Feasibility study of installing artificial bathing platforms at the northeast coast of Malta

Abstract

The need to create additional bathing areas at rugged karst rocky shores of the northeast coast of Malta could be met by installing temporary wooden decking platforms, since current sandy beaches are very crowded in the peak summer season. Wooden decking platforms are also an acceptable alternative to beach nourishment projects, where the latter can have permanent negative environmental impacts. The old and eroded concrete platforms which cover large areas of the northeast coast of Malta represent an eyesore to the public. The option of overlaying these concrete platforms with a permanent rock amalgam composed of fiber-reinforced concrete which mimics natural rock would improve their aesthetics and attract more people to make use of rocky shores. A public survey was conducted at six popular localities along Malta's northeast coastline to assess the social acceptability of these two types of artificial bathing platforms. A field survey starting from Sliema and ending at Cirkewwa was also done to identify suitable sites for installing these artificial bathing platforms. The financial costs and the additional beach users who would be accommodated on these artificial bathing platforms were compared to two artificial sandy beaches; St. George's Bay (St. Julian's) and Bugibba Perched Beach. It resulted that wooden decking platforms cost more (€270/m2) while rock amalgam covered concrete platforms (€50/m2) cost less than local beach nourishment projects (€107/m2 ). Both wooden decking platforms and rock amalgam covered concrete platforms would be able to accommodate more beach users (909 and 4, 138 beach users respectively) than St. George's bay and Bugibba Perched beach can currently accommodate (815 and 559 beach users respectively).