Selection of Projects Implemented through the Fund for Development and Cohesion (ex FAS)

Transcription

1 DIPARTIMENTO PER LE POLITICHE DI SVILUPPO E COESIONE DIREZIONE GENERALE PER LA POLITICA REGIONALE UNITARIA NAZIONALE DIPARTIMENTO PER LE POLITICHE DI SVILUPPO E COESIONE DIREZIONE GENERALE PER LA POLITICA REGIONALE UNITARIA NAZIONALE Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico DIPARTIMENTO PER LE OLITICHE DI SVILUPPO E COESIONE DIREZIONE GENERALE PER LA POLITICA REGIONALE UNITARIA NAZIONALE FONDO AREE SOTTOUTILIZZATE (FAS) Prima selezione di interventi finanziati con le Intese istituzionali di programma Ministero dello S iluppo Economico ITALIA NORD OVEST DIPARTIMENTO PER LE POLITICHE DI SVILUPPO E COESIONE DIREZIONE GENERALE PER LA POLITICA REGIONALE UNITARIA NAZIONALE FONDO AREE SOTTOUTILIZZATE (FAS) Prima selezione di interventi finanziati con le Intese istituzionali di programma ITALIA CENTRALE FONDO AREE SOTTOUTILIZZA (FAS) Prima selezione di interventi finanziati con le Intese istituzionali di programma MAGGIO 2009 ITALIA NORD EST Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico MAGGIO 2009 FONDO AREE SOTTOUTILIZZATE (FAS) Prima selezione di interventi finanziati con le Intese istituzionali di programma ITALIA SUD E ISOLE Selezione di interventi realizzati nelle Regioni con il Fondo per le Aree Sottoutilizzate (2011 MAGGIO 2009 MAGGIO 2009 Selection of Projects Implemented through the Fund for Development and Cohesion (ex FAS) January

2 Published by the Directorate General for National Unitary Regional Policy Department for Development and Economic Cohesion Minister for Territorial Cohesion Editing and coordination by Sergio Parrella Assistance by RTI Roland Berger Accenture Translation by Rosetta Epifani 2

3 Foreword The Directorate General for National Unitary Regional Policy promotes the «Fund for Development and Cohesion» programming, formerly «Fund for Underutilised Areas» (FAS). Pursuant to Article 4 of Legislative Decree n. 88/2011, the Fund ensures financial and programming unity of overall additional interventions funded through national resources addressed to socio-economic rebalancing of Italy s differing areas. Consistently with EU Structural Funds programming cycles and related procedures, this multi-year Fund activates resources via unitary and complementary measures. The Fund for Development and Cohesion resources are distributed among central and regional Administrations via Italy s Interministerial Committee for Economic Programming (CIPE) Decisions. Regional Administrations address resources to those interventions that best fulfill territorial cohesion policy criteria and objectives by means of so-called Framework Programme Agreements (i.e. Accordi di Programma Quadro APQs), namely ad-hoc instruments introduced in 1997 by Law n. 662/1996 (Article 2(203)(b)). This publication illustrates a selection of projects implemented or currently underway within tailored APQs designated by their respective Region or Autonomous Province as being most representative of the activity implemented through the Fund. The projects were previously illustrated in three publications (in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively) and presented to citizens and enterprises on the occasion of the main annual event of Communication, Information and debate on Italy s Public Administration activity (FORUM P.A.). After three years of successful «FAS Publications», we deemed it advisable to publish also an English version of this selection of projects, expressly selected, updated and integrated by their respective implementing Region or Autonomous Province. For each Region and Autonomous Province, a general section illustrates the Fund programming activity, followed by the synthetic description of the respective two most representative projects. The project reports not included in this publication are available, in Italian language, at: Rome, January 2012 Vincenzo DONATO DG for National Unitary Regional Policy Department for Development and Economic Cohesion 3

