High capacity along with avoidance of overcrowding, and dedicated planning for the religious population and nature conservation • For the first time: the Planning Administration promotes uniform principles for bathing beaches
The beach in Tel Aviv // Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
With the opening of the bathing season, the Planning Administration is promoting a policy document on the planning of declared bathing beaches, which will for the first time define uniform principles for beach planning.
The purpose of the document obtained by "Israel Today" is simple: to regulate planning on the beaches, in the desire that the plans of local authorities for the beaches will have uniform principles and not as is happening today.
The document was recently presented to the Committee for the Preservation of the Coastal Environment (and Beach).
"The beaches - a significant asset"
In fact, the proposed policy document sets out principles and a concept of planning in light of which it will examine and oversee the plans for bathing beaches submitted for approval. .
The Minister of the Interior, Aryeh Deri, addressed the issue: "Beaches are an asset of important public significance, and as such must be protected and preserved."
Among the series of planning principles set out in the document on bathing beaches: a high capacity of the public must be allowed, along with the provision of conditions for well-being and the reduction of the feeling of overcrowding.
At the same time, the planning of the beaches will include a variety of options and situations for the service of different populations - among others, separate beaches for the religious population, beaches in nature reserves where development will be moderate, or in national parks while emphasizing historical monuments.
Other issues expressed in the document are strict adherence to construction away from the shoreline - facilities and services that are not required directly to the waterline will be removed as far as possible from this line in order to allow large and free space for public benefit and to protect beaches from climate change;
Preserving natural values while wisely planning the beach;
Preserving heritage values;
And emphasis will also be placed on safety - the beaches, along with being an active resort, are also a place where there are risks and therefore on the beaches all measures will be taken for the safety of bathers and those staying on the beach.
The beaches along the Mediterranean Sea cover an area of about 190 km, of which less than 10% are declared beaches. For preservation and cultivation.
