Filenews 22 May 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The continuous and intense effect of tidal waves is accepted by the southwest coasts of the neighboring municipalities of Paphos and Geroskipou which are purely touristic and are exposed to the high seas. For the protection of the beach and the safe use by bathers, various marine projects were constructed from time to time. In the study area there is no organized use of the coast as the sea currents and the high ripple status of the area make the situation dangerous for bathers, as evidenced with historic events.
In order to develop the coastal zone by protecting the coast from erosion and improve the quality of the beach so it is compatible with tourist and recreational uses and to provide, in particular, the necessary safe conditions of use of the coast by bathers, a strategic environmental impact study (SMP) was prepared which examined alternatives. The main issues that concerned the evaluation of the SMP, in addition to coastal hydraulic issues, were the presence of Poseidonia and antiquities in the area.15
The Environmental Authority approved with some adjustments the solution proposed. This plan summarises the redeployment of most existing break breakers by creating a uniform rational protection and improvement of the coast by minimising the negative impact on the environment.
Following the adjustments proposed by the Environmental Authority, the project includes 15 new detached (parallel to the coast) wave breakers with a level of +1.5m. above the Middle Sea Level and 4 provols (sitting on the coast) 15m long. - 40m. The proposed projects are mainly constructed with recyclable materials (natural boulders), with maximum utilization of the appropriate materials from existing projects. In the case of the use of natural boulders, a total of about 110,000 m2 of HMA 3000/6000 boulders and about 23,000 m2 of HMA 300/1000-sized boulders will be needed.
The works were adapted to minimize the influence of Poseidonia, while no intervention is made in known antiquities. No excavations are proposed to minimise negative impacts on antiquities that may exist and have not been identified. The projects are based on the existing sea base.
The proposed projects are of a similar form to the beach protection and improvement projects in many areas of Cyprus and the visual image, over time, is estimated to be acceptable, if not desirable, to the public.
It is noted that the Municipality of Geroskipou, after an open competition, commissioned the preparation of the study for the protection and improvement of the southwest coasts of the municipalities of Paphos and Geroskipou in the Dion consortium of Toumazis & Associates and Rogan & Associates Inc.
The report (MEEP) has a complete description and evaluation of the natural and man-made environment and the impact of the approved project on the environment. This study identifies the locations of coastal protection and improvement projects and assesses their impact on the environment with regard to the coast (impacts on the natural and man-made environment of the coast) at the operational stage of the project.
Individual projects to protect the beach failed
The study area is considered one of the most touristic parts of Paphos with rapid tourist and residential development. The tourist flow is particularly high during the summer season. The rapid increase in the rate of tourist development has led to an increase in hotel and residential units in the area.
Specifically, there are:
• Hotels, tourist apartments, restaurants, cafes and related uses.
• Water ski services, etc.
• Boat pumping/launching ramp.
• Beach pedestrian street along the beach.
More specifically on the northwest side of the study area is the port or port of Kato Paphos. This port is a partially natural port and was originally built in antiquity. Today the traces of the ancient wave breaker are visible.
East of the land end of the ancient wave breaker are the municipal baths. There is a swimming pool whose water is fed from the sea. South of the baths there are recreation areas followed by a number of hotel units. At the end of the series of hotels there is a boat launch ramp, followed by the municipal beach KOT Geroskipou. In the meantime there is the municipal beach of SODAP and at the northernmost point the beach of Alykes.
Individual deployments have been made by hoteliers to create bathing areas to serve their customers which basically proved to be unsatisfactory, because they did not offer the expected security to bathers.
Protection against corrosion
The study area is approximately 4 km long and is located on the southwest coastal front of Cyprus in Geroskipou. It is bounded by the Municipal Baths of Paphos in the west and the hotel "Phaethon" in the south. The study area is located entirely within the province of Paphos and specifically in the municipality of Geroskipou.
The main objective of the study is to define the strategy for the development of the coastal zone by protecting the coast from erosion and improving the quality of the beach in order to be compatible with tourist and recreational uses and to provide in particular the necessary safe conditions of use of the coast by bathers. However, the interventions resulting from the strategy must be adapted to the natural terrain, to the scale of the region and, of course, to respect for the environment for which tourism has developed in the region. The aim of the study is to achieve integrated coastal zone management – along the entire length of the study area – by examining alternative management plans and identifying the optimal coastal zone protection and sustainable development plan. The measures and coastal protection and improvement projects proposed should have the least possible impact on the environment and should be within the framework of the principles of sustainable development.
In addition, the objectives of this study include any redeployment and/or construction of additional coastal projects required in order to improve/increase the safety of marine users, safe use of the coast, increase the efficiency of their present operation, and equal distribution of sand throughout the study area. In the event of the removal of existing protection works, other measures should be taken to avoid problems in existing installations and adjacent areas.