4 Contents Abruzzo «Completion and Extension of the New North Pier of Ortona Port» «Abruzzo Coast Preservation» Apulia «Grottaglie Airport: Air-side Infrastructure Adjustment» «Bari: Priory Palace Restoration St. Nicholas Citadel» Basilicata «Rionero Venosa Bradanica (Oraziana) Connection Section IV Implementation» «Gallitello Complex Road Junction Restructuring» Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen «Campegno Gallery Construction» «Meran Malles Railway Line Reactivation» Calabria «Menta Aqueduct Completion of Gathering Works and Power Tunnel» «Germaneto Catanzaro Lido Provincial Road (SS 280)» Campania «Regional Underground Railway Completion (Metrocampania Nord-Est): Piscinola Central Aversa Section» «Recovery and Enhancement of Pozzuoli s Rione Terra» Emilia Romagna «Apennine Crossings in Forlì Cesena Area» «Circulation and Safety Enhancement in Basso Ferrarese Area» Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region «Adjustment of the Municipal Consortium Depuration System of Tolmezzo (UD) Project-Designing and Implementation» «Trieste Port: Infrastructure Enhancement for Cargo Handling» Lazio «Sora Frosinone Freeway, Lot V, Sections I-II» «Sojuz Air Cooperation: Reaching the International Space Station»

5 Contents Liguria «Implementation of De Ferrari Brignole Route Genoa Underground Railway» «Bordighera: Recovery of Villa Regina Margherita, and the Terruzzi Collection» Lombardy «Restoration, Functional Upgrading and Enhancement of San Benedetto Po Abbey (Mantua)» «Completion of Bergamo Sud Ringroad» Marche «Marche Enterprises & Knowledge: R&I as a Lever for Regional System Development» «Marche Logistic Platform: Infrastructural Enhancement» Molise «Campobasso: Purchase and Upgrading of Regional Headquarters (Former Enel Property)» «Frosolone, Duronia, Civitanova del Sannio: Trigno Valley Floor Biferno Valley Floor Connection» Piedmont «MOVIcentro: Enhancing Public Transport Use» «Recovery of La Venaria Reggia and Gardens» Autonomous Region of Sardinia «Carbonia: Intermodal Station for Passengers: Train-Bus Integration and Community Support» «Functional Adjustment of SS 125: Terramala Capo Boi, Lots I-II (Cagliari Tortolì)» Sicily «Comiso: Civil Works, Infrastructures, and Facilities for Civil Airport (II Level)» «Messina Giampilieri Underground Railway Line» Autonomous Province of Trento «Romallo and Cloz (TN): Repair and widening of SS 42 Tonale and Mendola» «Grigno (TN): Selva Junction (SS 47 Valsugana), municipal road system adjustment, and new railway underpass (FS)»

6 Contents Tuscany «Tuscany: Adjustment of Regional Road Networks, Implementation of Safety Measures to Reduce Traffic in Urban Centres» «Tuscany: Socio-Educational Infrastructure for Local Development» Umbria «Road connection: Assisana SS 147 (Ospedalicchio Junction) and Sant Egidio Airport» «Casone (PG): Depuration Plant, Gasometer, Electric Plant, Sewage System Extension for Perugia and its Fractions» Valle d'aosta Autonomous Region «Aosta: Reconversion of Former Ilva Cogne Area» «Aosta: Corrado Gex Airport: Runway Extension; Acquisition and Installation of Radioassistance Devices» Veneto 249 «Caorle and Eraclea (VE): Coastline Adjustment/ Upgrading between Piave River Mouth and Livenza River Mouth» «Venice Padua Provinces: Structural Model of Veneto Aqueducts Central Veneto Scheme 6

7 Selection of Projects Implemented through the Fund for Development and Cohesion (ex FAS) January 2012 Click on Region Go to Contents 7

