Speaking on Politis radio, the mayor of Kourion in Limassol, Pantelis Georgiou, clarified that there was never a final decision to create the large park, but only an initial planning concept. He explained that studies dating back to 2011 show that the area around Argaki tou Marketou lies within high flood-risk zones.
Flood protection as the core priority
“The need for flood-control works is unquestionable,” Georgiou said, recalling that the town hall was recently flooded and that serious problems have been recorded for years along the stream corridor. According to the mayor, the park concept emerged as an auxiliary green-space idea linked to the flood-protection works, but acknowledged that the public communication of the project was mishandled, triggering intense reactions from residents.
Project frozen after public reaction
Following the public presentation and the backlash that followed, the Municipal Council unanimously decided to freeze the entire park project, removing it from the municipal budget.
“We cannot proceed with something that does not have social consent,” Georgiou said, stressing that the project has been fully suspended and is no longer a priority for the current Municipal Council.
Only flood-control works to proceed
On the flood-protection projects, the mayor stated that these will proceed as planned, describing them as a state obligation, based on studies that have been pending for more than a decade.
Regarding land expropriations, he noted that some will still be required, but on a much smaller scale than those envisaged under the park project, which is now off the table.
Public dialogue and next steps
Georgiou described the recent public gathering as positive, noting that what began as a protest evolved into meaningful social dialogue. “Dialogue is not a bad thing,” he said, adding that public reaction helped the municipality rethink its approach to public information and consultation.