The evaluation process of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study (MEEP) and the Due Environmental Impact Assessment Study (DMEEP) for the construction and operation of a golf course and similar (residential, tourist and commercial) developments in the area of Atopetson, of Natura 2000 sites of Community Importance (SCI) and Special Protection Zone (SPA), Cape Greco National Forest Park (SEP), by the company "Ayia Napa Forest Golf Ltd".
The construction works for the proposed project are planned to start, if all the required environmental approvals as well as urban planning and building permits are obtained, in two phases:
• Phase A: Duration 2 years, start in 2019 and completion in 2021. Includes golf course, clubhouse, stadium maintenance building, tourist development, commercial development and 100 houses.
• Phase B: Duration 5 years, start in 2021-2022 and completion in 2026-2027. It includes the remaining 188 houses.
The proposed project is located in the center of SDP Cape Greco, in the southeastern part of Cyprus, and falls within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Ayia Napa and the Municipality of Paralimni. Occupies a total area of 1.037.628 sq.m. of which:
• 590.000 sq.m. (56,86%) leased state forest land.
• 139.479 sq.m. (13,44%) leased state-owned land.
• 308.149 sq.m. (29,7%) private land.
70,3% of the total area of the proposed project site includes leased state land, both forest and halit.
For the proposed project, an application was submitted for an urban planning permit, which concerns the general spatial plan (Master Plan) for the creation of an 18-hole golf course, ancillary facilities (clubhouse, parking lots, field maintenance area, etc.), other related tourist, commercial and residential development (luxury 5 * hotel unit, multipurpose hall, shops, luxury villas) and other necessary infrastructure (road network, sidewalks and bike paths, green areas, etc.).
The golf course and ancillary facilities are located within the Natura 2000 sites, while similar tourist, commercial and residential development are adjacent to the north and west of the Natura 2000 sites.
The proposed project is included in a total of 14 golf extensions that are planned to be erected from 2005. On 26/2/2014 the Council of Ministers approved the lease of state forest land of 590 decares in the Ayia Napa Forest, with the aim of creating a golf course. The lease is valid for a period of 33 years and can be renewed for a second and third term of 25 years each, unless one of the parties notifies the other, 6 months before the end of the term, that it does not wish to continue the lease for substantive reasons.
While initially the plans concerned the construction of an individual golf course without similar developments, with decision no. 77.095 of the Council of Ministers dated 18/6/2014 gave the opportunity to the company Ayia Napa Forest Golf Ltd to proceed with developments around the area of the stadium including hotels, villas, apartments, restaurants, shops and others, as provided by the "New Policy for the development of golf courses in Cyprus ".
This decision provides, inter alia, that in the leased forest land, as it is located in an area of the Natura 2000 Network, only the golf course and the facilities deemed necessary for its operation will be established, provided that the necessary environmental studies (MEEP) are submitted. and DMEEP), which will be evaluated and approved based on current legislation.
Tourism Development
The tourist development will include a luxury 5 * hotel with a capacity of 500 beds (250 rooms) and SPA, swimming pools, gym, restaurants, bars etc. The hotel will consist of 10 floors and a basement. In addition, the hotel will have a total of 225 parking spaces, underground and outdoor. The 5 * hotel in a future phase is expected to be expanded by 100%, doubling the number of beds and other sizes.
Residential development
Residential development will consist of luxury homes with simple architecture and the use of as much natural conventional materials as possible in light shades. The initial number of houses / housing units will amount to 288, of which 216 will be two-storey houses with a building area of 140 sq.m. (houses A), while the remaining 12 will be two-storey houses with a building area of 200 sq.m. (houses B). The single developments envisage the construction of a total of 60 houses with a building area of 140 sq.m. approximately, with coverage of 100 sq.m. (houses C). Homes are expected to grow by about 20% in future project expansion.
Commercial development
The commercial development, which will be erected in the form of a square of semi-urban spaces, will be the connecting link of all the proposed uses. Includes daily shops, multipurpose hall, as well as underground and outdoor parking. Parking spaces are estimated at 130, some of which will be underground.
The effects on the environment are permanent and irreversible
According to DMEEP, the construction and operation of the golf course and similar residential, tourist and commercial developments, as well as public infrastructure expansion projects, are expected to bring the following serious, negative and permanent / irreversible effects in the Natura 2000 areas, PC and SPA, SDP Cape Greco:
- Definitive loss of designated natural habitats, including a priority habitat.
- Loss of fauna and especially bird habitat, including designation and priority species.
- Loss of individuals of important species of flora.
- Effect of Natura 2000 area cohesion and degradation of system complexity and ecological functions.
- Displacement of disturbing species of fauna and especially poultry, including species of characterization and priority.
- Harassment of fauna and mainly poultry species, including designation and priority species.
- Indirect synergistic and cumulative effects in combination with existing projects and activities located in the area.
According to the Conclusions of the Biogeographical Seminar of 2012, the representation of the affected type of natural habitat, characterization and priority, is characterized as "insufficiently moderate", while at the same time an "scientific reservation" is expressed. According to the "Mediterranean Nature Habitat Technical Report for the Mediterranean Seasons", published by the European Commission in March 2008, the most important threats to this natural habitat type are the change of the hydrological basin that may occur due to anthropogenic activities. , land use change, deforestation, soil erosion, drainage projects, landscaping, intensive farming, as well as land sealing and residential and tourist development.
In addition, the site area of the proposed project, within the Natura 2000 SPA area of Cape Greco, covers a significant area of feeding and resting area of at least eight priority wild birds (Annex I of Directive 2009/147 / EC), for which the SPA area has been defined. (hawk, double-breasted, swamp urchin, camposchino, kirkinezi, zanos, black hawk, bee urchin).
Area of special ecological value
The area of the Cape Greco SAR was designated as a SPA due to the presence of five species of wild birds and the use of the area by a group of important migratory birds of prey:
- The black hawk, the white-tailed deer and the bee-eater are migratory birds that pass through the area in significant numbers and are defining species.
- Skalifourta and trypomazis are endemic birds of Cyprus, which nest in the SPA and are the other two types of determination.
- The important migratory predatory species that are included in the definition group because they pass through the area in significant numbers, especially in autumn, are the honeysuckle, the black hawk, the swamp hawk, the vulture, the white vulture, the snake eagle, the white hawk, the camphor xefteri, the hawk, the double-breasted, the screaming eagle, the hawk, the fish eagle, the kirkinezi, the kitsis, the nano-falcon, the tree-falcon, the steposan and the zanos.
The area of the Cape Greco SAR was designated as SCI because it is covered to a large extent by extensive invisible shrubs that from a phytosociological point of view are part of the hardwood evergreen vegetation, also known as macchia. Invisible shrubs are the main feature of the landscape in the area. The area is also covered by areas of low phryganic vegetation, as well as by a mixture of the above two types of vegetation. Smaller parts of the area are covered by other habitats with particular value being given to priority habitats such as seasonal lakes and grassland plant communities.
At the same time, plantations with foreign species such as eucalyptus and acacias, human vegetation and agricultural crops, as well as bare areas have been recorded in various parts of the area.
Source: Liberal