8 Abruzzo 8

9 Abruzzo Priorities On 15 February 2000 Italy s Government and Abruzzo s Regional Administration signed the Institutional Programme Understanding («Intesa Istituzionale di Programma») concretely setting up an ad-hoc policy to address the socio-economic rebalancing of Abruzzo s underutilised areas, identifying common interest sectors, engagements, objectives, and resources. The development objectives identified by the Understanding were then implemented through interventions covered by the so-called «Accordi di Programma Quadro» (APQs) namely, Framework Programme Agreements in sectors such as: Mobility, Integrated Water Cycle, Soil Protection, Local Development, Cultural Heritage Assets, Urban Areas, Information Society, and Research. Being negotiation instruments to execute Understandings, APQs enable implementing Administrations will, identifying the interventions required to attain the objectives pursued, and ensuring their consistency with Community, national and regional programming activities. Being also operational instruments for negotiating, each APQ describes the ad-hoc interventions to be implemented and identifies their respective responsible subjects, costs, implementation timing and financial coverage. Italy s Fund for Underutilised Areas (FAS), distributed in Abruzzo through Framework Programme Agreements (APQs) as per CIPE Decisions, amounted to circa million EUR. The amount included both FAS resources assigned by annual budget laws to national/regional programmes and national resources addressed to regional interventions, pursuant to relevant CIPE Decisions. FAS resources addressed to regional programmes (circa million EUR) fed the APQs under the Institutional Programme Understanding stipulated between Italy s Central Government and Abruzzo s Regional Council on 15 February FAS national resources allocated to Abruzzo through APQs (stemming both from State programmes and above CIPE Decisions) amounted to approximately 29.7 million EUR. FAS resources resulted in overall 1,228 million EUR investment, including co-funding from Community, State, regional and local entities/bodies, as well other public bodies. To date the Abruzzo Region has underwritten 48 APQs, funding overall 1,129 interventions. APQs were programmed and underwritten according to procedures established by CIPE, which also defined the terms and criteria for their implementation, and initiatives aimed at accelerating FAS spending. 9

10 Abruzzo As follows, a synthesis of the state of the art, at 31 December 2008, of the interventions under the Framework Programme Agreements funded by FAS over the period. Soil Protection 6 APQs were underwritten for 72 interventions in the «Soil Protection» sector, for overall million EUR circa (i.e. 122 million from FAS and 1.1 million from co-funding). The APQs focused on «hydrogeological resettlement» to restore geo-morphological stability in a number of urban centres located along the foothills (i.e. some major non-regional capital towns and municipalities within «protected areas»), historically threatened by gravitational phenomena heavily impacting on: residents safety, productive and technological facilities, network infrastructures, primary and secondary communication means, and regional historical-cultural heritage assets. Integrated Water Cycle A wide programme of investments is on-going within the «Integrated Water Cycle» sector, implemented by so-called ATOs (Italy s Optimal Territorial Bodies) to renovate infrastructure for water distribution and wastewater disposal. Interventions are notably aimed at enhancing the overall water supply system reliability by finalising and adjusting the regional aqueduct system and rationalising water distribution networks. An Integrative Act was issued in 2004 for co-funding of 64 interventions (SMEs, drinkable water supply, urban wastewater depuration) for overall 12.8 million EUR (7.0 million from FAS and 5.8 from co-funding). The second Integrative Act envisages 17 civil use/irrigation water works for overall 52.2 million EUR (23.7 million from FAS and 28.5 from co-funding). The Integrative Act was born as major APQ follow-up; hence, it falls within the same reference programming framework, aiming to regulate the complex sector addressed by Community, national, and regional directives. Protected Areas The APQ, stipulated with Italy s Ministry of the Environment for overall 5.17 million EUR, covers 38 interventions for planning instruments within protected areas. The aim is to favour «satellite tourism» having educational and cultural standards compatible with environment conservation needs, and to promote clean energy production through solar, micro wind and phyto-depuration power plants. The objective was pursued in collaboration with Abruzzo s Provinces and single Municipalities managing the reserves concerned. The action will also be addressed to well-equipped Territorial Parks in the Region. Cultural Heritage In the «Cultural Heritage» sector, 5 APQs were stipulated to implement a wide programme defined by Regional Administrations in agreement with Italy s Ministry of Cultural Heritage. 10

