Filenews 6 October 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The Geological Survey Department sends a warning signal to the citizens in order to protect their real estate, reviewing the Geological Suitability Zones, in which it is not appropriate to build, essentially investing the labors of a lifetime.
The Department defined in a White Zone 13 areas (e.g. Pera Chorio - Nisou, Tochni, Athienou, Pissouri, etc.) in which no new development / building / construction is allowed and their boundaries can be checked on the geological website. The Department also identified about 113 areas in which no new construction or addition to existing development / building / construction is recommended. At the same time, it is studying the possibility of issuing a decree for the inclusion of the area or part of the area in "Zone 00" (White Zone).
The zones prepared by geological survey after in-depth research, studies, field examinations, etc. (whether they present geological problems or are suitable for development) cover 55% of the island's area or 85% of free Cyprus.
The Geological Suitability Zones that have been revised by the Department, cover areas related to 28 Municipalities and 411 Communities.
In the field portal of the Department, the user can navigate in a geographical environment, locate additional geological information, but also view the cadastral data (at plot level) from the geoportal of the Department of Lands and Surveys. Furthermore, at the disposal of the citizen are the seismic zones, landslides, sinkholes, points of geochemical soil measurements, results of studies such as microzonal studies, geochemical studies, hydrogeological drilling points, geotechnical drilling points with the relevant description in pdf, and others. In other words, citizens either alone or with the help of specialists have the opportunity to avoid the "dangerous geological pits" into which they could throw their money by buying pieces that they could not use.
The areas, which are characterized according to the risks inherent in each, include the following:
ZONE 00 - The area is threatened by geo risks and is characterized by instability and increased risk. These geohazards have a very negative and destructive impact on the built environment. In this Zone, no new development / building / construction is allowed, based on a Decree of the Council of Ministers. The Decree defines the area as a "White Zone" with the aim of limiting the building development. Any construction work or activity is terminated. The Department provides information to the citizen so that he knows "where he stands" geologically. White zones exist in 13 areas and nominal reference is made to the following: Pera Chorio - Nisou, Tochni, Athienou, Pissouri.
ZONE 00A - The area is threatened by geo risks and is characterized by instability and increased risk. These geohazards have negative and destructive effects on the built environment. These geohazards are related to:
• With active landslides, such as Mathikoloni, Pissouri, Armos, etc.
• With unstable rock masses, such as Episkopi Pafos, Skali Aglantzias.
• Large landfills (Vati, Kotsiatis, Agia Marinouda, Cape Greco) etc.
• Estuary of large rivers, such as Kourri, Diarizos, etc.
• Very high aquifer, such as lakes / wetlands (Voroklini, Paralimni), salt lakes (Akrotiri, Larnaca) and areas near dams.
• Sinkholes, such as Pergamos, Maroni, Pera Chorio - Nisou.
In this Zone, no new construction or addition to an existing development / building / construction is recommended. The Geological Survey Department is studying the possibility of issuing a decree for the inclusion of the area or part of the area in Zone 00 (White Zone). There are about 113 such areas.
ZONE 01 - This area is ideal for development but requires a preliminary geological study for the issuance of a planning permit. The area is threatened by geohazards that are very likely to have a negative impact on the built environment. These geo risks vary in degree of risk and are related to:
• With areas where landslide phenomena may occur or with areas where there are paleo-slip slips that are inactive,
• With unstable slope and slope with logs or detachment of rocks,
• With areas where landfills were operating or are operating that need to be evaluated and remedied before development,
• With areas with underground lumens,
• With areas where sinkholes may occur, usually around zone 00 or 00A associated with sinkholes but also areas with large streams where gypsum rocks pass,
• With areas around large bodies of water where there is a large seasonal fluctuation of the aquifer (Lake Paralimni, Voroklini) or soils with a high salt content (salt lake of Akrotiri, Larnaca).
Preliminary geological study
Zone 01, which is ideal for development but requires a preliminary geological study for the issuance of a planning permit (due to the fact that it is threatened by geo risks that are very likely to have negative effects on the built environment) includes the following:
• Areas with intense freemasonry where faults pass, in some cases actively, such as the valley of Gerasa, Arakapas and Germasogeia.
• Areas that have been embanked, such as streams in urban areas, old inactive quarries (Ormidia, Xylofagou, Nicosia), lakes (Paralimni and Oroklini).
• Areas with swollen soils, i.e. clay rocks, high aluminate mineral content and a high plasticity index.
The Geological Survey notes that, in an area of zone 01, two or more of the above geological problems / geo risks may coexist.
"ZONE 03" is ideal, no geohazard is detected
According to geological, in "ZONE 02" the area is threatened by geo risks that are very likely to have negative effects on the built environment, but specifically on large structures. In this Zone, a geological / geotechnical survey is required for all developments, with the exception of developments up to two floors without basement(s) and swimming pools (swimming pools), [the number of floors includes the ground floor and the open ground floor (pilotis)].
The elaboration of a geological / geotechnical survey will be required for:
(a) New building / construction with more than two floors, and / or with basement (a basement (regardless of the number of floors (the number of floors includes the ground floor and the open ground floor space (pilotis)),
(b) Construction of basements or basements without any above-ground, ground-floor or multi-storey building / construction,
(c) Addition of floor(s) to an existing building / construction, in case the total number of floors of the building / construction will exceed two (the number of floors includes the ground floor and the open ground floor space (pilotis)) or any other construction that will differentiate the weight of the building. In this case, the Planning Authority may obtain the views of the Geological Survey Department,
(d) Construction of a swimming pool or swimming pool in a new one or addition of such a construction to an existing development.
The geological / geotechnical survey is carried out by a geologist or geotechnical engineer (depending on the geohazard), a member of ETEK, during the initial stage of the study and in any case before the final design by the designer. The research aims at the verification and evaluation of the geohazards of the area and the geological / geotechnical conditions of the excavation, foundation and / or retaining.
According to geological, in "ZONE 03" there is no indication of any geohazard, which threatens the built environment. In this Zone, it is not required to conduct a geological / geotechnical survey in relation to geohazards. However, the elaboration of such a survey provides the designer with data on the geological and geotechnical conditions of the construction site in order to rationalize the excavation, foundation and / or retaining.
