Odysseas Michaelides, the former Auditor General of Cyprus who launched his own political movement, Alma, last week, made his first high-profile statement, causing a public outcry.
Michaelides harshly condemned the Department of Environment's decision to issue a permit for the construction of the luxury residential complex Aqua Residences in the coastal area of Larnaca.
The project involves building two 15-story towers (originally planned as 20 stories) nearly at the water's edge. Michaelides stressed that the permit was issued despite obvious environmental and legal contradictions. One of the shareholders of Solvin Ltd., the development company implementing the project, is an active member of the ruling Disy party. This has raised suspicions of political lobbying for business interests.
The site in question is a former oil refinery where construction of €40 million worth of residential high-rises is now planned. About 40% of the construction site is on land eroded by the sea. To compensate for the lost land, the developer must carry out costly reclamation, including monitoring the coastline for at least six months, even during the winter. However, the environmental risks associated with such interventions remain high.
Mikhailidis referred to the opinion of coastal systems expert Ksenia Loizidou, who considers these methods a dangerous precedent. She warned that erosion on the Cypriot coast is widespread and that any intervention without a thorough assessment could have negative consequences.
Mikhailidis also questioned whether the project complies with Cyprus's international environmental commitments, including Article 8 of the Barcelona Convention's Coastal Protocol, which prohibits construction within 100 meters of the high tide line.
Additionally, he emphasized that the construction of Aqua Residences does not align with Larnaca's long-term development strategy and disregards public interests. According to Michaelides, such projects deprive citizens of access to the coastal zone and serve the interests of a select few, thereby reinforcing the trend of privatizing public spaces. Michaelides said that the approval of the Aqua Residences project was yet another example of political shortsightedness where economic gain outweighs concern for the environment and societal needs.
In turn, the Cyprus Department of Environment rejected accusations of bias, stating that the decision was made strictly on the basis of existing legislation and environmental criteria. The department noted that construction is only permitted if a number of conditions are met, including ensuring access to public green areas and coastal protection works.
Amid this controversy, the Volt party voiced criticism as well, supporting Alma's concerns and demanding that the environmental permit be revoked. Volt stated that such actions threaten the integrity of coastal ecosystems and set a dangerous precedent in which large investment interests take precedence over societal interests.
Incidentally, the issue of development on the Cypriot coast is becoming increasingly contentious. As Akel party leader Stefanos Stefanou noted, foreigners, especially those from Israel, have been buying up real estate in large quantities in recent years. Some areas of Larnaca and Limassol are becoming closed enclaves where local residents have limited or no access. According to Stefanou, this threatens the social structure and national sovereignty.
Thus, the Aqua Residences project has become a controversial development initiative and a starting point for broad public and political discussions about the role of coastal areas in Cyprus's future and the balance between investment, nature, and public interests.