Projects estimated to exceed 12 million euros, including an outdoor amphitheater and a sports center, are planned to be constructed in the core of the Oroklini Municipal District, Deputy Mayor Neofytos Fakondis told CNA.
He added that "with the merger of the Oroklini community with the Municipality of Larnaca within the framework of the Local Government reform, we have proceeded, with the help of the Mayor, the Municipal Council and the Technical Services, to the maturation of projects that will be announced and for which we will claim several million euros from European funds."
"The projects include the redevelopment of the old neighborhood, the creation of a thousand-seat outdoor amphitheater in the center of the Oroklini core, and the construction of a sports center along with a multi-purpose multi-purpose space for the needs of the community," he said, noting that the cost of all these projects is expected to exceed 12 million euros.
Asked about the third phase of the Larnaca - Dhekelia road, Mr. Fakondis said that "it started about a year and a half ago, it is in progress and is being implemented in the area of the Lebay hotel. The road is expected to be delivered in March. This is the section that starts from the Oroklini Police Station and reaches after the Lebay hotel," he noted.
He added that this particular road "will have four traffic lanes, service roads on the right and left, four roundabouts, sidewalks, bike paths, parking lots and green spaces. The cost of the project, including VAT, is expected to exceed 20 million euros."
Asked about the issue of the breakwaters being constructed in the sea area of Oroklini, Mr. Fakondis replied that "at first we had proceeded with the reconstruction of three existing breakwaters and then with the construction of seven more. Currently we are in the construction of the seventh and final breakwater, which is expected to be completed around the end of February, beginning of March," he said.
This is a project, he continued, "that shields the beach and creates a new beach and its cost amounts to 4 million euros."
Asked about the breakwaters in the Pervolia area, Mr. Fakontis said that "the breakwaters in Oroklini concern the implementation of a unified plan of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works that includes the creation of breakwaters in the Pervolia area as well. The package was approved for Oroklini and Pervolia, which face a greater problem from beach erosion, with the cost of constructing the breakwaters in Pervolia being approximately double that of Oroklini."
Asked about the Oroklini coastal walkway, Mr. Fakontis said that "its last phase is in the tendering stage. The Department of Urban Planning has approved the latest updated plans for the coastal walkway and we are in the final stage of obtaining consents from the owners so that urban planning can proceed with the announcement of tenders," he said.
He noted that "this is a project that, based on the estimate of the Architects and Engineers, will cost approximately 4 million euros."
Regarding the tree planting that took place throughout 2024, the Deputy Mayor responded that "a total of approximately a thousand trees were planted, of which 730 were on the beach and the rest within the core of Oroklini, with the financial support of the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company. The funds granted to us by the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company were also used for the purchase of two boats which were placed on the beach," he said.
Besides, he said, it has been planned "with the help of ETAP and the Municipality of Larnaca, the planting of another two thousand trees, which is expected to take place in March, and these will cover the beach and the entire tourist area."