Say goodbye to the seafront you΄re losing

Parliamentary ratification of the contract for the creation of the mega-yacht marina may still be pending, but the project is already underway. According to the timeline, it is expected to be completed and operational by 2027.

Meanwhile, it appears that the concession of the seafront to the Municipality is tied to the terms, conditions, and scale of these private, touristic investments. The government is turning a deaf ear to parliamentary oversight, while the local administration has gone silent and avoids addressing the issue.

And so, the only reactions that remain are those concerning the fate of the boatyard, which is to be replaced by the mega-marina. In an effort to ease these concerns, the beneficiary company assures the boatbuilding businesses that their facilities will be relocated near the river's mouth, and also promises to fund both the relocation and the reconstruction of the boatyard there.

As for the broader issue of land use and the impact of the investment on the life of the town, it’s pointed out that the matter has been categorically excluded from the Local Urban Plan study currently underway—as if activities along the entire urban coastal zone, now classified as a port area, do not affect the functioning of the town! That is why, in fact, the concession of the entire seafront to the Municipality should have preceded any other consideration or action.

The scale of the investment and Lamda’s declared interest in the yacht marina in Spilia point toward a shift—from the former jurisdiction of the Port Authority and Corfu Port Authority to that of a private, touristic development. The issue of the sports facilities at NAOK remains unresolved, while the suspension of plans for a modern swimming pool there raises concerns.

Company representatives promise cooperation with local authorities, but the overall handling of the situation suggests a series of faits accomplis—pre-arranged and irreversible.

Lamda Development, through its subsidiary Lamda Marinas Investments, will undertake the construction and operation of the new mega-yacht marina at the port. The total value of the deal with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) amounts to €89 million, while the investment for the construction and development of the marina is estimated to exceed €50 million.

The marina will offer 98 berths for yachts up to 140 metres in length and a land zone of 39,400 square metres, with the potential to expand to 100,000 square metres. Plans include facilities totaling up to 7,800 square metres, encompassing shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, green spaces, sports facilities and parking areas.

With this investment, Lamda Development adds Corfu to its portfolio, which already includes the marinas of Flisvos and Agios Kosmas. Its subsidiary, Lamda Marinas Investments, is planning infrastructure that will allow for year-round docking and maintenance of vessels.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS

Photo: GOOGLE EARTH