Larnaca Municipal Market
My visit to Larnaca today for a series of inaugurations and inspections of projects under construction can only make me happy and touched by the love I have shown and received. It is very important.
And I feel particularly satisfied because today, through the tour, I witnessed at first hand the reborn Larnaca, which is nothing like that of the previous decades.
A Larnaca that is on an obvious trajectory of development and progress.
A city which, through a series of public utility and development projects implemented in recent years, now meets the long-standing demands and needs of its residents, who rightly demanded to see their city transformed and become a centre of economic, social, cultural and tourist reference.
And this is exactly the image of the modern, European municipality that Larnaca is acquiring.
Serving its residents and visitors.
Highlighting its advantages, turning it into an attractive place to live, do business and a unique tourist destination.
This was the vision you set out, Dear Mayor and members of the City Council, and which as a State we warmly supported.
And it is through the initiatives of yourselves and the City Council, the Development Committee, EVEL and all those involved, that it has been possible to mature important projects and set the conditions for the implementation or launch of projects either through national funds or co-financing.
And I want to make something clear. Relying on European co-financing is not as easy as some people think. If the projects are not matured by the proponents, if no initiative and determination is taken, the projects are matured and recommended to the Government, which checks the credibility and maturity and takes it forward. It should not be considered that European funds are given as a gift. It is a state contribution that comes back as long as the Member State can meet the obligations that Europe dictates. And I feel proud because during this administration we have been the first country to absorb European funds. If Larnaca today enjoys benefits it is because, and I want to repeat this, and I am not interested in colours, nor did I care during my ten years of government, it had a Mayor with a vision, a City Council that shared the vision and as a result projects became reality.
If you recall, both in July 2015 and July 2017 I visited Larnaca where I attended meetings with the city and Larnaca Prefecture stakeholders to review the progress of development projects, but also to evaluate new critical and mature projects for implementation, with the sole aim of improving the quality of life of Larnaca's citizens.
And the development path that the city of Zenonas is presenting today is the result of the specific goals and planning that we have set, the diligence and efforts that you have made to launch and implement cutting-edge projects which, I repeat, have truly transformed the municipality.
Most importantly of all, they have created the prospects for the continuation of the evolution of Larnaca.
Allow me first of all to refer to flagship public utility projects with multiplier benefits for the Municipality and the city of Larnaca that for decades have been justified, but until recently unfulfilled, demands of the city's citizens.
The first concerns the demolition and removal of the oil installations from one of the most attractive beaches of the city, which I had the opportunity to visit today.
It should be noted that efforts to move the petroleum facilities from Larnaca began in the late 1990s and the Government, despite the difficulties encountered, proceeded with determination to address this problem, with the decision of the Council of Ministers in November 2014 to establish an Energy and Industrial Area in Vasilikos.
In total, an area of about 400 decares and a length of 3 kilometres on the coastal front of Larnaca was released, which will bring about urban regeneration of the Larnaca coastal front, giving this area great added value and development potential.
From what I have been informed, there is already strong interest in residential, tourist and commercial developments.
As far as I have been informed, there is already strong interest in residential, tourist and commercial developments.
Equally important is the elaboration of the area plan of the former refineries in the urban area of the municipalities of Larnaca and Livadia, which introduces modern methods of active urban planning such as urban rezoning, eco-neighbourhoods, multifunctionality and promotes sustainability, sustainable mobility and circular economy.
The second project addresses Larnaca's long-standing problem of flooding in residential areas during the winter months.
And progress in this area is evident, as despite the fact that there have been severe weather events with torrential rains in various areas of Larnaca, nevertheless Larnaca has not been affected to the extent that it was affected in the past, effectively dealing with these extreme phenomena.
This is not by chance, but because important flood control projects were promoted, such as the upgrade and construction of a new pumping station in Tersefanou, flood control works in Pendadactylou Street, the completion of the second phase of the District's Sewage and Stormwater Drainage System, the widening and dredging of the channel of Christoforos Savvas Street, the widening of the channel from the exit of the Larissa Street bridge, the opening of a new channel opposite the Arch monument, the creation of additional rainwater collection networks.
At the same time, on the basis of the Municipality's planning, funding was secured from the Structural Funds for four major flood protection projects with an estimated cost of approximately 18 million euros, including the construction of new flood protection works in the Municipality of Larnaca and more specifically in Alexandros Panagouli, Agion Anargyron and Papanikolis avenues.
That said, I do not disregard that there has been a significant delay in the construction of the €5 million flood protection project in the Kamares area, which is expected to start in June 2023, while an important project expected to be completed in early 2024 for €14 million is the completion of the flood protection dams in Aradippou, as well as the start of construction in April of the flood protection channels in the Municipality of Livadia, at a cost of €3 million.
The third project, which satisfies another, perfectly justified request of the Municipality for decades, and which, despite the delays that occurred not due to negligence of the Municipality, but due to technical and legal complications, has been put on course for implementation is the development of the port and marina of Larnaca.
Suffice it to say that this is the largest investment ever made in Cyprus, with an estimated total expenditure of 1.2 billion euros.
