetic
+8 #8 mikef 2013-11-12 08:37
What a funny country, I think they need another revolution. As usual 'new' money is corrupting ...disgusting
+11 #7 horrified 2013-11-12 07:38
Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money........

1. Finalgarve don't own the land
2. They don't have the money to build
3. Impact assessment on 1/5 of affected area
4. They will 'sell on the rights'
5. They were granted the rights to destroy a tourist spot.

The end of the beautiful Algarve from Final-garve
I wonder why Portuguese governments are known for the one thing - corruption.
+10 #6 algarve lover 2013-11-11 20:21
all honourabe people....
wasn't there a big deal with submarines, involved a now high ranking person?
maybe thre's a competition....
not enough empty appts and villas in the algarve!
_____________
See: http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/431-submarine-case-prosecutor-asks-for-suspended-sentences-and-a-light-fine

for submarine case latest
Ed.
+10 #5 tom 2013-11-11 19:29
Secretary of State for the Money Environment
+14 #4 mstrlaw 2013-11-11 16:35
This is disgusting and revolting!!
+15 #3 Vera 2013-11-11 15:54
Always in the name of profit, nature is destroyed!! and special places are vanishing!!! This is a really moronic permission that will defaced even more the Algarve´s coast!! Don´t you think it is messed up enough??!!
+11 #2 John Haigh 2013-11-11 13:51
Disgusting !
+15 #1 chiptheduck 2013-11-11 12:00
Appalling! I sincerely hope they go bust which they undoubtedly will (although personally enriching themselves in the process).

Perhaps our police could divert their attention away from the 15th Madeleine investigation, the raids on jumble sales and bingo games,and the constant hassling of motorists to try to track the brown envelopes.

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.

Latest Features

In the Community

Classifieds

Organic TEMPEH
(Services / Offered)

Organic TEMPEH

CARETAKER
(Services / Offered)

noimage

Opel Corsa 1.2 AC
(Vehicles / Cars)

Opel Corsa 1.2 AC

Chimney Sweep
(Services / Offered)

Chimney Sweep

WEST COAST PROPERTIES AGENCY
(Property / For Sale)

WEST COAST PROPERTIES AGENCY

Organic NATTO
(Services / Offered)

Organic NATTO