The will of the administration of the Region to continue to work to achieve the goal of equal opportunities for development and equal access to quality services for all residents of the islands without geographical limitations, expressed the Regional Governor of Attica G. Patoulis during his presentation at the workshop on the new NSRF and the implementation of projects in the Regional Unit of the Islands, which. was held at the building of the Regional Unit of Piraeus and Islands.
In particular, Mr Patoulis and referring to the series of projects implemented by the Region in the island municipalities of Attica focused the completion of the Aegina water supply pipeline by EYDAP - a complex project that became a reality after years -, the important port projects in Aegina and Hydra, the implementation of the sewerage network in Salamina and the sewage system in Spetses, the rehabilitation of the landfill site and the construction and operation of a landfill in Kythera.
The current Administration of the Region of Attica promotes a holistic model of development for our islands. A model based on the triptych.
- Development, with Strong Infrastructure.
- Protection of the Environment and Quality of Life, for residents and visitors.
- Organised Tourist Promotion, to boost local growth and employment and improve local incomes, he said.
Present at the Workshop were the Mayors of Aegina G. Zorbas, Kythera E. Harhalakis, Spetses P. Lyrakis, Trizinia-Methana S. Pollalis, Hydra G. Koukoudakis, the Vice-Regional Governor of Piraeus S. Antonakou, the regional councillors E. Barbagianni, D. Katsikaris and S. Efstathopoulos, the Deputy Mayor of Poros T. Papachristou, G. Secretary of the Municipality of Agistri Th. Baloutas, the Deputy Mayor of Salamis N. Koyas, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Salamis N. Koyas, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Thessaloniki T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. and representatives of professional and social bodies.
Β. Bogris :Attica and its islands are changing and this is now obvious
The second workshop held today in the Regional Unit of the South Islands, in the presence of the Mayors of the island municipalities, is part of the cycle of relevant thematic workshops with the central theme «Attica is changing. The NSRF in your city» which is taking place on the initiative of the Regional Governor and will be completed in West Attica on 28 July.
Mr Patoulis was welcomed by V. Theodorakopoulou-Bogri, Vice-Regional Governor of the Islands.
In her speech, Mrs Bogri stressed that «the report of the activity of the regional unit of the Attica Islands from 1 January 2007 is a very positive one.η September 2019 to date is undoubtedly rich» and pointed out, among other things, «When we took over the administration, we found important projects for our islands, which were either simply included in the regional programme (without any maturity or permits), or while they were started, they were stopped due to problems. Problems, of course, that were not due to the officials but to mismanagement, frivolity and lack of priorities of previous administrations. Indicatively, I will mention the long-suffering project of the biological plant of Spetses, the bridge of Makronas in Kythera, the underwater pipeline and the ports of Aegina, the rainwater network and the sports facilities of Salamina, the large road construction project in Troizina, etc. It was imperative to make difficult decisions and to work hard in cooperation with the Public Works Department so that at last major projects that had been dragging on, some even for ten years, could finally be completed. or to finally enter the completion phase. Attica, like its islands, is changing and this is now obvious.
Γ. Patoulis: «Projects that have been stagnating for years are now entering the completion phase»
During his statement the Regional Governor and referring to projects that were frozen for years, he stressed, among other things, «We managed in the past period to address the wrong planning of the previous regional authority and complete a complex and necessary project, such as the Aegina water supply pipeline from EYDAP. A difficult project, with technical peculiarities, which faced major problems in its implementation, is coming to an end. A project with a budget of EUR 30 million, coming from the NSRF. Already from January 2022, residents and visitors of Aegina will be able to drink water that comes to the island through the new pipeline. And by the end of the year the last part of the project will be completed, which concerns the cementing of the pipeline and its protection from damage. . But this is not the only infrastructure work that has been done in Aegina. There are the port protection and upgrading works of the port of Agia Marina and the port of Pedrica, with a budget of 7 million euros. School facilities and cultural and sports infrastructure are being strengthened for the benefit of our children. With the construction of the new 6 institution high school of Agistri. The reconstruction of the 1no Municipal School of Hydra. With the construction of the municipal library and the upgrading of sports facilities in Salamina. The construction of new sports facilities in Kythera.
In the past period, important road construction and maintenance works have been carried out. The sewerage network in Ampelakia and Selenia in Salamina. A project with a budget of 11 million euros. The completion of the sewerage network in Hydra, with a budget of about 4.5 million euros. The networks a 42 km long sewerage system and the wastewater treatment plant in Spetses with a budget of 18 million euros. euros, while the completion of the sewerage network of Spetses is expected to start by the end of 2022, early 2023, with a budget of another 9.9 million euros. The Wastewater Treatment Plant of the settlement of Hydra with 10,7 million euro which will start by the end of 2022. Rainwater and flood protection works in the city of Salamina, with 10 million euros. The relocation of water supply networks in Methana, Trizinia and Poros.
