The Municipal Committee of the Municipality of Kythnos issued an opinion on the Environmental Impact Study of the restoration and operation project of an existing spa tourism – thermal center, with a capacity of 96 beds, of the company “XENIA KYTHNOS MONOPROSOPI IKE”.
As stated in its relevant decision, the Committee does not oppose the implementation of the project, considering it of high importance for the island, provided that a series of conditions set out in its proposal by the Municipality’s Technical Service are met.
Among other things, in its proposal it states that the provision of water by the Municipality should only concern human consumption needs. The irrigation of green areas and the filling of swimming pools must be done exclusively with recycled water from the biological treatment plant or from another alternative source of non-potable water. Also, water storage tanks and saving measures must be provided in accordance with the Municipality’s island policy. It is noted that the water supply certificates issued in 2023 concerned the then existing state of the networks and do not bind the Municipality for the future supply capacity.
Furthermore, the Service considers it necessary to create an autonomous biological treatment facility within the investment, given that the settlement of Loutra and the island in general are developing rapidly and it is possible that the Municipality of Kythnos will not have the ability to receive and manage such a large quantity of urban wastewater during the year of operation of the hotel unit. The certificate granted by the Service to the company concerns the year 2023, while the operation of the hotel is planned after 2028, as a result of which the objective conditions may differ significantly.
With regard to solid waste, it is proposed that the collection of the unit’s waste be carried out after consultation with the Cleaning Service. At the same time, temporary storage and recycling areas must be provided within the plot. The management of special or hazardous waste must be carried out exclusively by licensed entities.
For the Service, the provided parking spaces are deemed insufficient in relation to the capacity of the unit and the narrowness of the road network of the settlement of Loutra. In this context, it is proposed to ensure additional parking space for visitors and staff and to cooperate with the Municipality to draw up a traffic organization plan and improve road access.
