The ‘mother’ of all meetings is expected tonight in a desperate effort to find consensus
CORFU. The Mayor and his partners will be laying all their cards on the table at tonight’s council meeting on the subject of waste management.
This was what Kostas Nikolouzos’ told Sunday Enimerosi when asked what he expected from the meeting, given that all the indications are that things can go no further.
He acknowledged how crucial things are and declared himself ready to assume his responsibilities. He pointed out, however, that there are not many avenues available for an immediate settlement leading eventually to a permanent solution.
In fact, the only available recourse is the utilization of the Lefkimmi facility, so that the waste bales which are spilling over in the Temploni facility can be transported there. “This is the residue left by the separation that takes place there under the existing contract,” he said. “The utilization of the Lefkimmi facility will provide us with the time needed – two or two-and-a-half years – to successfully find a new site, most likely in the northern part of Corfu, to construct an Integrated Waste Management Unit, including the required landfill.”
“The recent announcement of funding for studies into integrated waste management, including Corfu, allows us to anticipate that the preconditions for a clear, modern approach to the problem will finally be available,” concluded the Mayor.
Regarding the refusal of the Lefkimmi residents to allow the utilization of the facility there, Mr. Nikolouzos pointed out that he would never attempt to do this in a military manner. “We are requesting for their support for two or two-and-a-half years’ so that the procedure towards a final solution can be put in motion,” he said.
As for what has been attributed to him regarding the suspension of a PPP-funded ready-made solution, which would have prevented the present situation, Mr. Nikolouzos stated that nobody had made arrangements for the intermediate period and that his Council had inherited the final unit at Temploni half-full, whilst the project in west Peloponnese had not been contracted yet and the one of Epirus is still being carried out. He claimed that, “Even if we accept the forecasts made then, in the intermediate period we would have been in exactly the same situation as we are now.”
Tonight’s meeting is expected to be charged as the municipal authorities have invited social organizations to attend.
The Mayor’s Office point out that his reference to the possibility of finding a landfill site in northern Corfu is solely attributed to the Landfill Organization. The decision on the construction of an Integrated Waste Management Unit has been taken and refers to the regional planning (PECA) in the wider area around Temploni.
