Work has been given the green light to repair the damage caused to Nora beach in Pula by Hurricane Harry. The work will remove and dispose of the terrace in front of the church of Sant'Efisio, which collapsed onto the beach, and repair the embankment eroded by the sea.
Controversy erupts in the City Council over the timing of the work, however, given that the work begins right around the feast of Sant'Efisio. "The start of the work is important news," explain the minority councilors of Siamo Pula, led by group leader Ilaria Collu. "It's a shame that rather than "extreme urgency," it seems to have become "extreme calm." A question many residents are asking naturally arises: if the work is classified as urgent and therefore permitted to be expedited, why are we only taking action now? We're talking about damage that occurred in January, but we're practically there right now, right up until the feast of Sant'Efisio, and the problem affects both the extremely sensitive area of Nora and the entire coastline, from Porto Columbu to Santa Margherita, all the way to Pinus Village. In Campu Matta, the road is still closed to traffic, with enormous boulders blocking traffic, and along many beaches, seaweed removal has not yet been done, despite the summer season approaching. Those who live in this area know how valuable these places are: they require attention, constant care, respect, and planning. Not belated interventions. It's crucial now to move forward and make up for lost time, but for the future, a real change of pace is needed.
Mayor Walter Cabasino clarified the situation and recalled that Pula was one of the municipalities hardest hit by Cyclone Harry: "Our coastline was literally devastated by the storm surges. The damage reported in our area amounts to just under €14 million. The summer season is upon us, and it's natural that many residents are asking us for information regarding the necessary restoration work for the damage suffered along the coastline. The Municipality is working to intervene by advancing budget funds to repair at least the most critical areas, such as the cliff and ruins of the old Cala d'Ostia tower, the Nora coastline, and the Coltellazzo cliff. It's important to note that to date, the municipality has not yet received any compensation for the damage suffered by the cyclone, as envisaged by the resources made available by the Region and the Government. Despite everything, we are committed to addressing the emergencies and moving forward with the planning phase of the interventions, and in a few days, work will begin to remove the Posidonia beds."