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On the Algarvian side of the River Guadiana, the Quinta do Vale Golf
Resort is to be developed, one of the three big tourist resorts planned
for that area. With an investment of over 91 million euros, the project
aims "to preserve" the richness of the landscape of which it will form
a part.
Promoted by the Spanish company Golf Quinta do Vale SA and financed by
Millenium BCP, the new luxury resort, which will cover an area of 100
hectares, includes a golf course, luxury villas, a touristic village,
an hotel and a marina.
The presentation ceremony took place on Thursday on the lands of the
resort, in a space specially created for the event, and counted on the
presence of Severiano Ballasteros, one of the best European golfers,
responsible for the design and construction of the golf course of
Quinta do Vale.
Enjoying "a unique area of landscaping", the objective is to
"maximise the potential of the natural surroundings in which it lies,
preserving the environmental richness of the borough of Castro Marim".
All the loteamento projects count on the signature of the renowned
urban and landscape designer Sidónio Pardal, responsible for the Parque
da Cidade do Porto.
"This is a project of high quality, without touching on the
specifics of the territory", considered the President of the promoting
company, Victor Alonso. "We took care to incorporate the resort within the natural
surroundings". The construction of 11 thousand trees characteristic of
the region "safeguards the local ecosystem".
The developers have not forgotten the water resources: through
the construction of various reservoirs for storing rainwater and in a
pioneering agreement with the company Águas do Algarve for the
recycling of residual water from the water treatment plant of Vila Real
de Santo António for the purposes of irrigation.
In relation to the real estate, the 60 or so villas constitute
"an harmonious complex, respecting high standards of quality. The
promotor is still seeking a partner for the 125 bedroom five star
hotel.
With the signature of "Seve", the 18 hole golf course (par 72)
is to be developed in an area of 75 hectares and blended into the
natural surrounding landscape, "using the irregular features of the
land to confer to each hole a unique personality".
"It is a challenging design, in a unique natural environment -
we want to make it a course of note in Portugal", confessed the
Spaniard. Victor Alonso had scheduled the inauguration of the course
for September next year, but Ballasteros is not so confident: "I doubt
that by that date the course will be ready to be inaugurated".
The marina is the "touchstone" of the resort, using the
potential of the River Guadiana, "aiming not only to attract tourists,
but equally to benefit the local population", states the promotor. The
company has signed a protocol with the Naval Association of the
Guadiana and the Municipal Council of Castro Marim which will allow free access for teaching sailing to the youngsters of the borough.
Guadiana of gold
This is one of the three touristic projects planned for the
Portuguese side of the Guadiana, in the borough of Castro Marim.
According to Council chief José Estevens, that of Corte Velho is
blocked, due to an unfavourable Declaration of Environmental Impact, "which is to be adjusted", and the
project of d'Ouro saw its loteamento process licenced on Wednesday by
the Municipal Council.
"this is the model which we intend for Castro Marim - to bet
on a touristic offer of quality and diversity, contributing to the
qualification of the region", emphasised Estevens.
The key-word is quality, whilst on the other side of the
Guadiana the Spanish bet on quantity: opposite the Quinta do Vale,
there are being constructed 25 thousand beds. "This is not what we
want", stated the President of the Algarve Tourist Board, Helder
Martins.
The Tourist Board chief was applauded by those present when he
criticised the "fundamentalists" who treat "as a criminal a businessman
who intends to build a golf course".
The presentation ceremony of the resort of Quinta do Vale
featured the presence of representatives of diverse entities such as
António Pina, Civil Governor of Faro, the deputies José Pereira da
Costa and Jovita Ladeira and the representative of the Portuguese
Investment Agency, Alexandre Soutomayor.
source: regiao sul
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