The Government of Madeira has decided to extend for another year the preventive measures for the areas of the municipality of Câmara de Lobos affected by the construction of the Curral das Freiras cable car system, as published today in the Official Gazette.
According to the publication in the Official Gazette, in addition to the extension of preventive measures, initially in force until June this year, provision number 2 of the resolution of the Regional Government Council 491/2024, published in the Official Journal of the Autonomous Region of Madeira on June 5, 2024, is amended.
At issue is the rule that partially suspends, for three years, the Municipal Master Plan of Câmara de Lobos, which now includes new spaces.
The Madeiran executive (PSD/CDS-PP), led by the social democrat Miguel Albuquerque, “recognises as being of relevant Regional interest the design, construction and conservation of a cable car system, an adventure and nature interpretation park and a ‘zip line’ (slide), including support and restoration facilities.”
According to Madeira Skypark Adventure, the company responsible for the project, the cable car system involves a “totally private” investment of 47 million euros. The contract is valid for 50 years, from the start of operation.
Three cable car stations will be built — Curral das Freiras, Boca da Corrida, and Paredão– and it is estimated that the project can generate 40 direct jobs.
The project has been contested by various sectors, namely environmental associations and opposition party forces, mainly due to the environmental impact.
According to the company, a monthly rent of 2,000 euros will be paid to the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), an amount that will be adjusted annually to the rate of inflation. The contract also provides for the payment to Madeira of a 1% commission of the annual revenue from the ticket office of the cable cars from the tenth year.
According to the Economic and Financial Feasibility Study carried out by the IFCN (Madeiran public institute), in 2034, the annual revenue may reach 6.6 ME, which represents about 66 thousand euros in commission.
Taking into account the amounts due to be paid during the 50-year concession (including rents, taxes, and counterparts), it is estimated that Madeira will receive 400 million euros of direct benefits.
The concessionaire guarantees that the environmental impacts will be limited and will only happen during the period of the works and in a small area, which will then be subject to the “most rigorous landscape recovery.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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