11 Abruzzo The Programme envisages over 371 interventions for overall 142 million EUR circa (59.5 million from FAS and 82.5 from co-funding) and involves sectors such as: cultural heritage assets, regional museum system, civil and religious architecture monuments, State archives, historical centres, archaeological sites, and regional relevance areas. The thematic areas identified in the programming lines of the first three APQs are: >Conservation, enhancement, and promotion of cultural and environmental heritage; >Territory-related and thematic museum systems; >Cataloguing and networking of Abruzzo s cultural heritage assets. Social Promotion In line with the Regional Social Plan, the proposed projects aim to support and promote local bodies and social/private sectors in territories mostly exposed to social unease phenomena in order to address objectively extraordinary events and phenomena through exceptional interventions. Projects will thus: design, develop and distribute prototypes throughout the Region; ensure quality assistance and economic sustainability; adequately address social exclusion (and related emergencies); and satisfy both individuals and families needs; enhance and adjust current assistance structures/facilities for disabled people. System Actions The «System Actions» APQ (overall 684, EUR) aims to: improve and speed up the draw-up of regional programming documents, FAS resources programming and governance, and APQs implementation and assessments. The following objectives are pursued: >Enhancing and accelerating the draw-up of priority regional programming documents to set up the unitary strategy outlined in Italy s National Strategic Reference Framework (QSN); > Improving the programming of FAS resources assigned to Abruzzo, through identification of sectoral priorities and interventions; definition, preliminary analysis and stipulation of new APQs, Integrative Acts and/or new implementation instruments; >Enhancing the governance and implementation of APQs and/or new implementation instruments (expenditure efficiency/effectiveness) by enhancing institutional cooperation (Government Region Implementing Bodies); >Enhancing the capacity to identify funding measures alternative to traditional systems (regional technical unit for project financing); >Enhancing the capacity of assessing programmes/projects based on public-private economic partnership. 11

12 Abruzzo Research The APQ for «Technological Innovation and Food Quality and Safety» was signed on 22 Dec within the «Research» sector for overall 9,892, EUR (i.e. 6,033,992 EUR from FAS national quota, pursuant to CIPE Decision n. 17/03 Italy s Ministry of Research). The general objective is to favour, through a first set of projects, the aggregation of excellence research centres in Abruzzo and create a Technological District for food quality enhancement and support to competitiveness in the sectors/services connected to agri-food productions. Productive Activities The interventions envisaged in the sector aim to finalise the system of areas equipped to host industrial facilities/activities. An initial APQ and three Integrative Acts were signed for investments equal to more than 82.4 million EUR (72.4 million from FAS and 10 million from co-funding, respectively), also including an APQ Feasibility Study worth approximately 0.90 million EUR. The objective is to contribute to solve structural problems linked to productive activities carried out in Abruzzo industrial areas. Local Development The interventions envisaged in the main APQ (and first Integrative Act) for local development and territorial rebalancing are aimed at the following general objectives: >Equipping hinterland small-sized municipalities in the with primary infrastructures to enhance their economic activities at micro-territorial level; >Favouring conditions for enhancing local historical/cultural resources; >Improving life quality and residential attractiveness in small urban centres by enhancing services aimed at citizens and environment, and by creating leisure facilities and activities. The three APQs were funded for overall 35.3 million EUR (30.3 million from FAS and 5 million from cofunding, respectively). Urban Areas The first APQ for Urban Areas (23 million EUR and 11.6 million from co-funding by Private/Regional/Local Bodies) envisages 24 interventions within three programmes, namely: >The so-called «District Contracts» (Contratti di Quartiere) The tender notice published in October 2003 fixed the terms for: Municipalities participation; proposals contents, regional priorities, and criteria for project selection; >PRUSST interventions, jointly identified by Regional Administrations and subjects/parties involved; >Interventions within Measure of Abruzzo Single Programming Document (SPD Italy s DOCUP) consistently with the tender ranking. 12

