The Marker, Gili Melnitsky, 15.10.2020
A huge plan promoted by the Shipping and Ports Authority and the director of planning for the construction of new marinas - aimed at increasing the mooring areas for yacht owners - is expected to reach a decision soon by the National Planning and Building Council, but is provoking a fierce environmental struggle. The reason: fear of severe damage to cliffs, localities and coastal strips and the struggle of nature conservation bodies over the public resource that will be harmed, in favor of a program that will also serve water sports and sailing enthusiasts - but especially the handful of wealthy Israelis who own vessels.
A new report by Dr. Ehud Mahraz, an engineer and marine planning expert, and its details are now being revealed, shows the extent of the damage and warns of irreversible damage to beaches in the plan within a radius of kilometers. The bottom line of the report, prepared for the Nature and Parks Authority and the Society for the Protection of Nature, which fights the plan: "Damage to Israeli shores was caused as a result of the construction of marine structures and for no other reason - and its damage is very difficult, impossible to repair."
The dangers and alternatives
The report presents a rhyme of opinion, according to which "the establishment of moorings in Hadera and Netanya will have negative environmental impacts on many kilometers of beaches in the central region - while small marine structures for education and water sports can be built to meet these needs, without producing erosion damage (sand drift and strip erosion). The coast) which is difficult to impossible to repair in Israel's coastal conditions. Destruction and damage to the beaches must not be allowed to continue. "
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Mahraz was responsible for the planning and supervision of the renovation of the marina in Tel Aviv. He also designed the breakwaters in Ashdod, Haifa, Acre and Nahariya - and the platform system in Eilat and Tel Aviv.
Plan for the construction of the IJ was discussed two weeks ago Committee for National subjects designs of principle (Hoolnt"a), and waiting for the decision of the National Council for Planning and Construction. The program receives the support of the Minister of Transport, Miri Regev , sent recently asked Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who is responsible for the planning system - Requirements Promote the plan as soon as possible.
The original plan included an intention to build nine new marinas along the Israeli coastline in the coming years, which will increase the number of mooring points from about 2,900 today - to 10,000 to 13,000 points in the future. As part of the plan, the state sought to expand the moorings in the existing marinas in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Acre, Ashdod and Ashkelon - and to establish new marinas in Rishon Lezion, Nahariya, Acre, Kiryat Yam, Hadera, Tel Aviv and Netanya.
In the current version of the plan, after the work of the steering team, the intention remains to promote the construction of moorings in Nahariya, Hadera, Netanya, Kiryat Yam, Bat Yam and Reading in Tel Aviv - which will, according to estimates, provide a solution for 4,000 vessels. In addition, according to the plan, the existing anchorages in Haifa, Herzliya, Tel Aviv and Ashdod will be expanded - which will add more than 1,500 moorings.
The marina in Tel Aviv Photo: Vaknin Ofer
One of the main damages pointed out by the report is the erosion, which is expected to cause changes not only to the beach - but also to the cliff and localities located nearby. Mikhmoret - and the entire coastal environment around the planned moorings. "In total, up to 12 km will be affected in the center, from the Sdot Yam area in the north to the Wingate Institute in the south."
The report also claims that the erosion in Israel is caused by the construction of marine structures, and not for any other reason - climate change, changes in wind regime or land-based construction near the shores. The winds and because of the structural changes - is not a proper and good solution to the damage that may be caused.
The report also presents an analysis of the impact of the anchorage in Ashkelon on the coastal environment - where there is a serious danger of the cliff collapsing.
The dangers at the Ashkelon Coastal Cliff were also addressed by the State Comptroller's report published this year, which dealt with the failures of the Government Society for the Protection of the Mediterranean Cliffs and the Ashkelon Municipality in creating solutions to a life-threatening problem. In part of the Ashkelon promenade, last year a leading concrete drainage structure collapsed, which was on the cliff.
The Society for the Protection of Nature seeks to inform decision-makers of the relevant environmental considerations that must be taken into account when deciding on the construction of new marinas in the central area. This, while the Ministry of Environmental Protection is trying to work to amend the plan - and cancel the construction of new marinas, which will harm the coastal environment.
In contrast, the Ministry of Transportation claims that thousands of berths are already needed today, given the high demand from yacht owners. Minister Regev also supports the mayors of Netanya, Nahariya and Hadera, who support the plan - and are pinning their hopes on economic and tourism development.
The marina in Ashkelon Photo: Eyal Toug
The report of Mahraz focuses on presenting the possible damages in the case of the construction of moorings in Hadera and Netanya - as test cases that express considerable intervention in the creation of marine structures, and are also true for the construction of marinas off the coast of Nahariya and the Haifa metropolitan area. At the planned marina in Reading in Tel Aviv - where construction has already taken place in the marine environment.
An analysis of aerial photographs attached to the report shows that the larger the maritime structure, the wider its range of impact on the coastal environment - about 6 times the length of the distance from the shoreline to the western breakwater. Days as needs defined by the state and should not be ignored, but believes that the construction of small structures serves the same purpose - but without serious damage to the marine environment, and so also to habitats and nature in the area.
Therefore, the Society for the Protection of Nature proposes not to completely delay the development of the marine structures required for the promotion of water sports, diving and sailing - but to erect as small marine structures as possible. The proposed alternatives indicate that it will be possible to create additional moorings for small boats for the benefit of these needs - without causing erosion of the beaches.
The proposed mooring in Netanya should be integrated in a breakwater structure that is already in the planning, so that no acute environmental damage will be caused. In Hadera, the work recommends establishing a small anchorage that blends in with the natural rock reefs that exist in the area - using environmental conditions and merging with appropriate sizes, and not beyond.
"The state must guard the beaches - for the public"
The Society for the Protection of Nature stated: "Unfortunately, so far no proper environmental examination of the plan has been carried out. This creates a situation where the committee discusses the plan without material data before its eyes, and when a review is required, the plan will be approved." It is not appropriate to hold a discussion on the establishment of large and significant infrastructures that affect the environment.
"The shores of the Mediterranean are a public domain and a first-rate public resource, and rising sea levels will further reduce the coastal strip in the coming years - so the state must preserve the beaches for the public good, not sell them to a few. Marinas serve a minimal public, but they consume large areas. "The open beaches provide a variety of services and serve the general public."