A series of plans aimed at bolstering the environmental credentials of the Tillyria region were announced by President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday.

He was visiting the region as part of his ongoing tour of the island, and was accompanied by six ministers, three deputy ministers, the government spokesman and 45 civil servants.

He said he wants to make the Tillyria village of Pyrgos a “model green community”, which “aims at climate neutrality, sustainable development and the upgrading of residents’ daily lives”.

He said the idea of a “green community” is a “pioneering project which is part of the broader context of a transition towards a climate neutral Cyprus.

“This area was chosen as a model for the implementation of innovative policies, with the project including measures and actions which both improve the lives of residents and protect the environment,” he said.

The first policy he announced to this end was the installation of solar panels on 100 buildings, with the aim of reducing energy costs. This will cost €2.2 million and will be financed by Opap.

He added that from now on, local authorities, residents and businesses will “collaborate for the energy autonomy of the green community”.

Additionally, he said green kiosk recycling centres, green point rubbish tips and community composters will be rolled out in the area with the aim of “reducing solid and organic waste” and the “production of soil improvement materials”.

He also said the government will build a new wastewater collection network and treatment plant worth €10m to “protect the local aquifer and improve water management infrastructure”.

Policies were also announced to facilitate sustainable transport, with a new electric vehicle charging point and a new pedestrian and cycling path connecting the Pyrgos fishing shelter with the community park to be built.

“The green community is not just an idea, but a fully costed plan, which includes actions in the fields of energy, the environment, transport, and the creation of a circular economy,” he said.

Christodoulides added that it is “an emblematic, pioneering project for Cyprus”, and that “the government aspires for Pyrgos to become a model for remote communities, proving that they can lead the way in innovation and green development.

“The creation of a green community is not only about the environment, but also about strengthening social cohesion, the economy and entrepreneurship. With cooperation and determination, Tillyria can become a model for sustainable development for the whole of Cyprus.”

In addition to the environment-based policies, he also announced remote diagnostics capabilities at the Pyrgos health centre and doubling the amount payable to doctors  for home visits from €30 to €60.

He also allocated €700,000 to the development of the local Omega beach, and promised the restoration of a building in the village to be transformed into a cultural centre.