In addition to the upgrading, expansion, operation and maintenance works, the projects include, among others, the redevelopment of the road network and the creation of infrastructure for residential, commercial, social and cultural use.
Most importantly, in addition to the creation of more than 4,000 new jobs and the upgraded identity it will give to our tourism product, the additional estimated benefits to the economy are estimated to exceed 120 million euros per year during the period of full development.
The key project of the integrated development of Larnaca port and marina adds to the visibly revitalized image that the city has presented in recent years.
A revitalized image, which is the result of the implementation of numerous other development projects, which completely reshape Larnaca, contributing dynamically to its transformation into a modern European city.
It is for this reason that I would like once again to stress our great satisfaction, since this significant developmental impetus of recent years is due to the close and sincere cooperation we have developed with the Mayor, the City Council, the Development Committee, the EBEL and all those involved in the development of this wonderful city.
And let me make specific reference to the series of requests put before us by the Municipal Authority, the implementation of which has brought about the observed growth of the city.
Since the assumption of the government, with the decisive contribution of the government, either through the allocation of national funds or through co-financing from the European Union, projects with a total cost of 157 million euros have been implemented or initiated in the Municipality of Larnaca.
By way of indication, I note that 30 projects with a total cost of more than 71 million euros have been completed so far, such as, among others. The creation of the New Wing of the Larnaca General Hospital.
2. The construction of a Traditional Municipal Market.
3. The construction of a Multipurpose Multipurpose Social Welfare and Employment Centre.
4. The construction of the "St. Lazarus" First Primary School.
5. The redevelopment of streets and facilitation of access for people with disabilities to the urban centre of Larnaca. The Mayor of Larnaca has given special emphasis, and rightly so.
6. The redevelopment of the square and landscaping of the "Zouhouri" and we all witnessed the excellence of the project and the new look it gives to Larnaca.
7. The Supportive Housing and Living Services Network in the Community for People with Disabilities.
8. The beach protection with the construction of five breakwaters.
9. The paving of important roads of Larnaca Municipality.
10. The creation of a modern Regional Training Centre for Search and Rescue. It was the beginning of what we hoped would be the prospect of creating a university infrastructure. Unfortunately, the rectorial authorities of the University of Cyprus did not consent. But the bottom line is that there was another global approach from the university. The creation of the Centre creates the prospects that with the maturation of views and the strengthening of the Centre, Larnaca will become a place of university presence.
11. The construction of a Multisite of Creativity and Culture.
12. Upgrading projects of the First Primary School of Drosia.
13. The creation of new facilities for the Larnaca Tennis Club.
14. The ongoing planting and renovation of the Larnaca Municipal Garden and inner courtyards.
15. The creation of an outdoor sports infrastructure at "Agios Georgios" High School.
16. The renovation of the Larnaca Archaeological Museum. Truly a new, modern space that highlights the culture and the connection of Larnaca with our ancient roots.
17. The concession of the listed building of the Old Hospital of Larnaca for the relocation of the Municipality of Larnaca. I am glad because the municipality has taken initiatives so that it will soon be housed in a building worthy of the history of the municipality.
Not to mention other smaller projects, such as. 18. The third phase of the improvement of the Larnaca - Dhekelia coastal road, PHASE C.
2. The relocation of petroleum products facilities which is expected to be completed soon.
3. The upgrading works of the "Evriviadion Gymnasium".
4. The construction of a new "Agios Lazaros" Technical School in the Municipality of Larnaca.
5. The second phase of improvement of "Alexandrou Panagouli" avenue in Larnaca Municipality.
6. The redevelopment of the "Agios Ioannis" area.
7. The construction of a complex of 32 housing units in the parish of Agios Nikolaos.
8. The creation and enrichment of an artificial reef.
It is not the list that is important, but the picture that Larnaca presents today.
If there were photos of 2013 with those of 2023. A picture is worth a thousand words.
The projects speak for themselves.
The success of development is not only a product of government work. It is the result of the cooperation, the vision of the Mayor, the City Council, and the city's developers who, through the maturation of the projects, allowed the government to stand by and show the results. Of course at the same time it should be said that it was not as easy as everyone reckons, without the determination of the Government. The projects were expected for decades, we needed fiscal discipline and fiscal flexibility to respond, we needed to justify what has been done.
With the close cooperation of the Municipality, MPs and city officials it was possible to have today the reborn Larnaca and I feel proud of your and our synergies so that we can enjoy reborn cities and municipalities, reborn all of Cyprus.
The multitude of projects that I have just mentioned, with significant economic, social, cultural and cultural significance, give every citizen of Larnaca the right to feel proud of their city.
Just as we have the right to feel proud of every city.
And for this reason, as I hand over the governance of the country in the coming days, I sincerely feel that I have done everything possible to leave not only those who voted for me, but all citizens satisfied. Whether I have succeeded or not you will judge when the acrimony that is seen in every election has subsided.
What I feel at peace about is that I have worked with all local authorities without discrimination, as long as there were visionary leaders, local leaders who created the prospects for the Government to assist in the regeneration of this country.
(ΡΜ/ΕΠ/IK)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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