"Surfers join the fight: "The construction plan in the 'casino' area will seriously harm water sports and the unique conditions of the area"

(haipo) – Bat Galim residents and sea and water sports enthusiasts from all over the country gathered this week to formulate a strategy for the fight to protect the sea against the plan to build a hotel on the site of the 'Casino' building.

The meeting was held with the understanding that the planned construction could dramatically affect surfing conditions and water sports in the area. The plan, which is becoming more concrete as time goes by, is expected to be approved by the local committee as early as next week, which heightens the urgency.

It should be noted that the previous evening, Monday, March 17, a meeting was held between Bat Galim residents and environmental activists, which dealt with the casino structure itself and the planned construction, the implications of the construction on the seashore, and what next steps can be taken in response to the emerging plan.

The fight to protect water sports

The struggle that arose among surfers and residents focuses on the possible implications of the project on the waves, currents, and physical conditions of the sea.

Ortal Aloni, an architect and resident of the neighborhood who deals with issues related to the sea, claims that the city of Haifa, like many other cities located on the coast, has difficulty protecting its beaches from the effects of intensive urban development.

Changing the physical structure of the beach could harm surfing

One of the most worrying aspects for surfers is the possible change in the wave breaking points. According to Aloni, uncontrolled construction could cause a significant change in the sea currents and wave regime in the area. "As part of the planning, an expansion of the casino area towards the sea is expected, which will include drying up some of the water and adding rocks. These actions could seriously damage the quality of the waves at Bat Galim, which is considered unique in Israel.

Today, the place attracts surfers from all over the country due to its optimal surfing conditions. But if extensive structural changes are made, the waves will not be able to form in the same way, and the area could lose its importance as a water sports center."

The 'Pick' is in danger

Surfers and residents are expressing deep concern about the impact of the planned construction on the 'peak' – the exact point where the waves break in an ideal way for surfing. Bat Galim Beach is considered one of the best surfing spots in Israel, due in part to the structure of the seabed, the existing breakwaters and the movement of the currents that produce particularly high and high-quality waves. The peak, located in front of the casino building, allows surfers to catch perfect waves, which attracts surfers from all over the country.

"The planned changes as part of the casino project could irreversibly damage this peak," explains Aloni. "If sea drying work is carried out, rocks are added or the location of the breakwater is changed, rocks fall either accidentally or intentionally beyond the breakwater, this could change the current regime and cause the waves to no longer break in the same way. This means the loss of one of the best surfing spots in the country, which could drive surfers away from the area and damage the unique character of the neighborhood."

Surfer safety

In Aloni's opinion, adding new rocks or structures could pose a real danger to surfers, especially if the rocks are placed in places that make it difficult for them to identify hazards in the water. Also, reinforcing the crumbling walls of the building and adding floors above the roof of the existing structure will require additional foundations and piles, and possibly rafts, which will increase the scope of the excavation in close proximity to the existing casino walls. All of this will require thickening the land area around the existing structure, physically stabilizing the ground significantly several more meters into the sea.

The implications could be disastrous in its impact on the surfing area and the rock deposits. "The existing drying of the entire lot has already sufficiently diminished and damaged the quality of the incoming wave and reef. Adding a bed of rocks and strengthening them into a structural land mass that is almost impervious to underground water passage. The above additions could change the current regime in the area, from the breakwater of the Back Door to the beginning of the old boardwalk, which could lead to dangerous situations in which surfers and swimmers could be swept out to sea without the ability to safely return to shore due to the change in the incoming and outgoing currents."

Dangerous already.

"It should be emphasized and added that the place, even as it is today, has posed a tangible danger to surfers for many years, and every year surfers crash onto the rocks there, break their equipment, and get into trouble in the corner of the casino. Another example is the erosion that occurred after the construction of the Polynom, and every year surfers get swept away there and get injured."

As you can see in the photo, next to the breakwater there is a return current, directed towards the sea depth. To the east and west of the return current there is a local current perpendicular to the shore.

Demand for in-depth examination of environmental consequences

The protesters demand that the municipality and the developers receive advice from professional bodies, including marine engineers, marine biologists and ecological surveyors, to understand the implications of the project. The neighborhood residents emphasize that any physical change to the coastal structure requires careful testing to prevent irreversible damage to nature and the local marine community.

