Herzliya WWTP to be razed

I have a sentimental attachment to the Herzliya wastewater treatment plant which I upgraded in the 1990's. I built the settling tank and planned the sludge treatment towers and the main office bldg. When submitting the budget request, I recommended instead to connect to the Shaf-Dan system in Rishon LeZion, as the nearest pipe was only 1500 away. The Municipal Boss Eli rejected my suggestion because he did not want to be dependent from the ShafDan monopoly, notorious for blackmailing and exploiting its clients. 

Why the decision to write off the 30 million shekel invested in the plant? The reason is Herzliya is now the local Silicon Wadi and real estate is most valuable. In addition to the 1,230 homes, of which 246 will be allocated for small apartments, immediately east of the Ayalon Highway (Road 20), there will be 35,000 square meters of commercial space, as well as public buildings, a public transport terminal and a park. The housing will be in blocks 10 floors high although there will also be two residential towers of 35-floors each. There will also be a bridge over Road 20 and the railway linking the new Herzliya neighborhood to Derekh Yavne in Ramat Hasharon to the west. A whole new city 5 km off from Tel Aviv. 

The plant is built on an abandoned Arab agricultural complex. The "manor", in my times, served as a "hostel" to illegal Palestinian workers. The high tech area of Herzliya is very impressive and luxurious. Zionism has more than fulfilled Herzl's vision of a developed nation.