The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology highlighted on Faial the importance of investing in the protection and redevelopment of coastal areas of the Azores as it safeguards their use by residents and visitors, boosting coastal and maritime tourism.
 
Gui Menezes spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the rehabilitation of pedestrian access to Salão Port. He stressed that the intervention will "improve this bathing area," adding that it took into account "the enhancement of users' safety."
 
The Regional Secretary said the works, which ended in the beginning of this year, an investment of more over 185 thousand Euros, included the rehabilitation of the existing access by "keeping it as a pedestrian access and by not disfiguring the surrounding landscape."
 
Provided for in the Regional Public Works Charter, the contract work included the construction of a footbridge with protection walls on the side of the cliff and a fence as well as the recovery of access ladders.
 
Gui Menezes also highlighted several investments carried out by the Azorean Government in an amount over 120 thousand Euros that "contribute to the redevelopment of several coastal areas with bathing potential and tourist interest on several islands."
 
In this regard, he pointed out the rehabilitation works on Vila Franca do Campo islet, Ribeira Quente Beach, São Vicente Ferreira, Santo António and Ferraria (São Miguel Island) as well as in São Lourenço and Maia (Santa Maria Island).
 
The Regional Secretary also stressed that the coastal protection work of Rabo de Peixe, on the north coast of São Miguel, will begin by the end of the year, adding that tender procedures for the contract work are under way.
 
According to Gui Menezes, this is "a major intervention," with a budget of 3.3 million Euros, which is intended to "safeguard people and property in a critical area" of Rabo de Peixe.