On the way to eliminating the polluting industry
A big day for the residents of Haifa, the Kiryat and the settlements surrounding the bay: the National Council for Planning and Construction approved the evacuation of the polluting industry and the construction of residential neighborhoods in their place. The program encompasses a large number of areas, including the Kishon Park, the sea front, and more.
The implementation of the plan is still far away, but its very approval is a guideline for the fact that there is no reason to approve additional polluting facilities that will be built in the area in the coming years. In addition, from the moment of the decision, a process actually begins in which the Israeli government and the factories themselves will be forced to produce alternatives for the continued existence, or the expected disappearance, of these factories.
Moti Blitzblau (the greens, blue and white): "an important step":
The member of the city council from the Green faction - Blue and White Motti Blitzblau, who participated today in the meeting of the National Council for Planning and Construction, in which the TAMA 75 evacuation plan in Zan from the Gulf was approved:
"After a persistent struggle of more than a decade, the struggle of Haifa's greens, other environmental organizations, environmental activists, and following government resolution 1231 of December 2022, today we took another important step forward in evacuating the polluting industry from the Gulf. Now we must continue to pressure the government to budget for the evacuation plan."
Yaniv Ben Shoshan, head of the Likud list for the Haifa City Council, responded to Haifa:
(Photo: Yaron Karmi)
"Unfortunately, there are bodies like the Greens that boast feathers that are not theirs and apart from slogans they throw into the air, they have no green achievements. Here, too, the removal of the factories is not an achievement that the greens led to. This is an unprecedented achievement of the Likud government which is a continuation of government decision 1231 which was passed in the Likud government and led by the former minister Gila Gamaliel.
We, the Likud in the city council, will continue to work to remove the polluting industry from the area and return clean air to Haifa Bay and Kiryat Haim. Soon we will bring big news for the evacuation of the tank farm of the 1979 plant near Degania Street in Kiryat Haim. We will also remove the ammonia tanks, and all with the help of the direct connection we have with the Israeli government and in particular with the Minister of Environmental Protection from the Likud Idit Silman."
Aliza Barkan, a Hai Fe reporter who is a partner in the activist group "Cleaning the Haifa Bay", said:
I participated today in the historic discussion at the end of which it was finally decided to approve the outline plan for the bay to say: the closing of the polluting factories and the promotion of the plan for the restoration of the bay.
It is an important day of its kind which begins to summarize many years of activity of environmental activists, of various organizations such as "Cleaning the Haifa Bay," "Green Trend" and many others.
Thanks to everyone who was, supported, and worked for the residents of the Bay.
The Association of Cities of the Haifa Bay Area for Environmental Protection stated:
The union welcomes the decision of the National Council to approve TMA 75 for Haifa Bay.
The chairman of the Union of Cities, attorney Sharit Golan Steinberg: "The approval of the plan and its transfer to the government's approval is particularly important in view of attempts by Zan to build a new power plant and distillate storage tanks, the construction of which contradicts the goals and objectives of TAMA 75. The sooner the plan is approved, This will prevent the establishment of facts on the ground that will delay the implementation of the plan in the future."
"The decision made today to approve the plan and pass it on to the government for approval is another step in changing the face of Haifa Bay and turning it from a source of pollution and disease into the heart of a thriving metropolis and the center of growth for Haifa and the entire region."
The Ministry of Environmental Protection responded to the approval of the plan - Tama 75 - Haifa Bay:
The Ministry of Environmental Protection welcomes the approval of the plan for Haifa Bay and the cooperation that took place in its development, with the aim of ensuring the mechanisms to stop the activity of the petrochemical industry and the development of an innovative and clean urban complex.
The firm was, and continues to be, an active member of the editorial committee of TAMA 75 and a partner in promoting and incorporating environmental considerations into the program, which include, among other things, the preservation of a stretch of river, a metropolitan park, an ecological transition, reference to sea level rise, the inclusion of instructions that require reference to the transition period between Industrial zone to urban development zone and more.
At the same time, the ministry regrets that the council decided at the last minute to remove an innovative and significant component of the plan's instructions, which required a planning review for the integration of renewable energy production facilities within the detailed planning procedures, and this against the background of concerns about the cost of construction.
The representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection emphasized in the discussion the importance of promoting renewable energies in the built-up area and the advantages of including the examination of the economic benefits and the potential savings of having these provisions in the plan.
Minister of Environmental Protection, Eidit Silman: "I congratulate the National Council for its decision to approve the descriptive plan for Haifa Bay, which is a significant and important step in the implementation of the government decision led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection together with the Prime Minister's Office to remove the petrochemical industry from Haifa Bay, an important and significant step in improving quality the lives and health of the residents and the environment. Along with this, the council decided to remove a significant component of the plan's instructions which was supposed to encourage the integration of renewable energy production facilities in the planning process. We believe that renewable energies should be promoted in the built-up area, with the aim of optimizing the electricity sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and switching to renewable energies Cleaner and healthier."
Representing the Ministry of Environmental Protection at the discussion were Ila Gladman, director of the environmental planning division of the ministry, and Vared Dror, planner of the ministry's Haifa district.
The Planning Administration informed Lahi Pa:
The National Planning and Construction Council has finally approved the plan to evacuate factories from Haifa Bay.
The plan outlines the creation of a continuous urban connection between the Kiryat and Haifa and includes a new and balanced retirement of land designations in the bay - residences, employment, a metropolitan park and open areas along the streams.
Director General of the Planning Administration Rafi Elmaleh: "Historical day. For the first time, the state has put on the table a planning alternative that would remove the petrochemical plants in Haifa Bay."
The National Planning and Construction Council, chaired by Rabbi Natan Alantan, decided today (Tuesday, 19.9.23) to finally approve the national outline plan for the Haifa Bay - TMA 75 ("Gate of the Bay"). This is a plan that will form the basis for detailed planning in its area.
The 'Gateway to the Bay' program is promoted in cooperation with the Planning Administration and the Israel Lands Authority, and aims to change the face of Haifa Bay, determine the image of the future and outline an up-to-date planning policy in this area.
The plan outlines the creation of a continuous urban connection between the Kiryat and the city of Haifa, a balanced retirement of land designations for residential, employment and metropolitan uses, including a metropolitan park and open spaces along the streams. In addition, the plan emphasizes connecting the residential areas to the beach and the employment centers in the area, all with the aim of strengthening the Haifa metropolis and improving the quality of life of the residents of the area.
In accordance with this plan, detailed plans will be promoted that will include tens of thousands of housing units, significant employment scopes, infrastructure systems, establishment of public transportation, services at a metropolitan level, connections and axes connecting the Kiryats to the Haifa and Nesher blocks. The plans will be promoted with the participation of the local authorities and the public and in them the exact mix of uses will be determined taking into account economic, urban and social aspects.
The decision to promote the program is in accordance with the recommendations of the inter-ministerial CEOs' Committee which was appointed to deal with the issue and submitted its recommendations in June 2021, and further to the government's decision regarding a strategy for the development and promotion of Haifa Bay dated March 6.3.22, XNUMX.
The Chairman of the National Planning Headquarters and the Chairman of the National Planning and Construction Council, Rabbi Natan Alantan: "After many years in which there was talk of changing the face of Haifa Bay in light of air pollution and in light of many government decisions on the matter, the National Council decided to approve the plan it has in place to lead a significant change while raising the quality of life for the benefit of the residents of the area and new residents who will arrive."
Director General of the Planning Administration, Rafi Amlich: "The approval of the national master plan for Haifa Bay is a historic day for the State of Israel in general and for the residents of Haifa Bay in particular. For the first time, the state put on the table a planning alternative that would take the petrochemical plants out of the Gulf, while meeting the ambitious goals in the government's decision. The fact that the plan was approved today makes the evacuation of factories from Haifa Bay a fait accompli. This is a program of national importance to the Israeli economy, which will contribute to improving the quality of life of the residents of the Haifa metropolis in general and the city of Haifa in particular, and will provide a response to the supply of housing units within the urban fabric."
Likud member Yaniv Ben Shushan comments (see above) - that the decision 1231 to close BeZen was made during the time of the Likud government:
So the following is the decision (at least the opening of it,) what to do during the Bennett government!! And in addition defames the greens of Haifa as usual in the code - shame !!