13 Abruzzo CIPE Decision n. 20/04 furthermore ruled the allocation of circa 9 million EUR for implementation of localisation contracts. On 31 March 2005, the APQ for «Acceleration of Spending in Urban Areas» was stipulated between Abruzzo Regional Administration, Italy s Ministry of the Economy and Finance and Ministry of Infrastructure. The objective was to programme and implement initiatives enhancing the structural and infrastructural endowment of capital towns and the network of small/medium-sized towns. Overall 11.7 million EUR were allocated to 13 interventions. On 2 July 2008 the «Urban Areas Reserve» APQ (First Integrative Act) was stipulated, envisaging 10 interventions aimed at implementing one project for each Capital Town Strategic Plan and 6 Strategic Plans for the so-called «Area Vasta» (i.e. Wide Area). IT The overall set of interventions proposed (through different funding lines) by Abruzzo Regional Administration in the IT sector (so-called S.S.I.R.A., namely Sviluppo della Società dell'informazione nella Regione Abruzzo Information Society Development in the Abruzzo Region) perfectly matches the framework identified by the Region s «Information Society Development Action Plan E-Government» (P.A.S.I. E-Government), approved by Regional Council Decision n of 27 December Through the above «P.A.S.I. E-Government» tool, the Regional Administration intends to guide the transition of Abruzzo and its inhabitants to the Information Society and affirm Public Administration s role both as policy-maker and active subject capitalising on all the opportunities offered by new ICT technologies. The programme of interventions proposed in the first Integrative Act, funded in 2004 for 14 million EUR (7 million from FAS and 7 million from SPD), encompasses seven further projects (outside the APQ Integrative Act scope) complemented with further initiatives funded by Italy s Ministry for Technological Innovation and synergically implemented by Abruzzo Regional Administration, ARIT (ICT Regional Agency), and the Ministry itself. The Second Integrative Act signed on 27 June 2005 envisages interventions for overall 40.4 million EUR from various sources and namely from SPD (5.3 million EUR), regional resources (CIPE Decisions n. 17/03 and n. 20/04) and national resources (CIPE Decision n. 17/03) always stemming from FAS appropriation (12.5 million EUR). The Third lntegrative Act signed on 25 July 2006 envisages the implementation of further interventions to ensure follow-up to the programme set up by previous APQs. Transport In the field of transport infrastructures (Roads Port Hubs/Freight Terminals), ad-hoc APQs were signed within each of the following sector segments: >«Val Pescara Terminal and Marsica Freight Hub» APQ (179.2 million EUR 18.1 million from FAS and million from SPD co-funding and national resources) to implement eight large interventions for enhancement of freight terminal infrastructural works. 13

14 Abruzzo >The «Mobility» APQ identified some road junctions which currently prevent enhancing the inland transversal directrices and reducing summer traffic along S.S. 16 (A-Road) by by-passing the highly urbanised touristy areas along the coast. The APQ envisaged 5 interventions for overall 13.5 million EUR. The «Mobility» APQ was followed by the First Integrative Act (overall million EUR FAS) for the road connection between Campo Felice Plain and Rocche Plateau. The Second Integrative Act was then signed on 22 November 2006 (overall million EUR) to implement the connection between Val Vibrata and Tordino Valley along the S. Anna Fosso Faizzi road section. The Third Integrative Act was signed on 31 July 2007 for implementation of 3 interventions within Teramo, Pescara and L Aquila territories for overall 65,691,000 EUR. The final project-design tender was envisaged for >The «Ports» APQ envisaged 8 interventions (Ports of: Ortona, Vasto, Giulianova, Francavilla, and Pineto) for overall 40.4 million EUR (entirely FAS) encompassed in the Regional Plan for Ports. The aim was to address the regional infrastructural endowment, sensibly poorer than the national average, as in 1999 the movement of ships, goods and passengers within the Ports of Vasto, Ortona and Pescara appeared stagnating. >Pursuant to CIPE Decision n. 3/06, the First Integrative Act to the «Ports» APQ was signed to implement interventions for/in the Port of Ortona (23,900,000 EUR) and draw up the new Pescara Port Master Plan (609,000 EUR), co-funded by Pescara Municipality. All interventions were contracted out. The next few pages illustrate in detail the two most successful Projects, namely: >«Completion and Extension of the New North Pier of Ortona Port»; and >«Abruzzo Coast Preservation». Their implementation was also enabled by sound collaboration between Abruzzo Regional Administration and Italy s Central Administration. Thanks to this publication Abruzzo has the opportunity to inform citizens, in a transparent and direct mode, of how public resources have been invested at regional level, highlighting the results and benefits attained. 14

