The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism assured that the quality and safety of visitors is the Government's main concern regarding Caldeira Velha Natural Monument and, for that reason, it will take over its management from now on.
 
"Our concern in terms of infrastructures is to make adaptations to the new management model that we intend to implement in this space during the three weeks when it will be closed. Moreover, we also want to ensure its quality, following the landslides that occurred" in December, said Mart Guerreiro, who spoke to journalists after visiting the area.
 
"There is a series of interventions already underway," the government official said, stressing that "today is the first day of the works" that will allow the reopening of Caldeira Velha Natural Monument in the municipality of Ribeira Grande with all the visiting conditions on February 9.
 
About the ongoing interventions, the Regional Secretary highlighted the cleaning and waterproofing of the pools, the construction of a third pool, the installation of more changing rooms and lockers, the control of invasive flora and the removal of large trees from risk areas.
 
Marta Guerreiro also highlighted human resources as "an important concern that has been expressed in a not so clear manner" by the municipality of Ribeira Grande.
 
"Contrary to what the municipality of Ribeira Grande has been saying about its concern about workers, now we will put an end to the precarious labour relations that existed in this place. Indeed, we will define better labour relations and improve salaries," assured the Regional Secretary.
 
The deadline for the submission of applications for the hiring of eight workers, who will add up to three Azorina workers, ended last week. Currently, the evaluation procedures are taking place and interviews will be held next week so that all workers will be hired by the time this place reopens to the public.
 
Regarding the management model, Marta Guerreiro reinforced the importance of limiting the access to 250 visitors and stipulating maximum visitation time of two hours, which will be controlled by "an automatic system to be installed at the entrance to this place. At a later stage, the information will be provided on the website of the Azores Natural parks."
 
Regarding the changes in the access conditions, the Secretary for the Environment revealed that the Government plans to apply different admission fees for visiting and bathing purposes.
 
Moreover, it will also implement two visiting periods: from April 1 to October 31 between 9 AM and 9 PM and from November 1 to March 31 between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM.
 
Marta Guerreiro also highlighted the work developed by Azorina regarding environmental education, through the Environmental Centre. It has led to "the growth of visitors, which is remarkable." According to her, this is a "solid company with a financial autonomy above 50%. It registers positive operating results that are perfectly in line with its social goals."