"Strategy for the development and promotion of Haifa Bay and amendment of a government decision
Resolution number 1231
unit
Government Secretariat
government
The 36th government, Naftali Bennett
Date published
06.03.2022
effective date
06.03.2022
Resolution number 1231 of the government dated 06.03.2022.
Subject of the decision:
Strategy for the development and promotion of Haifa Bay and amendment of a government decision
From ships:
With the aim of leading to the development and economic-social advancement of the Haifa Bay in particular (hereinafter also - "the Bay"), and of the Haifa Metropolis in general, which includes a vision for the creation of rich and high-quality employment centers and residences for the residents of the north of the State of Israel and an improvement in the quality of the air and environment of the residents of the Bay, and further to the government's decision no. 472 of October 25.10.2020, 7.6.2021, following the summary report of the CEOs' Committee on the promotion and development of Haifa Bay (hereinafter - the "CEOs' Committee Report"), which was published on June 2262, 08.01.2017, and government decisions No. 529 of January 06.09.2015. 36 and No. XNUMX of XNUMX, emphasizing the basic lines of the XNUMXth government and the government's commitment to improving the quality of life in the Haifa and Gulf region, and in the process creating a residential area, high-tech, nature sites, recreation sites, and clean industry:..."
Likud member Mr. Ben Shoshan - and tells stories: So the decision regarding the evacuation of Zen was made by Mr. Bennett's government on March 6.3.2022, XNUMX.
Why residential neighborhoods?
The area is not suitable for living.
The area is suitable for transport, trade and clean industry.
It is better to build residences on the slopes of Carmel or the western slopes of the Galilee mountains.
2050, oh my, the best case, maybe before if the air force and tanks decide to switch to electric only, not to mention the rest of the transport and industry,, a nice illusion but still an illusion.
An important day for an important struggle. One of the most important struggles in Israel, a struggle of which Ofir Alon (Albaum) was one of the leaders. I wish Ofir was here to see his influence on the perception of the environment in Haifa and the Gulf. There is still a long way to go and we will continue his path
Let's cool down the enthusiasm and explain to the public: there is no longer any blueprint for moving the petrochemical plants from Haifa Bay. Nothing - not budgeted. In the energy situation in the world today, where every country is trying to develop an industry and does not want to rely on unstable global trade - the State of Israel will not give up the refineries or any plant in the Gulf and there is also a requirement to go back and store ammonia (guess where).
The relocation of the factories is a process that, if it starts in the next few years, will end in 2040. To this must be added many years of detailed planning and the purification of the land. If in the Kurdish camp in Kiryat Motzkin it took 15 years, here it will take at least 20 years. So you will not see any marketing of land for construction in Haifa Bay until 2045 and this is the optimistic schedule that evacuates petrochemicals altogether and the governments do not stop the evacuation with the excuses of an essential industry and the lack of alternatives.
I recall the statement of Transport Minister Mofaz that an international airport in Haifa is a vital national project of utmost importance. Everyone was jubilant and happy and 20 years later are still racking their brains about placement alternatives in examination committees.
Approving an outline plan is very cheap and does not require actual action. You can present achievements on paper - literally and shove them into drawers that are already full of previous programs that have been shelved.
As long as there is no agreement and funding for the relocation of the refineries, and on the other hand, billions are invested in pipelines carrying hazardous materials to factories from the fuel port, then allow me to doubt the governments' intentions to realize the 'Gulf Gate'.
It is impossible to describe it better than what you have described, not to mention an explosive security situation that does not allow the importation of oil in times of war when every country puts brakes on the tap, see the case of the gas from Egypt
This is important progress on the way to closing down the polluting and dangerous industry in the Haifa Bay...bumps are still expected on the road, but as long as the trend is forward and not backwards, this is good news. It should be noted that, at the same time, they are talking about increasing activity in the ports of Haifa
When the government wants to turn them into HUB ports (central port) for the Gulf countries. This could bring a huge amount of cargo, including hazardous materials, into the Gulf. Such a plan could come at the expense of the planned Kishon Park and harm the environment and endanger many residents... this too must be answered now.