New investment plan at Antinioti Lagoon sets off alarm bells
Antinioti Lagoon
07 Jul 2021
/ 13:31
CORFU. Fear that a “Pandora’s box” will open with more tourism investments in the NATURA protected area, in the name of development.
Residents and environmental bodies believe that the creation of a tourist complex in a 60-acre area on the peninsula of Agia Ekaterini, in the heart of the NATURA area, will open a “Pandora’s box” with new investments at Antinioti Lagoon, one of the most impressive landscapes in Corfu, with an extremely sensitive and diverse ecosystem.
The construction will include a hotel and 45 villas along with conference facilities, Spa, medical centres etc. There are 58.6 acres of buildable land. The investor is the company MEDITERRANEAN ENTERPRISES SA, which, by utilising the Special Plans for the Spatial Development of Strategic Investments (ΕΣΧΑΣΕ), has already submitted an application for inclusion in the Strategic Investments scheme, attempting a fast-track investment. For the investment a Presidential Decree needs to be issued approved by the Special Plans for the Spatial Development of Strategic Investments, while some specific approvals will also be needed, since it is located within a NATURA area.
“Since 2009, a Masterplan and a Special Environmental Study including a relevant draft Presidential Decree for the Antinioti Lagoon has been completed and delivered to the then Municipality of Thinalia (now North Corfu Municipality), which was funded by the Ionian Islands PEP Programme with €75,490 and legally submitted to the Ministry of Environment.," says Sophia Elias-Salvanou, a resident of the area. "This Special Environmental Study divides into protection zones the whole area of the lagoon including the peninsula, known as “NISOS” of Agia Ekaterini, prohibiting other land uses, except for the pre-existing agricultural ones."
Opponents
Environmental associations express their opposition to the investment that will essentially transform the last “green lung” left intact in North Corfu into yet another hotel unit in the name of development.
“There is a lot of opposition from the local community and other groups and organisations, as this is an investment in a NATURA area," said the President of Corfu Environmental Protection Association Vera Koronaki. "We are firmly opposed to this prospect and there cannot be such interventions in an area that has been characterized as such." She added that in the near future there will be consultation with other environmental bodies to plan the next moves.
"There is concern that this investment may open a “Pandora’s box” with more investments in this unique and infinitely beautiful area," said North Corfu Municipal Councillor and head of the local party “The path to the North” Socrates Tryfonas.
Previous investment attempt in 2008
However, it is not the first time that such an investment has been attempted at Antinioti Lagoon, an officially NATURA protected area, protected in particular by the Special Environmental Study. Similar actions have also been taken in the past, but were unsuccessful.
“This investment will unfortunately pave the way for the previous would-be investor in the adjacent land as well, who failed in 2008," says Ms. Elias-Salvanou. "And then we will be talking about the construction of an entire town of 4,000 residents in the heart of the ecosystem just a few metres from the lagoon, which will inevitably turn into a giant cesspool."
However, the concern that exists was conveyed by the opposition party at last Monday's North Corfu Municipal Council meeting. Councillors requested to be informed as to whether water supply and access road certificates have been provided for the Special Environmental Study required to complete the company's file, but the question remained unanswered.
The construction will include a hotel and 45 villas along with conference facilities, Spa, medical centres etc. There are 58.6 acres of buildable land. The investor is the company MEDITERRANEAN ENTERPRISES SA, which, by utilising the Special Plans for the Spatial Development of Strategic Investments (ΕΣΧΑΣΕ), has already submitted an application for inclusion in the Strategic Investments scheme, attempting a fast-track investment. For the investment a Presidential Decree needs to be issued approved by the Special Plans for the Spatial Development of Strategic Investments, while some specific approvals will also be needed, since it is located within a NATURA area.
“Since 2009, a Masterplan and a Special Environmental Study including a relevant draft Presidential Decree for the Antinioti Lagoon has been completed and delivered to the then Municipality of Thinalia (now North Corfu Municipality), which was funded by the Ionian Islands PEP Programme with €75,490 and legally submitted to the Ministry of Environment.," says Sophia Elias-Salvanou, a resident of the area. "This Special Environmental Study divides into protection zones the whole area of the lagoon including the peninsula, known as “NISOS” of Agia Ekaterini, prohibiting other land uses, except for the pre-existing agricultural ones."
Opponents
Environmental associations express their opposition to the investment that will essentially transform the last “green lung” left intact in North Corfu into yet another hotel unit in the name of development.
“There is a lot of opposition from the local community and other groups and organisations, as this is an investment in a NATURA area," said the President of Corfu Environmental Protection Association Vera Koronaki. "We are firmly opposed to this prospect and there cannot be such interventions in an area that has been characterized as such." She added that in the near future there will be consultation with other environmental bodies to plan the next moves.
"There is concern that this investment may open a “Pandora’s box” with more investments in this unique and infinitely beautiful area," said North Corfu Municipal Councillor and head of the local party “The path to the North” Socrates Tryfonas.
Previous investment attempt in 2008
However, it is not the first time that such an investment has been attempted at Antinioti Lagoon, an officially NATURA protected area, protected in particular by the Special Environmental Study. Similar actions have also been taken in the past, but were unsuccessful.
“This investment will unfortunately pave the way for the previous would-be investor in the adjacent land as well, who failed in 2008," says Ms. Elias-Salvanou. "And then we will be talking about the construction of an entire town of 4,000 residents in the heart of the ecosystem just a few metres from the lagoon, which will inevitably turn into a giant cesspool."
However, the concern that exists was conveyed by the opposition party at last Monday's North Corfu Municipal Council meeting. Councillors requested to be informed as to whether water supply and access road certificates have been provided for the Special Environmental Study required to complete the company's file, but the question remained unanswered.
