(haipo) – Haifa residents and hikers along the Nahal Ahuza trails were surprised to discover that a central walking trail in the area was completely blocked by a tin fence and construction debris. Israel Peer, the information systems manager for the National Butterfly Monitoring Program, who toured the site as part of a preparatory tour for the establishment of a monitoring trail, discovered that the trail, which is used by the general public, was blocked by a nearby construction site. According to him, this is not only an environmental violation, but also what appears to be a serious construction offense, an invasion of public space and a violation of the public’s right to use the city’s nature trails.
Following Haifa's appeal to the municipality, inspectors from the Construction Supervision Division visited the site and instructed those in charge to deal with the hazard and restore the situation to normal, and indeed the situation was restored to normal.
Nahal Ahuza Trail: A Favorite Route That Was Blocked
The trail in question, which runs along the mountainside below Freud Street and overlooks Nahal Ahuza, is familiar to many Haifa residents. This route, called "Upper Nahal Ahuza," provides access to nature within the city, surrounded by seasonal blooms and giant tree trunks that survived the fire that occurred in the area about eight years ago. The route begins on Freud Street, descends via the Smolenskin Steps to the stream, and continues parallel to the row of houses on Freud Street. This is a popular walking route for hikers and nature enthusiasts, and is also included in the national butterfly monitoring routes and the monitoring of the state of biodiversity in the Carmel Range.
An impassable construction barrier
Farr, who came to check the suitability of the route for the activities of a new butterfly-watching community being established in Haifa, was surprised to discover that the southern part of the path was completely blocked by a high tin fence and piles of iron parts and construction debris. "I reached the end of the path and had to retrace my steps," Farr says. "They built a tall building there, and underneath it a tin fence was erected that completely blocks the public path. Around and beyond the fence are piles of iron and construction debris, which make crossing impossible and even dangerous."
He said the barrier is beyond the construction site and appears to be an extension of the construction work beyond the boundaries assigned to it. "The barrier blocks a public path and goes beyond the official site. In effect, the building complex has invaded the wadi area and created a barrier that prevents the free movement of travelers and residents," he claims.
Construction offense and environmental damage
The significance of blocking the path is not only a violation of the public's free access, but also a construction offense, allegedly. According to Peer, this is a case of "construction overrun" - a situation in which construction work exceeds the building permits that were issued. "The partition should be adjacent to the site boundary, and not invade the public space," he explains. "This is an act that was done without permission and that negatively affects the environment."
A call to action from the authorities
According to Peer, in such cases it is very important to restore the situation to normal as quickly as possible. "Spring is approaching and time is short, and this situation is unlikely to last. This path belongs to everyone, and there is no reason for Haifa residents to be forced to give it up because of a construction violation. The authorities must investigate the violation and take action to remove the barrier and restore the path to the public," he concludes.
Why doesn't the municipality's supervision express the work required by its authority???
Why is action needed from citizens and a request from the media??
This is what a dysfunctional municipality looks like, with negligence and even contempt, which is evident at almost every construction site.
It's no wonder that developers allow themselves to make exceptions to the building permit, which include serious violations of the law.
It is enough to see the series of numerous construction violations that are carried out freely and without any fear in the Engineering Administration in the Haifa Municipality. The legal advice of the local planning and building committee recklessly invalidates state laws while at the same time adopting "laws" and "private regulations" from the personal "book of laws" created by the leader of the violations in the local committee, Attorney S.W., who is due to leave the Haifa Municipality soon, hopefully for the better, at a good and successful time for the residents of the Carmel.
It is recommended that Attorney General S.W. also drag out of the municipal system the municipal engineer Eng. Y.S., whose false and unfounded "engineering" statements are at the feet of the Attorney General Danan, as a basis for "validating" allegedly defective building permits under TAMA 38.
The new city engineer is the one who wins over these allegations of criminal acts, and who very likely understands what she must do to clean up the engineering administration and does nothing. On the contrary, she is increasing and intensifying the destruction of the Carmel on the basis of proven legal violations.
Go home, everyone – a failed city leadership that is consistently working to destroy the city!!
You came to serve the city, not to destroy it. You were chosen to do good to the residents, not to abuse them.
The concepts of "shame" and "public integrity" long ago evaporated from within the walls of Haifa Municipality.
You are right, the construction and construction again destroyed every part of the Carmel neighborhoods.
Haifa Municipality allows destruction and extinction of the city's wadis
What is not destroyed in construction waste will be destroyed in additional roads "due to the many traffic jams" that will have to be paved on city reserves and in valleys and over gardens, and turning every grove into asphalt parking lots, and every front garden of a building into a huge Chinese junkyard.
The business is lost. This city has lost the quality of life that made Haifa unique.
That's why it's the most abandoned city in Israel and people move from it to all the surrounding cities.
20 years and nothing changes
The same thing in the Vardiya River.
And probably in a large part of the valleys.
Taking over public spaces
And non-existent enforcement
A man who is righteous in his own eyes will do
It is not clear from the article how much fine will be paid to the residents for the hazard and the construction offense?
you made me laugh