The Ministry of Ecological Transition, at the request of the Government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, will allocate 3,360,000 euros to 16 Catalan beaches included in the emergency declaration of works to repair the devastation caused by storm Nelson at the end of the month March 2024.
The decision was made yesterday at the meeting of the Council of Ministers that approved the emergency declaration. Today, the government subdelegation in Barcelona has been informing the mayors in detail. Thus, in Sant Vicenç de Montalt, its mayor, showed his satisfaction “for the rapid resolution of the emergency” while his counterpart in Pineda de Mar, Xavier Amor, stated that “sand will be dredged in the areas where it accumulates.” “Jan first line of the sea to replace it in the most affected areas.”
In the Barcelona region of Maresme, the Secretariat of State will intervene in Pineda de Mar to remove the remains of old infrastructure that have surfaced on the beach, such as the foundations of the old Civil Guard barracks. In Sant Vicenç de Montalt and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres they will proceed with the transfer of about 7,000 m3 of sand that is now accumulating in the Balís stream to the nearest beaches.
In Badalona, ??heeding the demands of the mayor, Xavier Garcia Albiol, the Ministry will proceed to remove the anthropic remains that until the storm were covered by sand. It is not detailed whether the sand that has been lost on some of the beaches that no longer exist will be replaced to safely recover the summer season.
In the province of Girona, action will be taken in Calonge, around Torre Valentina, to condition the beach after the loss of sand and the concrete ramp damaged by the storm will be completely demolished. In Castell d’Aro, Platja d’Aro and S’Agaró, the existing road between Port d’Aro and Verona Terol Avenue, which was badly damaged, will be demolished. In addition, anthropic assets located in the maritime-terrestrial domain will be removed and demolished in order to recover the width of the beach and its protection.
The province of Tarragona is the district where the Ministry will carry out the most actions. Thus, in Cunit sand will be transferred from the port of Coma-ruga to the area where the municipality’s promenade is located. Calafell will also receive a contribution of dredged sand from the same port towards the beach on the promenade. Similarly, from the same port sand will be transferred to the Coma-ruga del Vendrell beach and from the Roda de Berà port the same will be done to the Francàs beach. From this port the sand will also be transferred to Llarga de Creixell beach.
In Tarragona, sand will also be transported from the port of Torredembarra to the Llarga and Miracle beaches. In Salou, from the port you will pass sand from the port to the Llenguadets and Dels Capellans cove. In Cabris, sand will be brought to the Poniente promenade from the same port.
In the municipality of Mont-roig del Camp, sand will be transferred from La Porquerola beach to Rifà beach. In Vandellós and l’Hospitalet de l’Infant, sand will be transferred from the port to the Arenal beach. From the same port, sand will be taken to the beach of Alguer in L’Ametlla de Mar and in La Ràpita from the beach of Les Delícies or Ciment d’Alcanar to the beach of Suís.
In these 16 areas damaged by the storm, the Spanish Government considers it necessary to intervene without delay to prevent additional damage to the coast if another storm occurs in the short term that “even if it were of ordinary intensity would cause significant damage” by not having the protection natural that provides a well-configured beach.
The budget for the actions in the province of Barcelona is estimated at 1,500,000 euros. In Tarragona, 1,160,000 and in Girona 700,000 euros to alleviate the damage from the southeast storm that hit the coast with waves exceeding four meters. In addition, funds will be allocated to several municipal areas for dredging the mouth of some ports to alleviate the specific regression of several beaches.
