In a highly symbolic meeting with intense participation of MPs, representatives of the local government, organizations and citizens, the Kalamaria Municipal Council met on Monday evening at the Remezzo multi-purpose hall, unanimously expressing its opposition to the HRADF plans for the Development and Exploitation of Aretsous Marina.
The choice of this specific site was symbolic, as it is an emblematic building in the area which, according to the Fund’s plan, is planned to be converted into offices and storage space.
The Mayor of Kalamaria, in her introductory statement, described the plan as “impracticable, socially provocative, developmentally destructive and environmentally unacceptable”, noting that “behind the cloak of development lies an aggressive attempt to privatize the coastal front”.
As she emphasized, “the Municipality has 5.5 kilometers of coastline without having a single square meter under its administration”, adding that “the local government cannot issue even a small-scale permit for repairs”.
The municipal authority announced that it is proceeding with the submission of a new application for cancellation and suspension of execution to the Council of State, against the recent Joint Ministerial Decision (Government Gazette of October 13, 2025), by which the environmental conditions of the project were approved, despite the negative opinions of the Municipality and the Region of Central Macedonia.
At the same time, it was decided to launch an information campaign for citizens, as well as meetings with government officials to review the plan. As noted, the goal is to highlight the impacts that, according to the municipal authority, the concession of the marina to the private sector will have for Kalamaria and Thessaloniki as a whole.
Aretsou Marina – Photo: Municipality of Kalamaria
Representatives of all parties attended and spoke at the meeting.
The Deputy Regional Governor for Development and Environment, Stathis Avramidis, stated that “the Region will stand by the Municipality”, emphasizing that “the coastal front must remain public and open to all”.
From New Democracy, MP Dimitris Kouvelas noted that “the marina must be upgraded in a way that benefits Kalamaria and Thessaloniki”, expressing support for the Municipality’s efforts.
SYRIZA MP Katerina Notopoulou described the plan as “anti-development, anti-tourism and anti-environmental”, while KKE MP Yiannis Delis spoke of “selling out the area for the benefit of the investor”.
Correspondingly, Democracy Movement MP Michalis Hourdakis expressed his support for the Municipality, and PASOK-KINAL spokesman Dimitris Sarigiannis pointed out that “the planned condo hotel does not constitute a tourist investment, but a residential complex for sale”.
PASOK-KINAL MPs Rania Thraskia and Petros Pappas also made interventions in favor of the Municipality, as well as the leader of the “Actions for Macedonia” faction Christos Papastergiou, who requested the convening of the Regional Council to issue an official position.
Professor Emeritus of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Yiannis Krestenitis referred to the weaknesses of the Strategic Environmental Impact Study, raising the question “whether it is worth conceding the coastal front in exchange for a limited financial compensation.”
The meeting was attended by hundreds of citizens and representatives of collectives, while the heads of all municipal factions – Yiannis Dardamanelis, Aris Temekenidis, Christos Vardas, Anastasia Poikilidou and Avraam Persides – agreed on the need to defend the public character of the marina and the unity of action of the local community.
The Municipal Council finally approved a resolution by which it commits to taking every legal action to protect the public space and to request the suspension of all proceedings until the decision of the Council of State.
As the Mayor said in closing, “the goal is the creation of a modern marina for mooring boats that will serve local development, without altering the public and environmental character of the area.”
