| Vale do Lobo, the largest luxury resort in the
Algarve, located on 2km of coastline between Faro and Vilamoura, will undertake
a sand refurbishment operation to halt the depletion of its beach and the
erosion of its ochre cliffs, which have become the signature of Algarve
golf throughout the world.
The sand refurbishment – the second to take place at Vale do Lobo
over the last decade – will begin in March 2006 and will be completed
within approximately 6 weeks. The procedure will involve the restoration
of 275 000 cubic metres of sand, representing an investment of more than
€1.5 million, fully financed by the Vale do Lobo Group of Companies
and Vale do Lobo proprietors’ club members.
The sand restored to the beach will be dredged from the seabed and pumped
through a network of pipes onto the beach, following a complex research
process in which areas of the seabed were tested for quality of sand and
the possibility of removing some without adversely affecting the natural
balance. The operation will be carried out by Anglo-Dutch consortium Royal
Boskalis Westminster. The method was chosen after experts throughout the
world found sand refurbishment to be the best and most natural way to
protect the coastline. Its result will be to raise the level of the beach
and thus protect the cliff line naturally from erosion. In the most critical
areas, sand dunes are to be created to increase the protection of the
resort’s golf courses and homes.
This undertaking was found to be necessary because the Vale do Lobo coast
has suffered a rapid retreat since the 1980’s, with the Atlantic’s
natural erosive effect accentuated since the construction of Vilamoura
marina, which did not consider any measures to minimise erosion. Without
intervention, erosion has been rapidly evolving the coastline, resulting
in cliff-fall, reduced sand levels making for less attractive beaches,
and destruction of beachside homes and amenities. Two homes have already
had to be demolished at Vale do Lobo – a powerful contributor to
the luxury resort’s management and proprietors’ club members’
decision that the theory of letting nature take its course should be abandoned.
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Before the last refurbishment |
