Filenews 6 January 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
The reluctance of the competent authorities, the Municipality of Limassol, the SALA and the Department of Public Works to implement the recommendations of a special study prepared by the Ministry of Transport to address the problem of rainwater management related to the cementing of lands due to the new large developments in the area of Aliki Akrotiri, demonstrates the negligence for a holistic treatment of the problem. The uncontrolled siting of new developments in the area and the inadequate management of rainwater, significantly change the quantities of fresh water that reach Akrotiri Salt Lake, resulting in a dramatic change in the ecological characteristics of the wetland, which turns from a lagoon during the winter months into a swamp during the summer months.
Five months after the meeting held in Limassol to address the problems and findings of this study, which was deemed imperative for their immediate implementation, the problem is still up in the air. The implementation of the proposals of the study was expected to be done by both the Limassol Municipality and the Department of Public Works in order to make the necessary infrastructure that will be necessary for the management of rainwater for private projects and public spaces (roads, sidewalks, etc.). However, the Limassol Municipality, the Sala and the Department of Public Works refused to assume this role, with the result that the Minister of Transport requested an opinion from the Attorney General in order to decide which is the competent Authority. All projects licensed in the area are awaiting the opinion of the Attorney General for rainwater management.
The absence of infrastructure for rainwater management in the area of Akrotiri Salt Lake was noticed during the examination of the environmental study for the casino-resort "City of Dreams Mediterranean", a project that is currently in the final stage of construction. The location of the casino in an area that today dominates the Port of Limassol, the shopping centre "My mall" and the waterpark "Fasouri", led to a strong development trend with a number of other applications for complex residential developments. Furthermore, planning permission has already been granted for a golf course with similar developments, and developments related to land reclamation and construction of commercial, office and residential developments. Licensed projects are the separation of 78 plots in Zakaki of the company CPZ, the residential development of Citrus Gardens in Tsierkezoi, the separation of 38 plots in Trachoni, the residential development of AN Sky Garden in Tsierkezoi, the commercial development of Walton Tower in Zakaki and the biological station to serve the casino. Within the control area by the British Bases, a 12MW photovoltaic park was licensed. The licensing of the residential development "Brightbuild Residences" is also pending.
With the continuous new large developments and the cementing of large areas of land, the volume of rainwater is channelled into the wider watershed that contributes to the creation of surface runoff that ends up in the Akrotiri Salt Lake. This is one of the most important environmental issues identified in the wider area and is of concern to the Environmental Authority. The effects of the non-rational and unintegrated management of rainwater are multiple and are related to the ever-increasing flood risks and to the change in the quantity and quality of water ending up downstream further south of Alyki, with a possible negative impact on the ecosystem ecology and an outbreak of populations of unwanted insects.
In order to address this issue, the Department of Environment asked the Ministry of Transport to prepare a special study for the integrated management of rainwater related to all major developments in the area that are either under construction, have already been licensed or have applied for planning permission. The study asked to assess the quantity and quality of the water channeled to the Salt Lake and its impact and to propose measures for their treatment, optimization of their channelling, mitigation of the impact on the ecology of the area and a monitoring program. Consideration has also been given to the implementation of a Sustainable Urban Stormwater Drainage System (SUDS) combining management practices and construction projects aimed at draining and controlling surface waters in a more sustainable way than traditional practices.
The Ministry of Transport has undertaken and has carried out this study which has evaluated the above and has resulted in specific infrastructure and measures to be taken both by the state services (Department of Public Works, Limassol Municipality and SALA) and by the private investors in the area. These measures concern both the management of the water in the plots of the developments, as well as their channelling to the Akrotiri Salt Lake, ensuring the quality of the water and the way of channelling (not pointwise). The Department of Environment fully agreed with the findings of the study and stressed the urgent need for its immediate implementation. In subsequent meetings with the Ministry of Transport, the alternative of rainwater being channelled into the sea was also raised, but this was not accepted by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the Department of Environment. The site for discharge into the sea is favoured by the communities hosting the developments and carrying out a counter-study.
Conditions for rainwater management
AN Sky Garden To install a grease trap system for oil separation, so that rainwater resulting from the development is directed there before it is channelled to the public rainwater system to be built.
Casino Rainwater will be collected and after treatment, it will be driven through two culverts into the public pipeline and will end up after cleaning in Lake Makria.
Biological station for the Casino The pipeline transporting the treated wastewater to the irrigation areas should be underground and double-cover so as to avoid any leakage, where applicable.
Limassol Greens Golf Resort The facility must have a rainwater collection network covering the premises of the facility.
Sunset Gardens To submit a rainwater monitoring program one year after the issuance of a building permit, with measurements of the quantity and quality of water ending up in the Salt Lake.
Walton Tower Rainwater to be channeled to the subsoil within the project block, using sustainable stormwater drainage systems.
Separation of 78 CPZ plots To implement the recommendations of the hydrological and hydraulic study prepared by the designers.
Separation of 38 plots of Lanitis To be submitted to the Department of Environment for approval of a hydrological study, in which to explain how rainwater is managed with specific planning.
INTERVENTION
Inadequate management
In the most important bird area of Cyprus, Akrotiri Salt Lake, urban planning zones were modified and large-scale developments were licensed, without the necessary public infrastructure networks in place. The wider area north of Aliki is now completely changing its character and land use, as it is changing from agricultural to residential, tourist and commercial, without even the existence of rainwater management networks. Projects were approved and conditions imposed for rainwater management, without ensuring their applicability. And while there are studies, conditions and suggestions for regulating the issue, everyone proposes whatever they want, culminating in bringing the issue back to being channelled into a pipeline that ends up in the sea. The Ministry of Transport must assume its responsibilities, stop playing ping pong and immediately implement the recommendations of its own study.
