Ponta do Sol Council Announces Reopening of Marina in Lugar do Baixo
The municipal government of Ponta do Sol announced that it wants to reopen the Marina do Lugar de Baixo to the public and turn the damaged site into a leisure area with access to the sea. The plan was outlined by the mayor, Rui Marques, who said the goal is to reduce the sense of abandonment around the former marina and return the space to public use.
The marina project, which according to some estimates consumed up to €100 million in public funds and never became fully operational, suffered repeated damage from strong sea conditions and has remained closed for years. Local authorities now see the area as a possible bathing and leisure zone if basic safety and access conditions are met.
Municipality Offers To Clean Debris While Awaiting Regional Government Reply
According to Rui Marques, the municipality is willing to take responsibility for cleaning the seabed, which is still covered with debris left after the marina’s destruction by waves. However, the work depends on approval and coordination with the Regional Government.
That section next to the cliff is a risk area, but the rest, where the complex used to operate, could be reorganized into a reasonably safe area (“uma zona com alguma segurança”), a leisure zone, something that could be made available for public use.
Rui Marques, RTP Madeira
The mayor added that the council has already shown its openness to cooperate and is now waiting for a formal response from the regional authorities so that work can move forward.
Eastern Access Identified As Safe Route Near Risk Zone By Cliff
Safety remains a central concern in the proposal. Mr. Marques said that the area closest to the cliff remains a risk zone and would stay restricted. The rest of the former marina complex, he said, could be reorganized into a controlled leisure area.
Access to the sea would be made from the eastern side, which the municipality considers safe. The area already has space that could be used for parking, making access easier for residents and visitors.
Summer 2027 Seen As Latest Target For New Leisure Area
Mr. Marques said he believes the new sea access and leisure area could become available by the summer of 2027 at the latest. If approvals arrive sooner, some work could begin earlier, but he stressed that careful planning matters more than speed.
The municipality also said it could help provide basic conditions for swimmers, working in partnership with other public entities. Any final timeline, however, depends on the Regional Government’s decision and the planning of support infrastructure.
For now, the site remains closed, but local leaders say the intention is clear - to return Lugar de Baixo to public use in a safer and more organized way.
Planning, Construction and Decline of the Marina do Lugar de Baixo
Late 1990s – Early 2000s: Project conception
The Regional Government of Madeira identified Lugar de Baixo, in Ponta do Sol, as a strategic location for a recreational marina aimed at tourism and nautical activities.
Early 2000s: Planning and coastal engineering studies
Technical studies and coastal works were carried out, despite concerns about strong wave action and exposure to the Atlantic.
2001–2004: Construction phase
The marina was built with breakwaters, docks and support infrastructure. The project was designed to host nearly 300 recreational vessels.
October 2004: Official inauguration
The marina was formally opened during a regional political campaign, although several operational components were incomplete or untested. The project was initially budgeted at about €29.7 million.
2004–2005: Marina never becomes fully operational
Despite the inauguration, the marina did not enter regular service and received little or no nautical traffic.
Winter 2005: First major storm damage
Strong sea conditions caused severe structural damage to the breakwaters and internal basin, raising doubts about long-term safety.
2005–2010: Repeated damage and repair attempts
Successive storms continued to damage the site. Repair works were carried out, but the marina remained closed and unstable.
2012–2014: Political and technical criticism grows
Engineers and politicians publicly questioned the project’s viability. The marina was increasingly described as a failed public investment.
2015 onwards: Abandonment of the marina concept
The regional authorities stopped major reconstruction efforts, leaving the structure unused and partially destroyed.
2023–2026: Shift toward renaturalisation and public use
Plans emerged to remove remaining structures and convert the area into a safe leisure and bathing zone, leading to the 2026 proposal by the Ponta do Sol council to reopen the space for public access.
Source: RTP Madeira
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