In the licensing of the restoration project of the part of the rocky beach in the location of Ammos tou Kampouris in Cape Greco as it was designed by the Municipality of Ayia Napa, on the condition of observing essential conditions, the Environmental Authority agreed with the reasoned , December 27.
At this location, it has been established that arbitrary interventions such as rocking, deforestation and the creation of an artificial cove were carried out between the years 2012-2014. The Department of Environment, in a series of letters from 2012 until recently, requested the preparation of a study for the restoration of the site as much as possible. Furthermore, the Urban Planning Authority issued a enforcement notice, on 8/7/2015, which based on the urban planning legislation orders the cessation of illegal works. The matter was handled by the Famagusta District Administration and the Municipality of Ayia Napa and today it is before the Court.
Based on the reasoned finding, the construction works must be prepared and completed in a short period of time, and an effort should be made as they are made in the period June - October, for the purpose of reducing the nuisance of the species. The schedule and the implementation period of the project must be approved in advance by the competent Authorities (Department of Environment, Game and Fauna Service and Department of Forests). Upon completion of the project the space will be left as it is and will no longer be used as an organized beach, and no lighting or other facilities will be installed (eg deck etc.).
By letter of the day. 10/9/2019, the Municipality of Ayia Napa, sent its application for restoration of the operations on the coastal front at the location "Sand of Kambouri" in Ayia Napa accompanied by the Information Form based on the Environmental Assessment Law 127 (I) of 2018, after consultation with the competent Authority for projects within the protection zone of the beach, which is the District of Famagusta.
It is pointed out that in a series of meetings with other competent departments and local authorities, during the famous 2015 to 2019, it was agreed to carry out the required studies aimed at rehabilitating the affected area. Therefore, with the actions of the Municipality of Ayia Napa, coastal engineering and other related studies were carried out, as a result of which the appropriate restoration plan was obtained, which was approved in principle by the competent departments at the level of meetings.
The project concerns the restoration of the beach at the altitudes that were before the operations that were performed on it.
Specifically, it will be backfilled with suitable material up to 30 cm below the altitude that was the ground / rocky part initially. The final surface will be lined with materials of the surrounding area to resemble as much as possible in the natural environment. The coastline will be shielded with natural boulders that will be taken from the surrounding area.
Constructionally, it is noted, it is not possible to restore the solid rock that was removed.
The project is not a new construction but a restoration of the environment in as much form as possible that resembles the original natural environment. There will be no operation in an area other than the area where the surgeries have already been performed.
The study area falls under the Special Protection Zone SPA CY3000002, National Forest Park (SNP) Cape Greco. The species of wild defining bird for this part of the SPA area (CY3000002) is the rock plum (charadrius leschenaultii). With the alteration of the geomorphology of the area and the rock formation of the coast, the flora of the project site has already been disturbed, so during the construction phase of the restoration no additional impact will be caused.
Great geomorphological disaster
The relevant interventions have caused great damage to the terrain of the rocky beach and created through a large area of excavation, an artificial closed bay. The restoration area is located in the Protection Zone (Da1) of the beach. In the study area flows a stream which comes from the Ayia Napa Forest, directed from northeast to southwest and ends at the restoration site. Based on the Geological Map of Cyprus, the study area consists of calcareous sandstones, sands and gravel.
According to the Information Form, the said restoration project is not expected to adversely affect the environment. On the contrary, the restoration aims at the best possible restoration of the space to the pre-surgery physical condition.
The proposed project is not expected to adversely affect the population and human health of the inhabitants of the area. The implementation time for such construction works is estimated to be short and no burden on the population is expected.
With the alteration of the geomorphology of the area and the rock formation of the coast, the flora of the project site has already been disturbed, so during the construction phase of the restoration no additional impact will be caused.
Morphologically the landscape has been altered. Through the proposed project, the relief is expected to be restored to a situation as similar as possible to the previous one. Through the project, an effort will be made to restore the soil to its previous state and on the same slopes.
The Proposed Project will not have any impact on the marine environment, while the restoration is expected to work positively in terms of ripple relief and sediment transport since the previous morphology will be restored as much as possible.
The coastline is shielded
Essential conditions that should be incorporated in the urban planning permit are included in the reasoned finding of the Environmental Authority. Among other things, it is mentioned that for the restoration of the opened bay, to use only materials of the area or similar through their supply from similar licensed quarries. In addition, all the necessary measures must be taken, by the Owner of the Project and by the coastal engineer, so that the shielding of the coastline provided in the Information Form is constructed in such a way (size / gradation of boulders, foundation, slopes, height coronation, etc.) to ensure, from the wave action, both the protection of the space to be restored and the stability of the construction. Also to take into account all the local characteristics such as texture and composition of existing rocks, slopes, argaki, rainwater flow, etc. The above must be approved by the Department of Public Works before the start of construction work.
With the completion of the project and the creation of the final surface by placing soil in the area, to plant / sow the species of flora that exist in the same area and no other landscaping. It is further emphasized that at the end of the works no rubble or other materials will be left in the SPA area.
Source: philenews