Our goal is to ensure that there is not a single landfill in Attica
During his speech, Mr Patoulis particularly focused on the fact that the management of waste in Kythera and Antikythera is now done with a green sign. «Almost 5 million euros were given from the NSRF for the rehabilitation of the landfill and the construction and operation of a landfill in Kythera and a smaller landfill in Antikythera» said and pointed out that the priority of the administration of the Region is to provide a holistic solution to the issue of solid waste management. Our goal is that there is not a single landfill in Attica and that no garbage is buried at all, without treatment, as is currently the case. Our plan is to close Fili with a horizon of 2025 and in its place to create hundreds of recycling corners in every municipality, many Green Parks of the Circular Economy, but also decentralized Biowaste Treatment Units in many different areas of Attica.
Projects with a strong social impact
The Region, however, said Mr Patoulis, highlights with its interventions its social face. With the future operation of the Care Unit for the Elderly, with the reconstruction and upgrading work on the building of the Ecclesiastical House of Ecclesiastical Leusios in cooperation with the Metropolis. But also by funding 11 actions concerning social structures and social protection interventions for vulnerable and vulnerable groups, with 3 million euros from the Attica Regional Development Plan.
«Investing in islandhood»
In his speech, Mr Patoulis, after stating that the administration of the Region is consciously investing in insularity, described the NSRF as a very basic funding tool.
«Only from the Attica Operational Programme 2014-2020, 400 projects and actions are being implemented in the Regional Unit of the Islands, with a budget of €37 million», he added: With the money from the CIP among others:
- The pipeline connecting Aegina to the EADAP was financed
- €10.4 million given to 374 businesses as free working capital to cope with the consequences of covid.
- Xwere funded with approximately EUR 3 million, social structures and actions I mentioned above.
- They are made energy upgrades in Municipal Buildings in Aegina, Kythera, Troizina and Poros
«The focus of our advertising campaign is the promotion of our islands»
«For us, our islands are a strong comparative advantage in our efforts to make Attica a popular tourist destination,» the Regional Governor stressed, adding: Our advertising campaign gives special emphasis to the promotion of our islands, while we have added to our arsenal our special local products. All of the above highlights our efforts to make Attica and its islands a Region of Development and Prosperity”.
Thanks to the Mayors for the initiative to organise the workshops
In the context of the workshop, all the attending Mayors made statements, who, after congratulating the Regional Governor for the initiative of organizing the thematic workshops and thanked him for the harmonious cooperation and the work done in their Municipalities, raised a series of issues aimed at improving their operation and upgrading the lives of citizens. Μεταξύ αυτών τη σημασία ενίσχυσης παρεμβάσεων ενεργειακής εξοικονόμησης και ενεργειακής αναβάθμισης κτιρίων, την ανάγκη, την ανάγκη ενίσχυσης και επέκτασης των έργων οδοποιίας με έμφαση στις διαγραμμίσεις και ασφαλτοστρώσεις, την ανάγκη συνέχισης της στήριξης των Δήμων από τις τεχνικές υπηρεσίες της Περιφέρειας λόγω υποστελέχωσης, επιτάχυνσης των έργων βιολογικών καθαρισμών, τη σημασία επένδυσης στο τουριστικό προϊόν των νησιών, τη σημασία ενίσχυσης των αθλητικών υποδομών αλλά και των υποδομών διευκόλυνσης της προσβασιμότητας των ΑΜΕΑ αλλά και τη σημασία περαιτέρω πίεσης προς την κεντρική διοίκηση με στόχο την επίλυση των προβλημάτων υποστελέχωσης του προσωπικού των Δήμων, κυρίως λόγω της κινητικότητας.
Placements of officials of the Region of Attica
Subsequently, the competent officials of the Region of Attica specified the work that has so far been implemented through the use of Community funds and the resources of the Region, as well as the strategic planning for the new NSRF.
In particular the κ. Dimitris Drosis, Head of EYDEP, presented in detail the progress of the implementation of projects carried out through the Attica 2014-2020 CIP and identified the objectives and challenges for the new programming period 2021-2027, with emphasis on actions concerning the island municipalities, the κ. Pagotelis Efstratios, from the Directorate of Technical Works of Piraeus and Islands reported on the projects under his responsibility that are being carried out in the Regional Unit of the Islands, the κ. Evangelia Mikraki, Director Spatial Planning referred to urban planning in the Regional Unit of the Islands and finally the κ. Nicholas Papageorgiou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Attica Region Development Agency «New Metropolitan Attica S.A.» - Regional Councillor, in the contribution of the Development Agency to the development strategy of the Region's administration.
The next themes workshops
The schedule of the next workshops, which will last four hours (10.00 - 14.00) is as follows:
- P.E. Central Sector: Tuesday 19 July - Acropolis Museum
- P.E. North Sector: Thursday 21 July - Amarousios Town Hall
- P.E. Piraeus: Tuesday 26 July - EBEP Hall, Piraeus
- P.E. West Attica: Thursday 28 July - Elefsina Labour Centre
