The national sub-committee on issues relating to planning principles today discussed the national master plan for marinas on the Mediterranean coast. The Committee decided to reject the plan to build six new marinas and to approve only the new Nahariya marina. Discussions included the participation of local authorities, government ministries, environmental organizations and grassroots citizens.

The plan presented by the Israel Ports Authority and the Ministry of Transport called for the construction of marinas in Nahariya, Bat Galim (Haifa), Hadera, Netanya, Sde Dov (Tel Aviv) and Bat Yam. The plan also includes the expansion of six existing marinas in Akko, Shavit (Haifa), Herzliya, Jaffa and Ashdod, and the use of existing facilities at Tel Aviv Port and the nearby Reading power station.

The Planning Administration spokesperson said: “The Committee believes that due to concerns about degradation of the coastal environment and past experience has shown that sand on beaches has decreased and that the impact of the reduction of sand on the rate of erosion of the cliffs and the reduction of beaches available for public use, which represent an open and free public space for recreation, entertainment and sport, there is no In general, there is no place for the promotion of new marinas.

“In the opinion of the Committee, there is no reason to prefer the construction of marinas to serve a relatively small population to use by the general public. The Committee sees the social repercussions and the importance of keeping beaches available and open with unrestricted access, which will allow everyone to freely enjoy the beach resources. The Committee sees the population doubling over the next 30 years and the obvious need to increase beach resources for recreation and available to the general public.

The Committee said there was less concern about the decrease in sand in the Nahariya region due to the prevailing sediments there.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel said: “If this will be the decision of the National Commission, then we can certainly say that the cancellation of the project to build five marinas, on the beaches that belong to everyone , is a huge public achievement. which will benefit the public, nature, the environment and of course the beaches because they will continue to be natural, open and accessible. marina in Nahariya. It is possible to provide a solution to future berth needs and even double the number of existing berths, just by making existing marinas more efficient and expanding them without even needing to build one more marina. .

Posted by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – November 30, 2021.

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