By Linda LeblancAs a local councillor in Peyia, and a Green Party member, I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the government’s water conservation campaign and its dismal failure to tackle the real problems. As the Planning Department and local authorities continue to rubber stamp massive unsustainable and unsuitable developments, we are expected to be good citizens and collect water in buckets in our showers, let our gardens die, not flush toilets, etc. I’ve had people tell me they will not open their swimming pools because of the water crisis.
Admirable, yes, of course. But isn’t it time that other sectors of our society started to show some community spirit? Instead of everyone behaving selfishly scrambling to buy every last water tank on the island, isn’t it time we started to think a bit more honestly and clearly on this?
It’s obvious that any possible water savings the people can provide are wiped out by the new golf courses, marinas and, a good example in my opinion, the new city development at Yeroskipou. I’ve been surprised with the naive solution that is so easily proposed – desalination. Do a little research and one will find out that this is not so simple and has serious financial and environmental consequences that all of us, as consumers, will have to bear.
In Peyia, water extraction from our precious underground reserves quadrupled from 1990 to 2001. Sustainable? There has been a small reduction since that time, mostly due to the tourist areas, since 2004, supplied from Asproskremnos Dam, restrictions on agriculture and because the Municipality was forced to stop pumping from several boreholes last year because of saltwater intrusion.
But the building spree continues unquestioned by those in government. A recent example in Peyia illustrates my point: the approval of a new 200-unit complex in Coral Bay, in a river bed, in an area that used to be zoned for single plots. It’s no surprise that the building zones were quietly changed a few years ago and have now resulted in changing the character of a well-established, low-density neighbourhood, all without any public discussion or notification. Sustainable?
At the same time, we are all being encouraged to save water and told that if we all work together there will be no water cuts in Peyia. Yet, on the first hot day this week, we had areas with no water. What will happen in a few weeks when we have more tourists (maybe!) and the temperatures climb?
Personally, almost a year ago, as a protest against this unsustainable building spree, I refused and continue to refuse to sign these applications being rubber stamped through the system. Some of these planning permits are actually being challenged in court by concerned residents. Unfortunately, I am always out-voted 8 to 1 by the Mayor and my fellow councillors who dismiss my proposal for a moratorium on new building while this mess is sorted out.
I think it is time for the people of Cyprus to hit the streets and demand accountability, transparency and immediate action. Our future is at stake as our groundwater is squandered by corrupt officials in the pockets of developers. Let’s demand a stop to this looting and polluting of our common resources. Sustainable development is a European requirement in planning. Isn’t it time we accept that there are natural limits to growth, especially in a semi-arid island like Cyprus?
Linda Leblanc
Peyia Municipal Councillor
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=38919&cat_id=8
Admirable, yes, of course. But isn’t it time that other sectors of our society started to show some community spirit? Instead of everyone behaving selfishly scrambling to buy every last water tank on the island, isn’t it time we started to think a bit more honestly and clearly on this?
It’s obvious that any possible water savings the people can provide are wiped out by the new golf courses, marinas and, a good example in my opinion, the new city development at Yeroskipou. I’ve been surprised with the naive solution that is so easily proposed – desalination. Do a little research and one will find out that this is not so simple and has serious financial and environmental consequences that all of us, as consumers, will have to bear.
In Peyia, water extraction from our precious underground reserves quadrupled from 1990 to 2001. Sustainable? There has been a small reduction since that time, mostly due to the tourist areas, since 2004, supplied from Asproskremnos Dam, restrictions on agriculture and because the Municipality was forced to stop pumping from several boreholes last year because of saltwater intrusion.
But the building spree continues unquestioned by those in government. A recent example in Peyia illustrates my point: the approval of a new 200-unit complex in Coral Bay, in a river bed, in an area that used to be zoned for single plots. It’s no surprise that the building zones were quietly changed a few years ago and have now resulted in changing the character of a well-established, low-density neighbourhood, all without any public discussion or notification. Sustainable?
At the same time, we are all being encouraged to save water and told that if we all work together there will be no water cuts in Peyia. Yet, on the first hot day this week, we had areas with no water. What will happen in a few weeks when we have more tourists (maybe!) and the temperatures climb?
Personally, almost a year ago, as a protest against this unsustainable building spree, I refused and continue to refuse to sign these applications being rubber stamped through the system. Some of these planning permits are actually being challenged in court by concerned residents. Unfortunately, I am always out-voted 8 to 1 by the Mayor and my fellow councillors who dismiss my proposal for a moratorium on new building while this mess is sorted out.
I think it is time for the people of Cyprus to hit the streets and demand accountability, transparency and immediate action. Our future is at stake as our groundwater is squandered by corrupt officials in the pockets of developers. Let’s demand a stop to this looting and polluting of our common resources. Sustainable development is a European requirement in planning. Isn’t it time we accept that there are natural limits to growth, especially in a semi-arid island like Cyprus?
Linda Leblanc
Peyia Municipal Councillor
http://www.cyprus-
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