(haipo) Months of complaints, professional tours, and municipal guidelines have not brought an end to the nuisance. This week, workers at the construction site on 37a Ovadia Street in Haifa were filmed rolling boulders down the slope, towards the Wadi Lotem stream. This was after the municipality demanded that the developer remove the rocks and work to restore the slope. The municipality is currently examining the circumstances of the incident and the possibility of taking additional enforcement measures.
A persistent hazard in the heart of a natural area used by hikers
The saga surrounding the construction site at 37a Ovadia Street in Haifa's French Carmel neighborhood continues, and recent events have rekindled concerns for the safety of hikers in Wadi Lotem. Last Monday, workers at the site were filmed throwing boulders (large rocks) down the slope, towards the wadi bed, a natural area used by hikers and residents. The footage raises serious questions about the conduct of the site and maintaining public safety, especially in light of the procedures that have been taken in recent months and the demands made to the developer regarding the removal of the rocks and the restoration of the slope.
Residents' complaints began at the beginning of the year.
Treatment of the hazard began in January of this year, following complaints received from residents of the Haifa Municipality about the dangerous situation at the construction site on 37a Ovadia Street.
Following the reports, professional officials arrived at the scene and conducted field tours, with the participation of municipal representatives, including enforcement officials and representatives from the city engineer. As part of the response, instructions and an order were issued regarding the cessation of work and the removal of the boulders, and contacts were even made to the Green Police (a division of the Ministry of Environmental Protection) and the Ministry of Labor, but despite this, the hazards in the area did not disappear.
Over the past few months, dozens of large boulders have been left in the area, which have fallen down the slope, either naturally or as a result of deliberate actions, as was documented last Monday. The boulders reached the natural area adjacent to the Wadi Lotem bed, and remained there, posing a hazard that requires professional and careful treatment, both due to the conditions of the area and the potential risk to travelers visiting the wadi.
It is also important to consider the presence of the many wild animals in the area, which move around and may step on or climb the rocks, causing them to shift and slide down the slope. In addition, the topography of the area, the slopes of the ground, and the unique terrain conditions must be taken into account, which affect the stability of the rocks and the risk of their further deterioration.
Therefore, any treatment of a hazard requires a professional examination of the terrain conditions, while taking into account the safety of travelers, the protection of wildlife, and the prevention of further damage to the natural environment.
Even a professional inspection did not resolve the problem.
In July, a professional tour was held at the site, with the participation of Deputy Mayors Avihu Han and Sarit Golan, representatives from the Engineering Department, representatives from the Environment and Sustainability Unit, and activists. During the tour, the terrain conditions and hazards on the slope were examined, and the participants went down to the wadi area to get a first-hand impression of the severity of the situation.
Despite the inspections, tours, and demands made to the developer, the treatment of the hazard continues, and the incident documented this week raises concerns that instead of removing the rocks in an orderly and safe manner, they continue to roll down the slope, toward the stream bed.
Instead of clearing the boulders, they roll towards the valley.
The latest incident highlights the seriousness of the situation. Boulders are heavy rocks, and their being thrown or rolling down a slope could endanger those at the bottom of the stream. In Wadi Lotem, which is used by hikers, the concern is about possible harm to people and the natural environment.
The fact that the incident occurred after months of municipal treatment and instructions to remove the rocks raises questions about compliance with the established requirements and supervision of what is happening at the site.
The issue is being monitored live, and reports have been published throughout the period about the defects and hazards at the site. The latest incident illustrates that despite municipal intervention, the issue has not yet been fully resolved.
The Haifa Municipality stated:
"The Haifa Municipality, through the Construction Supervision Department, is examining the work carried out at the site. An initial inspection indicates concern that the work was carried out in violation of the agreements with the developer from several weeks ago. Following the incident, the director of the enforcement department arrived at the site and directed the removal of the rocks that had fallen into the wadi. Due to the topography of the area, the removal is being carried out manually, without bringing engineering tools into the area, and after blocking the work area on both sides for safety reasons.
In the first stage, the developer is required to remove all the boulders, with the utmost caution and while ensuring the safety of travelers. At the same time, the municipality is considering taking additional enforcement steps and will continue to monitor the work, in order to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the permit conditions and the provisions of the law."
An impotent municipality
Examining, testing, and considering…
Only talk, no action.
Instead of moving the rocks towards the road, they throw them into the valley. Where is the municipality?
It must be illegal immigrants rolling the boulders.
I live across the street. Ever since they started digging, it was clear that there was a significant deviation towards the wadi. I was the first to file a complaint with the municipality (there is a contact number). Why didn't they stop the flooding???? Who was bribed??
Only if the entire neighborhood across the street takes action and complains as one might the municipality do something!!
We see the Haifa Municipality not issuing a Form 4 for the building until the water is restored and is also demanding the temporary disconnection of electricity and water.
What are the police for?
Probably an Arab contractor.
You'd be surprised, Mr. Eli the racist, he's actually your type.
The boulders are not rolling down but are being rolled by the developer's workers. The time has come to close the site.
All over the Carmel, trucks of dust and dirt. More and more construction sites, destruction of the quality of the lime, destruction of personal safety, destruction of wadis, congestion on the roads and accidents.
Those who have the ability have already fled the city of disgrace.
4 members of the previous city council no longer live in Haifa, that says something, doesn't it?!