RESIDENTS living near the disused Amiandos asbestos mine in Troodos have suggested a cable car be established in the area, linking it to the mountain’s peak.
The suggestion is one of many that have been made to the Forestry Department, which is looking to upgrade the general area following the closure of the mine in 1988.
“We’re asking for the cable car and for it to start from the Amiandos mining area, to stop at the botanical garden and then to go up to Troodos,” said Amiandos community leader, Kriton Kyriakides.
The botanical garden is one of the projects already completed in the area, which will be followed by a visitor centre.
Chief Forestry Conservationist and member of a committee appointed to upgrade the area, Takis Tsintides said that the construction of a cable car would be environmentally and economically the most viable solution for the area.
Tsintides said by September his committee will submit a report to a ministerial committee outlining what they think should be done in the area. Researchers will then be appointed to come up with a masterplan for the area by 2014.
On Tuesday, the forestry department held a presentation outlining the existing developments in the area and possible ideas for future projects.
“It’s something that has to happen as soon as possible,” said Kyriakides, referring to the development of the area, adding that they have been negotiating with the government for years to make use of it.
The mine, which covers an area of 3.2km², was operational between 1904 and 1988, closing due to economic reasons. The area provided work for thousands of Cypriots from around the island. From 1920 to 1930 there were about 5,700 Cypriots working in the mines.
“We not aiming for it to be a big touristic area but we do want to turn it into somewhere people can go and enjoy nature,” said head of the Geological Survey Department, Lenia Morisseau.
Some other ideas put forward include the creation of a cycling network connecting some of the more important sites and the use of the houses in the area for accommodation.
Morisseau also stressed that studies were done yearly to test the air quality, with the results coming back as satisfactory each time. “However as the reforestation moves forward, the air quality will improve,” she said.
Restoration of the area began in 1995 starting with the stabilisation of the waste tips, as their instability could endanger the lives and the property of those in Kato Aminados. Around 67 per cent of the stabilisation process has been completed so far. Reforestation has also been taking place, of which 37 per cent has been completed.