15 Abruzzo Province: Chieti Municipality: Ortona Implementing Subject: Municipality of Ortona (Comune di Ortona) Project Title: «Completion and Extension of the New North Pier of Ortona Port» Budget: 24,509, EUR (FAS) Place-in-Service Date: 26 June Project Synthesis The Project falls within the «Ports» APQ (First Integrative Act) within Abruzzo s Institutional Programme Understanding. The overall budget is 24,509,000 EUR, fully funded through FAS resources. The main reasons underlying the Project and formerly set out in an ad-hoc feasibility study can be summarised as follows: >Limited depth at Port entrance and at inner quays; >High wave penetration into the Port; >Insufficient depths at the foot of current quays; >Difficult use of external quays, due to physical contraints posed by planimetric and altimetric discontinuity between the old quay and the new one; >Lack of adequate ground spaces to handle goods and quay equipment; >Need for remarkable re-organisation and specialisation of areas and physical separation of the activities herein performed. The APQ also encompasses two sets of interventions, and respectively: 1.«Completion and 647-metre extension of the new north pier of the Ortona Port compliantly with the Master Plan in force»; 2.«Proposal for Pescara s new Master Plan». Although differing in costs, indicators and localisation, the above sets of interventions share common elements (i.e. objectives pursued and benefits attained by the whole Project implementation) summarised below. The APQ aims to create an outpost to reduce waves penetration, reach bigger natural depths, and enable feeder ships to enter the Port. 15

16 Abruzzo The Project furthermore envisages ad-hoc distribution of the activities performed in the Port to avoid interference (i.e. creation of: a modern container hub, a nautic tourism dedicated area, a quay for passengers transit), and enable finalising Port land connections. The Project implementation lasted three and a half years (9 March October 2010), of which: two months dedicated to executive project-design and two and a half years to works execution, also involving 1 ATI (Temporary Association of Enterprises) from engineering project-designing and building sectors. The Project enabled: implementing a new dam at Port entrance (approx. 1,460-metre long); extending the existing dam by approx. 790 metres; upgrading the current Port s entrance; and dredging the Port access channel. 2 Project Genesis Abruzzo s infrastructural endowment proved rather poor and required improvement and enlargement of regional port infrastructures, previously insufficient to meet the higher mobility needs related to citizens and, in particular, to goods. To such end, the Project main objective consisted in optimising circulation by eliminating single points having limited traffic outflow capacity (due to their proximity to urban centres) and providing services below the standards demanded by users. The Project aimed to functional/qualitative adjustment of the Port and, assuming other conditions, to the creation of a new dam. Prior to the project-designing of interventions, ad-hoc feasibility studies were carried out (co-funded by CIPE Decision n. 70/98) aiming to the «Rationalisation and Enhancement of the Port System», including (in detail): >Environmental Impact Study >Meteo-Marine Study >Hydrodynamic Study >Morphodynamic Study >Geological, Geotechnical, and Seismic Study >Geognostic and Bathymetric Surveys. The Feasibility Study focused on the rationalisation of the overall regional port system through definition of specific port roles for mercantile-industrial, fishery and tourist sectors. The analysis also addressed the evolution trends of maritime transport and alternative development policies. The proposals for hub enhancement focused on works partially within the current Port basin, in order to foster their operativeness and rationalise the distribution of functions and services along the quays and, outside the Port, to adjust road accessibility to nearby industrial areas. 16

17 Abruzzo 3 Project Implementation Plan The Project was implementated through different procedural phases, including a thorough study of the regional territory (on-site inspections and geo-physical analyses) which enabled project-designing the activities and estimating the timing required to complete the works. In detail, the Project encompassed the following phases: >Executive project-design: >Works implementation: >Final stress test: >Finalisation: Project Implementation Criticalities The main criticalities encountered for the Ortona Port from a maritime point of view can be summarised as: >Limited depth at Port entrance and inner quays; >High wave penetration into the Port; >Insufficient depths at the foot of current quays; and >Uneasy use of external quays, due to physical constraints posed by planimetric and altimetric discontinuity between the old quay and the new one. Further criticalities concern: adequate land spaces for goods handling; quays reorganisation, equipment and specialiased areas; physical separation of activities herein performed. 5 Project Success The Project enabled: creating a new dam at Port entrance (1,460 metres circa); extending the existing dam by approx. 790 metres; upgrading the Port entrance; and dredging the Port access channel (also involving Ortona s Municipality). Enlarging and modifying the Port s structure proved essential to enhance the whole Region s potentiality in terms of trade, and transport of goods and passengers. 17

