Marine Department halts construction of Karon retaining wall

PHOTOS: DMCR

Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources have paused the Karon Beach retaining wall construction project this week.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources report that officials found that the project was originally aimed at improving the outlook near the Nong Harn Swamp at Karon Beach and to prevent soil running into the sea. The construction design is 470 metres long of which 280 metres of the wall is complete.

But marine officials have concluded that the area is a ‘balanced beach’ which should not have any construction along the shore line. They believe the construction might affect or change the beach in the long term.

They say that, if the Karon Municipality wants to continue the construction, they must come up with a plan that allows for future sand movement and won’t add to beach erosion.