NOTES ON THE INFORMATION MEETING HELD BY THE MUNICIPALITY

On August 20th 2021 at the Sporting Club, the Municipality held  a follow up meeting (see link in the program) attended by about 120-130 owners .

The Mayor Mr. Giampiero Carta, the Municipality Secretary Mrs. Piga and the Engineer Mr. Giampiero Cassitta etc. were present. Mr. Cassitta provided a progress report on the state of work.

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COURT JUDGEMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE URBANIZATION WORKS

With regard to the judgement issued by the Regional Administrative Court, the Court decision requiring the Municipality to acquire all the works of primary urbanization (such as roads, car parks, standards, water supply and existing sewage systems) within 180 days has been confirmed. Mr. Cassitta stated that the procedure of acquisition, which has been agreed upon with the representatives of the Community months ago, is already underway. Only few last steps mentioned in the acceptance test report are missing and they are relative to the safety of some sections of the road network. (We inform you that the Community has already ordered the necessary materials, which will be delivered and installed by next October). In the meantime, the Municipality has urged the Inland Revenue Agency in order to complete the procedures necessary to register the assets.  With regard to the existing water supply and sewerage systems, which have already been tested, it is confirmed that Abbanoa will acquire them in the state in which they are, provided that they are located on public owned land, condition that has already been verified.

SECOND SECTION OF SEWERAGE WORKS

The Municipality will proceed with the awarding of the second section of the sewerage system works as part of the extension project. In this regard, Mr. Cassitta pointed out that the Community did not indicate any interest to the Municipality for the execution of the works. It should be remembered that the Community has lodged an objection at the Regional Administrative Court against all the building permits issued by the Municipality to private entities because it believes that, since the works are of public importance, they should be awarded by public tender and carried on under the strict supervision and responsibility of the system operator Abbanoa.  It should also be pointed out that the Community has no legal right to take part in tenders of any kind, since it is unable to issue any kind of guarantee. Therefore, the Community is waiting for the decision (postponed to February 2022) of the Regional Administrative Court on this matter.

CONNECTION TO THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM

With regard to the decommission of Imhof pits and the consequent obligation to connect to the sewerage system, it has been stressed that this is compulsory when the house is close to the sewerage pipe system, but it can only be carried out when the system will be completed, tested and effectively connected to a sewage treatment plant. Regarding the costs of connection to the sewerage system, Mr. Cassitta stressed the following:

• The private entities, which are carrying out the extension work, have obtained permits for the sole purpose of serving their own plots and buildings and under no circumstances they can make business out of it and eventually the connection charges have to be referred only to the expenses effectively incurred. Answering to the question whether these works carried out by private entities would be handed over to Abbanoa, Mr Cassitta confirmed that they will be tested and handed over to Abbanoa and afterwards public tariffs will be applied. We assume that it would be advisable to wait for the complete transfer to Abbanoa before making any connection.

• The sewerage system should be completed by 2024, coinciding with the five-year extension of the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment).

However, we point out that in the meantime these private entities have sent letters to many owners inviting them to pay in advance and at the beginning of the work EUR 20.00 per cubic metre in order to be connected!  In the light of the statements made by the representatives of the Municipality, this is an obvious abuse, and once again we warn all the owners.

THE FIRST SECTION OF THE SEWERAGE WORKS

The deterioration resulting from the work on the first section has been highlighted. Mr. Cassitta has assured us that everything will be checked and restored to its former state and, if necessary, funds from the guarantee will be used.  (Unfortunately up to now,  despite many protests and complaints since many months, no one has remedied the damages).

To conclude we can say that the follow up conference was positive, and certainly enabled to clarify some important points. This is certainly a good start of a period of constructive dialogue between the Municipality and the Community, each in its own role and competence.

The Board of Directors of the Community

Costa Paradiso, August 23rd 2021