Lagoa Council is stepping up efforts to protect its coastline and improve safety in vulnerable coastal areas following the severe storms that battered the Algarve in January and February this year.
The municipality has signed a cooperation agreement with Portugal’s Environmental Fund (Fundo Ambiental) and the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), paving the way for essential stabilisation and restoration works at Senhora da Rocha, one of the coastal areas most affected by the storms.
The agreement, formally signed on September 21, establishes the financial and technical framework for a series of interventions aimed at repairing storm damage, improving public safety and strengthening the coastline’s resilience to extreme weather events.
Lagoa was represented at the signing ceremony by deputy mayor Ruben Palma.
The project forms part of the national Resilient Territories programme, which provides support for restoring riverside and coastal areas damaged by extreme weather.
Protecting access to the beach
The planned works at Senhora da Rocha will focus on stabilising and restoring the municipal road and public staircase providing access to the beach.
Before construction begins, detailed topographical surveys, geological and geotechnical studies will be carried out to assess the condition of the affected area and determine the most appropriate engineering solutions.
The council also plans to establish temporary alternative pedestrian access to the beach while the works are underway, helping to minimise disruption for residents and visitors.
The intervention will be carried out in phases, beginning with technical assessments and planning, followed by risk mitigation measures and construction.
Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação welcomed the agreement as another successful funding application by the municipality.
“This is another successful application that reflects our commitment to securing funding and acting quickly to protect our territory,” he said.
“The storms left their mark, but this agreement with the Environmental Fund and APA allows us to intervene with technical rigour and a long-term vision, ensuring the safety of residents and visitors and making our coastline better prepared and more resilient to the challenges of climate change.”
The council says the partnership represents another step in its ongoing efforts to safeguard the Algarve’s coastal heritage, protect public infrastructure and ensure the long-term sustainability of its coastline.
Inês Lopes
Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident