PORTIONS of North Beach, Dairy Beach, Country Club and Battery Beach will be closed off from today, Friday, 20 April, for sand pumping operations that will replenish sand on these beaches.
No bathing and beach use will be allowed in the sections of beaches that are closed off while sand replenishment activities are under way. It is expected that this will take about four week.
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The City’s Deputy Head: Coastal, Stormwater and Catchment Management, Randeer Kasserchun said sand from south of the harbour is dredged and transferred to Durban central beaches through sand pumping operations. He said the City prides itself on the maintenance of the beaches and it was important that they were nourished.
He said the beaches affected currently suffered a severe shortage of sand. “If sand is not pumped onto the identified beaches, they may have to be closed for bathing as the safety of bathers will be at risk,” he said.
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Beach replenishment at these locations will be undertaken through an off shore system. Sand and water samples will be taken to test for water and sand quality. This emergency sand replenishment process is a joint operation between the City and Transnet and has been approved by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
The City has advised beachgoers to be patient during this process and to comply with restrictions which have been temporally prescribed.
