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Controversial project gets green light
Updated: 29-Jun-2012

Local residents oppose newly approved development. Photo: NICKIE DAVIES

By SOPHIE MCCARRICK sophie.mccarrick@algarveresident.com

One of the last stretches of untouched coastline and a natural lagoon rich in wildlife is to be home to a huge new tourism resort and golf course in an area where other recently built developments struggle to survive.

An investment plan exceeding €232 million for the area of Praia Grande, Perâ, was officially agreed upon and signed for by the Municipality of Silves, developers Finalgarve S.A and promoters Grupo Galilei on June 22.

Local residents have expressed their indignation and astonishment that such a project has been approved. The Salgados lagoon is a treasured wetland area where aquatic birds like Kinsgfishers, Great Kormorants and even flamingos are just a few of the species to be found.

But more importantly, the Salgados area has already been developed to the extent where thousands of holiday units lay empty for the majority of the year and developers have run into serious financial difficulties.

The plans have enraged local residents to initiate an online petition against the construction and is currently circulating amongst the Algarve community.

Photo: CM Silves

In a statement from petition founder, Frank McClintock, he says: “To Portugal’s shame, politicians have approved a property development to destroy Salgados bird sanctuary entirely by building yet more unwanted hotels – as if the Algarve didn’t have enough already!”

“This issue is very important to us all, and together we can do something about it! If you sign and then share with your friends and contacts, we’ll soon reach our goal of 40,000 signatures and build pressure to get this agreement rescinded.”

But Silves mayor Isabel Soares is 100% behind the project that represents one of the largest development projects in Portugal. Plans include the construction of three luxury hotels, five holiday villages, shopping complexes and an 18 hole golf course. The plans which were approved by Silves Câmara in 2007, will be erected upon the currently vacant, 247 hectare area over looking Praia Grande, also known as the Salgados bird sanctuary.

The Mayor said at the signing that “this is a project that allows the development of this specific area of the county,” she further noted that this development “will give greater sustainability to everything that is planned with regards to tourism, based on our Strategic Development Plan of the municipality.”

Wildlife of the lagoon includes the rare purple galinule Photo: FAÍSCA

Silves Câmara is expected to significantly benefit due to the estimated revenue of €35 million over a ten year period.

Building work of the urbanity is expected to begin at the start of 2013 and will initially see general infrastructures such as access roads to the area, water supply and sanitation outlets, plus access to the beaches and the tourist units.

Providing that plans go ahead as scheduled, tourists could be able to check into the first hotel as early as 2015.

Encouraging the success of the upscale build, the Silves President said that it will “put Silves on the regional and national map (and even international) by increasing the attractiveness of our territory, affirming our identity and introducing innovation and knowledge as tools for everyday work.”

But doubts remain about the commercial viability of this development project. The developers claim that finance is in place for the building of the first hotel, golf course and basic infrastructure. But this represents just a small proportion of the overall project incorporating over 5000 tourist beds. Fears abound amongst the local community that further investment from banks or other developers will be difficult to secure and Praia Grande may end up as nothing more than a building site and an eyesore for many years to come.

The online petition, labelled ‘Save Salgados, a unique internationally recognised birding sanctuary, from being destroyed,’ is available on: www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Salgados_a_unique_internationally_recognized_birding_sanctuary_from_being_destroyed/?launch