Filenews 8 September 2022 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Integrated and effective protection and management of the Akrotiri Peninsula, including the area between Tserkez Tsiflik, Zakaki, Asomatos and Trachoni, which is under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and falls within the catchment area of the Akrotiri Wetlands, namely Akrotiri Salt Lake, Livadi Fasouri and Zakaki Wetland, which are under the control of the Command of the British Bases, requested by Members, but also by the guests at yesterday's session of parliament's Committee on the Environment.
During the discussion, the representative of the Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus asked as a minimum measure to mitigate the potential effects of the uncontrolled siting of large-scale residential, holiday, commercial and tourist developments, within the catchment area of the Akrotiri Wetlands, the immediate and full implementation of the "Integrated Stormwater Management Study in the Area of Lake Akrotiri - Cherkez Tsiflik" , which was prepared in July 2020 and approved by the Department of Environment, in consultation with the Department of Public Works.
To this end, the Committee, according to its chairman Charalambos Theopemptou, took the decision that at a next meeting, the competent officers of the Ministry of Transport and Works will be invited, in order for the Parliament to press in its own way to implement the approved measures as soon as possible.
Regarding the area, located between Tserkez Tsiflik, Zakaki, Asomatos and Trachoni, which is under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, on the northeastern side of the Peninsula, the existing urban planning regime was established as early as 1992 and there was a common assumption that the conversion of agricultural land into a residential zone was a criminal mistake, which contributed to the degradation of the Akrotiri wetland system.
As has been said, there is not so much question of drainage and management of groundwater or wastewater management, because the Department of Environment does not propose the construction of basements in the area and because the SBLA has created sewerage infrastructure in the area. A spokesperson for the Department of Environment said that the problem that arises mainly concerns the management of rainwater, due to the lack of infrastructure, land use change, the loss of agricultural crops and the large amount of rainwater from the area upstream of wetlands.
Representatives of the Water Development Department said that the methodology for analyzing the ecological and chemical status of Akrotiri Salt Lake is underway. They pointed out that in previous years the situation had been characterized as moderate, while it is now presented as unknown. They also confirmed that in recent years the water level of Akrotiri Salt Lake is higher and referred to preliminary results of the systematic analyses carried out in recent years. As far as phytoplankton is concerned, the results show a deterioration in the ecological status and degradation of the ecosystem of the coastal lagoon.
Developments in the area
The large-scale developments located between Cherkez Tsiflik, Asomatos and Trachoni, which have either already been implemented or are planned to be implemented in the near future and may lead to pollution of the wetlands of the Akrotiri Peninsula, include the following:
New Port of Limassol, under licensing commercial development (Walton Tower), My Mall Limassol, under construction of a resort casino, under construction holiday development (CPZ Properties &Developments Ltd), under construction golf course with similar developments, Fasouri Watermania - Waterpark Limassol waterpark and related public infrastructure projects.