Additional problems in the development of the promenade and their consequences

In addition to the casino, Bat Galim residents also raised concerns about the future planning of the old promenade. They claim that every winter there is an accumulation of sand on the promenade, and the municipality is working to remove it using bulldozers that throw the sand into the sea along with waste, which harms the marine environment. In addition, the relatively new section of the promenade from the interchange for exploring the seas and lakes suffers from cracks and serious construction problems, which raise questions about the safety of the structures planned near the sea.
They claim that it is impossible to load so much concrete and infrastructure onto a coastal strip that absorbs so much energy.
A significant point that must be drawn from past experience is conclusions regarding the casino lot, as well as the new planning for the old promenade.

The question also arises as to whether the rise in sea level, which increases significantly every winter, and the storm events that plague the beaches were taken into account in the new proposed design for the promenades and the casino grounds.

Declare a marine reserve and water sports area

Residents say the area should be designated as a protected area for non-motorized water sports, including diving, swimming, surfing, and kayaking. They say changing currents and waves will severely impact these activities, and require in-depth research and professional assessment before infrastructure work is carried out.

Appeal to the authorities and the continuation of the struggle

The protesters are preparing to contact the Haifa Municipality, the developer, and government officials to raise the issue more urgently. They intend to submit a detailed position paper, based on professional opinions, in which they will present the possible implications of the construction on the marine environment and the surfing industry in the area.

The residents of Bat Galim promise that they will continue to fight for the future of their beach, out of a desire to preserve its unique character and protect it from irreversible changes.

May create a death trap

One of the speakers was Naama Sarid, a consultant in geology and marine ecological engineering. Sarid presented the possible implications of changes to the interface between the built casino area and the sea, emphasizing how any engineering change to the water line would affect the current regime and marine ecology in the area.

Conditions unique to Israel

"Casino Beach has unique conditions for Israel. Unlike the rest of the country, the beach faces north rather than west, on a spur of Mount Carmel that continues into the Mediterranean Sea, creating a rocky reef with beds of marine vegetation, sea anemones, fish and sea turtles. Thanks to the combination of the reef structure and the northern orientation, the waves most of the year come from the southwest, bypass the spur of Rosh Carmel, align in front of Casino Beach and break perfectly for surfing. Therefore, Casino Beach's long, neat wave attracts water sports enthusiasts from all over the country."

Sarid explained that breakwaters in general are known to be part of an engineering structure that creates a current in their proximity, as is the breakwater that was built years ago around the casino - which surfers use to easily go deep into the sea. "The currents are partly used by surfers to go deep into the sea. But there are also dangers inherent in the rocks of the breakwater - and sea users are careful not to get too close to the rocks on which the waves break with force. The existing shape of the breakwater is the lesser of two evils - because a surfer who gets caught in the current or waves and has difficulty getting back into the sea can climb the rocks and return to land. Therefore, any change in the breakwater structure - whether by moving or adding rocks - could increase and change the local current regime. As happened with the new Hulda promenade, where smooth rocks were placed, similar to a concrete wall - without any complexity that would slow down the current.

"The bottom line – if smoother rocks are added or concrete walls are built, the current will become significantly stronger and could become a death trap for surfers and swimmers. The ecological balance that exists today will be disrupted."

A bustling area

From an engineering and ecological perspective, Sarid noted that the ideal situation would be a natural beach with a reef or sandbar, on which the waves would break more gently. "But in the current situation it is better not to intervene or make further changes, and if the developer wants to protect the structure better, then protection can be built inland rather than in the water on the natural reef," she said. "A natural reef is critical both for surfers - due to its effect on breaking waves - and for the many marine animals that live in it. There is a tendency to think that the Mediterranean Sea is empty, but those who know the area know that it is teeming with life. The bottom line - building a breakwater or stands in the water would create a death trap for sea users, and would harm the wonderful and vibrant reef that is in Bat Galim. Unfortunately, while coastal authorities across the country and around the world are promoting high-budget projects to build artificial reefs, decision-makers in Haifa have not yet learned to appreciate what nature has given for free."

To combine marine engineering with natural values

According to marine biologist Sara Ohayon, Bat Galim Beach is of high ecological importance, with rare seaweed beds that serve as a breeding ground for sea turtles and other marine species. According to her, the planning of the coastal strip should be viewed holistically, combining advanced marine engineering and preserving existing natural values.