- Geotechnical Engineering: Artelia Cyprus
- Contractor: Iacovou Brothers
- Client: Cyprus Limni Resorts and Golfcourses Plc
- Budget: €30 million
- Stage: Finished
The study area is located on the site of the abandoned lake mine, near Chrysochous Town. Τhe environmental situation at the time, was an environment where large-scale intervention had occurred resulting in the alteration of natural habitats and characteristics. This was confirmed by the results of the chemical analyses carried out in the context of the preparation of another study for the Management of Waste Treatment in the Mining Facilities of the Abandoned Mine. A key dimension of the environmental degradation at the time was due to the radical change of landscape and the disruption of ecosystems, as huge quantities of soil and ore had been moved from their natural location and had been placed in the wider area as sterile materials. In addition, a number of serious environmental disturbances had arisen from the older mining activity which, in addition to having strongly changed the structure of the natural space in some places, negatively affected both the quality of surface and groundwater as well as the quality of soil and atmosphere as well as the quality of terrestrial and aquatic habitats (ecosystems). At the center of the immediate study area, there was a large crater containing water of very low pH and the natural vegetation in the crater area was minimal due to the mining activity. The studies for the waste management, demonstrated the immediate need to implement measures for the decontamination of the site and restore the environment to its natural state.
We were commissioned to prepare geotechnical engineering studies for the reclamation / backfilling of the affected areas and especially for the backfilling of the c. 100m deep crater. The design and construction involved c. 9.000.000cub.m. of backfilling and also involved the installation of c. 190.000sq.m. of HDPE membranes to block the contaminated waters from penetrating the subsoil. The works commenced early 2008 and finished mid 2011 by Iacovou Brothers.
