High on the agenda of the upcoming cabinet meeting are the recommendations of the inter-ministerial committee for 14 golf courses, despite the lack of water and the strong reactions of environmental organizations, which speak of criminal actions of the rulers against the environment.
Among the issues that the ministry will address is the request of investors to be given more time to complete all the relevant information required to secure the relevant license.
With the extra time given to them, investors hope to receive the necessary funding for the developments.
Strong reactions of environmentalists
However, the government's intention to license 14 golf courses with all related residential developments, provokes a strong reaction from environmental organizations and especially for developments that fall in environmentally sensitive areas.
One of them is the golf course with related developments in Cape Greco in Natura 2000 area, with the name "Ayia Napa Forest Golf", which will occupy part of state forest land and specifically of the "Ayia Napa Forest".
According to the environmental impact assessment study submitted to the Department of Environment, this is public and private land in the location "Mazeri tou Koukou", as well as in the location "Atopetres-Perneres", within the administrative boundaries of the municipalities of Ayia Napa and Paralimni.
The area expected to occupy the proposed project amounts to 1.037.628 square meters, of which 590.000 square meters are leased state forest land, 139.479 square meters leased state land and 308.149 square meters private land.
As noted, an application has already been submitted for an urban planning permit for the construction of an 18-hole golf course, including ancillary facilities (Club house, parking lots, stadium maintenance, etc.), and other related developments including tourism development (five-star hotel), commercial development (shops of daily use and multipurpose hall) and residential development (houses on plots and houses on single development).
Ch. Theopemptou: They aim at the naturalization plan
Environmentalist MP Charalambos Theopemptou, sharply criticizing the government, called the approval of a license for a golf course in the Natura area a crime.
He stressed that "unfortunately all governments over time have given companies the right to decide for themselves who will create their own development, resulting in intervention in Natura areas."
He also called it unacceptable for a country suffering from water scarcity to allow 14 golf courses to be built without conducting a special study on the number that the site could raise, saying the specific developments were aimed at selling villas through the government's naturalization plan.
He also stressed that "there is a risk of groundwater pollution because the condition is not required to collect the extra water that comes out from under the grass and be used anywhere."
He also noted that an increase in the size of golf courses also affects the following areas because it blocks the flow of rainwater.
He also pointed out that it is not normal in nature to have lighting at night.
K. Papastylianou: They are destroying the habitats
The representative of the initiative for the rescue of natural shores, Kleitos Papastylianou, in addition to the problem of water supply, referred to the other serious and negative environmental effects, through the example of the golf course of Ayia Napa, which is located throughout the area. Natura 2000, in the Cape Greco National Forest Park.
As he stated, "the construction of a golf course in this environmentally sensitive area is expected to result in the permanent loss of natural habitats defining the Natura 2000 area, including priority habitats. In addition, it will result in the loss of fauna habitats and, in particular, bird species in the designation of the Natura 2000 area, including priority species.
Habitats of rare and endangered plants included in the Red Book of the Flora of Cyprus will also be lost.
At the same time, the Natura 2000 area will be fragmented, the mosaic of habitats will be altered and the complexity of its ecological functions will be degraded. In addition, there will be significant disturbance and displacement of nuisance-sensitive species of designated fauna and especially priority wild birds found in the Natura 2000 area.
Finally, the construction of a golf course within the Natura 2000 area will lead to significant degradation of the entire area, due to the indirect, synergistic and cumulative and cumulative effects in conjunction with other projects located in the same area, which are either within or adjacent to the Cape Greco National Forest Park, such as residential, holiday and tourist developments that have literally surrounded the area.
A. Evlavis: They also intervene in archeological sites
The representative of Paphos Ecologists Andreas Evlavis recalled the recent government decision to cover only 25% of the water supply needs of permanent agricultural crops due to water shortages and on the other hand promotes golf courses that need huge amounts of water.
He also complained that part of the Limni Resort golf course belongs to the Natura 2000 area but that as part of the new arrangements and privileges provided by the government, the Aphrodite Hills extension will be extended to the "Frank's Pit" area which is of great archaeological importance. of importance.
The curator of antiquities of the Department of Antiquities, George Theofilou, stated that this is indeed the Rantidis area, of which Lakkos tou Frangou is a part, adding, however, that nothing has arrived at the Department of Antiquities for the time being.
"When the request comes, it will be examined on the basis of the provisions of the law," he pointed out.
It is noted that there are already four golf courses (Aphrodite Hills Golf, Elea Golf, Minthis Hills and Secret Valley Golf Resort) for which the owners, taking advantage of the new incentives, have applied for an upgrade or expansion of their investments.
The ten golf courses whose applications are pending are: Med Golf Properties Ltd Tersefanou, Lanitis Farm Asomatos Ltd - Cerkez Tsiflik, Eagle Pine Golf Resort (Koradjissa Invenstments and Aristo Development Ltd), Agios Ambrosos, Para Lama (Para) Alectora, Kouklia, Venus Rock Estates Ltd Kouklia, Cyprus Limni Resorts & Golfcourses Ltd Polis Chrysochous, Pelathousa, Cyprus Limni Resorts & Golfcourses Ltd, Makounta, Kinousa, Pelathousa, Holy Diocese of Paphos Tsada, Kalofesa and Universal B
Source: StockWatch