Construction halted in Þorlákshöfn
From the recent protests by surfers over the construction. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Construction on the planned land reclamation at Suðurvararbryggja harbor in Þorlákshöfn has been temporarily halted at the request of the Icelandic Surfing Association. The Environmental and Natural Resources Appeals Committee agreed to this, but the ruling states that if the construction were not halted, the association's appeal would be meaningless as the area in question would have already been disturbed.
The case concerns construction on a nearly 1-hectare land reclamation that the town wants to undertake from the existing sea defenses to the main current shoreline and connect to the existing business area in the southernmost part of the harbor area. The total volume of the land reclamation was estimated at around 27,000 cubic meters and an additional 10,000 cubic meters in rock cover.
The wave area outside Þorlákshöfn harbor is considered one of the best in the country, although more could be done. Surfers have criticized the fact that the area should not be filled with land, as this could permanently damage the facilities. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Controversy over the impact on unique wave area
The project has been very controversial, especially among surfers, but the area is one of the most popular and best for surfing in the country. Particular reference is made to “Aðalbrot”, which is considered a unique wave area nationally.
The town officials say that the project is part of changes and improvements that have taken place in the town's harbor area and that the harbor is the foundation of economic life and development in the town. Recently, harbor activity has increased and the municipality is emphasizing strengthening services for harbor-based activities.
The surfing association had complained that the projects were not subject to an environmental assessment with the associated possibilities for the public to influence the planning process. The Planning Agency had previously informed the town that an environmental assessment was not required. The matter is therefore under review by the decision-making committee, but that opinion is still at an early stage.
Given that the landfill construction was only supposed to take three months, it was clear that there was no point in discussing the matter in substance unless it was ensured that no construction would take place while the case was being resolved. The appeals committee therefore agreed to temporarily halt the construction.
Surfers in the sea outside Þorlákshöfn in October. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
A few weeks’ time frame
Ólafur Pálsson, chairman of the Icelandic Surfing Association, says in an interview with mbl.is that this is a time between wars. “This gives us a little more time,” he says but adds that he is still quite afraid that the committee’s findings may be negative for surfers.
He notes, however, that it was very positive to see that the contractors stopped construction yesterday when this ruling came. He says that now a period will begin where the committee will gather data and he expects the time frame until the ruling will be perhaps a few weeks.
It's about the impact of the landfill on the wave
"This should be pretty black and white about the situation. We have our facts and Ölfus municipality has theirs"
He says the issue is about the impact of the landfill on the wave, but there are differing opinions about whether and how the impact on the wave could be.
He points out that the town has relied on an assessment by an engineering firm in Iceland in its work, which believes that the impact on the wave will be zero. However, the Surfing Association has had foreign experts assess the impact and their calculations indicate that the impact is clearly significant.
"We hope that this issue will now be looked into more deeply," Pálsson says, adding in conclusion that it would be best if the association and the municipality could reach a settlement that everyone accepts. That would be the association's goal and something that he truly believes is possible.
