Madeira’s Regional Government President, Miguel Albuquerque, has renewed his call to extend the Pontinha breakwater at the Port of Funchal, arguing that the project could help protect the city from flooding. Socialist Party (PS) parliamentary leader Paulo Cafôfo has called for an independent study to establish whether the extension could instead increase the risk.
Speaking at the headquarters of the Regional Civil Protection Service on Wednesday, the 11th of November, Albuquerque said intense rainfall and unusually high flows in Funchal’s streams had coincided with high tide during Storm Charles. He said the high tide restricted the discharge of water into the sea, putting extra pressure on drainage in low-lying parts of the city. He cited the Ribeira de João Gomes as one of the streams affected.
Albuquerque argued that extending the breakwater would strengthen protection along the waterfront and could reduce the impact of high tides on the discharge of the city’s streams. He described the project as an investment in civil protection and flood prevention.
According to figures presented by Albuquerque, rainfall totals during Storm Charles exceeded those recorded during the disaster of the 20th of February 2010.
In a response posted on social media, Cafôfo praised the Regional Government’s preparations and mobilisation ahead of the storm. He said a project of this scale required rigorous, transparent scientific studies before the Government could claim it would protect the city from flooding.
Cafôfo said an extension could change water circulation in Funchal Bay and potentially make it harder for the city’s three main streams, São João, Santa Luzia and João Gomes, to discharge into the sea. He also called for studies to examine whether sediment and debris carried by floodwaters could accumulate and restrict drainage, and how changes in wave strength, direction and reflection might affect the waterfront and maritime infrastructure.
He said a longer breakwater might reduce wave energy, while tidal water levels would still rise. He cited the technical problems at the Lugar de Baixo marina in Ponta do Sol and the sea conditions that have limited the use of Pier 8 in Funchal as reasons for caution.
Cafôfo described these as possible outcomes that an independent assessment should test before the project goes ahead.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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