Filenews 29 July 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The construction of 37 wave breakers, totalling €12 million, is now the subject of a Strategic Environmental Impact Study and a Special Ecological Assessment Study, which were prepared on behalf of the Department of Public Works, as part of proposed projects to protect and improve the coastal front from Neo Chorio to Pachyammos.
The study area is about 25 km long and is located on the northern coastal front of Cyprus. It is bounded to the west by the rocky outbreak despite the Hotel Anassa (Asproremmos area on the administrative boundaries of the community of Neo Chorio) and to the east by the eastern boundary of The Bay of Pomos and the community of Pachyammos. Within the area fall the communities/municipalities of Neo Chorio, Chrysochous Town, Makouda, Argaka, Gilia, Agia Marina, Pomos and Pachyammos. Excluded from the study the area covered by the design and the corresponding protection projects implemented/ implemented east of the Port/Fishing Refuge in Latsi up to the campground of Chrysochous Town (14 parallel wave breakers).
Most of the coastal front of the study area falls within urban protection zones D1, D2 and Z1. Very much of the marine area falls under the Natura 2000 network (Special Conservation Zone Area Polis – Gilia) or abuts it (Place of Community Importance Akamas Peninsula). The wave breakers are located within feeding areas and in front of spawning beaches of the two species of sea turtles Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, which are species of designation and priority of the two protected areas of the Natura 2000 network.
According to the project's scholars, the Consortium of Toumazis & Associates and Rogan & Associates, for the selection of the site and the type of projects proposed took into account the existing natural and man-made environment (especially protected areas, seabeds, antiquities and tourist uses), expected future environmental conditions and climate change (sea level rise and increased ripples), alternative solutions have been developed and evaluated, including mild interventions (no hard work and enrichment with sediment loams), harsh interventions without visual nuisance (wave breakers, reefs) and solutions have been developed that maximise positive environmental impacts (disruption of corrosion and improvement of water quality).
Modern tools for simulating coastal hydraulics with mathematical models were used to assess the environmental impact of alternative solutions. Using these simulations in the wider study area, it was possible to estimate changes in wave, sea currents, sediment movement and change in dredging in relation to alternative solutions.
The study area was divided into five sub-areas.
The best solution chosen after consultation with stakeholders for each study sub-area is:
Sub-area 1: From the western boundary of the study area to the natural overhang of the coastline east of the camp's beach, it is proposed to build 9 detached low-coronation wave breakers at a cost of €2.7 million.
Sub-area 2: From the beach located east of the campground, after the natural protrusion of the coastline in the Municipality of Chrysochous Town, to the western boundary of the beach of the community of Argakas, it is proposed to build 13 detached low-coronation wave breakers at a cost of €3.4 million.
Sub-area 3: From the western boundary of the beach of the community of Argakas to the western boundary of the coastal front of the community Nea Dimitas, it is proposed to build 7 detached low-coronation wave breakers at a cost of €1.8 million.
Sub-area 4: From the coastal front of the community Nea Dimita to the fishing shelter of Pomou, it is proposed to build 9 detached low-coronation wave breakers at a cost of €2.7 million.
Sub-area 5: From the fishing lodge of Pomos to the eastern end of the beach of Pachyammos, it is proposed to build 5 detached low-coronation wave breakers at a cost of €1.4 million. In particular, it is proposed to build a detached low-coronation wave breaker east of the Fishing Refuge of Pomou at a cost of €0.15 million. and the construction of four detached low-coronation wave breakers on the beach of Pacyammos cost €1.24 million.
According to the scholars, this proposal aims to limit the intense erosion observed on the coastal front from Neo Chorio to Pachyammos. At the same time, even within protected areas of the Natura 2000 network, 'where the treatment of erosion is considered necessary, the smallest possible interventions are proposed'.
The inevitable coverage of the seabed by wave breakers is minimised by:
1. Minimize the number of wave breakers.
2. Maximising the slope of the project slopes, minimising the coronation level of the projects and maximising the density of the construction materials of the projects.
The largest percentage of loss of sea bed occurs mainly in sub-areas 1 and 2 while in sub-area 3 the impact is minimal. More generally, the majority of sea beds are in deeper waters than those of wave breakers, so the degree of influence on all sea beds is small.
The most important area for turtles
The coastline along Chrysochous Bay is the most important habitat for the Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas sea turtles in Cyprus, along with the coastline of the Akamas Peninsula. In fact, the coastline of Chrysochous Bay is considered the most important area in Cyprus for the spawning of the species Caretta caretta and the second most important for the spawning of the species Chelonia mydas.
According to the Special Ecological Assessment Study, prepared by AP Marine, the effects that may occur on spawning beaches from the proposed projects during the construction of the project include nuisance, increased human presence, pollution and a reduction in nesting numbers.
The effects on the marine environment during the construction and operation of the project include the suspension and transport of sediments, the turbidity of the sea, noise pollution, alteration (removal/addition) of a substrate, the change in the quality of marine waters, as well as the loss and degradation due to the anchoring of ships and the construction of breakwaters of the sea beds, which are a marine type of priority natural habitat, endemic to the Mediterranean and an important refuge for marine life.
Five bathing areas
Along the length of the study area are various beaches suitable for bathers, offering amenities and services to guests. Such beaches are: Asproremmos beach, next to the hotel "Anassa", Latsi beach, near the port of Latsios, municipal beach of Chrysochous Town, Dasoudi beach, where the campground of Chrysochous Town is located, and Pachyammos village beach.
With the exception of Pachyammos beach, the other beaches are awarded with the "Blue Flag", they are organized, with excellent quality waters, while very close to them are restaurants and accommodations/hotels.
In addition, the beaches in Chrysochous town and Latsi offer full accessibility of the beaches to people with mobility difficulties, with special sea access systems offered for free use to the public.