18 Abruzzo Pre-Intervention Image Pre-Intervention Image Post-Intervention Image Post-Intervention Image 18

19 Abruzzo Provinces: Chieti, Pescara, Teramo Municipalities: Various Implementing Subject: Abruzzo Regional Administration, Servizio OO.MM. Qualità Acque Marine Project Title: «Abruzzo Coast Preservation» Budget: 24,000, EUR (FAS) Place-in-Service Date: 20 June Project Synthesis The Project, known as «Implementation of the Organic Plan for Vulnerable Areas Risks Interventions for Coast Preservation (Phases I and II)», was implemented within the APQ stipulated on 24 July 2002 for Abruzzo s soil and coast preservation. Works were funded through CIPE Decisions n. 36/2002 and n. 17/2003. As follows, the economic resources assigned for the implementation of single interventions: >Municipality of Martinsicuro 7,500,000 EUR >Municipalities of Silvi and Pineto 1,000,000 EUR >Municipality of Montesilvano 2,000,000 EUR >Municipality of Pescara 7,500,000 EUR >Municipality of Fossacesia 1,500,000 EUR >Municipality of Casalbordino 3,500,000 EUR >Municipality of Vasto 1,000,000 EUR. The overall Project interventions were implemented over four years: the first for project-designing and the remaining three for works execution, involving an engineering project-designing/building company, two universities, and two maritime construction firms. 19

20 Abruzzo 2 Project Genesis The Project responds to the need to safeguard Abruzzo s coastline (approx. 130 km) of low sandy beaches (90 km) interrupted by river outlets, gritty sections and high coasts (along the remaining 40 km). The Region s southern coast hosts pocket beaches resulting from on-going erosion (i.e. «Trabocchi» Coast, named after old fishing machines). The analyses and studies carried out prior to interventions project-designing were gathered into a feasibility study that divides the whole coastline (19 municipalities) into four macro-areas differentiated, in turn, into 50 coast sections (i.e. socio-economic microareas), whose morphological and socio-economic phenomena connected to local environmental factors have been thoroughly studied. The territory addressed by this FAS-funded project stretches over 11 km out of 90-km low coast. Ad-hoc interventions were implemented to ensure adequate safety conditions in one pocket beach through soil bioengineering works and underwater cliffs for ground/sea protection. 3 Project Implementation Plan The Project was implemented through various procedural phases. The feasibility study (i.e. «Implementation of the Organic Plan for Vulnerable Areas Risks Interventions for Coast Preservation (Phases I and II) Feasibility of interventions aimed at preservation and management of the coastline on a regional scale»), implemented in 2002 and funded through CIPE Decision n. 106/99, led to the preliminary project-designing of 7 interventions aimed at full upgrading of specific regional sites. Interventions were based on morphological and socio-economic risk analysis, which generated a priority scale of the risk thresholds related to the 50 sites analysed. The project-design relied on an accurate study of the regional territory through on-site inspections and targeted analysis of geomorphological, geological and socio-economic factors, and enabled estimating the interventions required, which involved both local stakeholders and administrations sharing technical-economic choices. Works required specific resources and maritime means, and sand distribution means/equipment (approx. 700,000 cubic metres) for beach nourishment operations, which enabled restoring and enhancing beaches quality. Works were concluded in Project Implementation Criticalities Multiple criticalities were encountered over Project implementation: initially, due to administrative procedures and, subsequently (over works execution), due to seasonal summer/winter breaks, which imposed dismantling building yards and putting them up again over spring and autumn seasons. The works timetable thus underwent natural changes, and activities were prolonged by one year. Further criticalities were encountered to get a very rare type of self-propelling dredge (only 6-7 in the world), which entailed long postponing the beach replenishing phase. 20