Sands of change for uMhlanga’s shoreline

WHAT started out as a simple case of dune rehabilitation between Durban View Park and Eastmoor Crescent Beach, has now burgeoned into a project that includes almost 4km of uMhlanga’s shoreline.

Last year Northglen News, spoke to Trevor Edwards and Dudley Horn, form the Park to Park (PTP) programme about their successful rehabilitation programme which has helped improve the beach’s safety, cleaning, greening and environmental management.

A year later and the duo have been sharing their learning with other properties adjacent to the PTP properties who have also embarked on similar projects.

“In 2007, this stretch (Durban View Park and Eastmoor Crescent) of beach was damaged by cyclone Demonia. At the time the vegetation and the natural habitat of many of the animals that inhabited the mangroves and dunes were washed away,” Edwards said.

Edwards added since the rehabilitation programme started, it has seen the return of wild parakeet, mongoose and more than 80 species of bird life.

“Environmental sustainability is key for Park to Park and the way forward is to continue with the rehabilitation and the reintroduction of plant species which ultimately leads to an increase in biodiversity. I feel economic wellbeing is tied to the preservation of our beaches,” he said.

Dudley Horn, said the response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. “We are now in a climate where people are more environmentally conscious. When other residents learned about this project, they wanted to join in and it has had a knock-on effect with beach users and fishermen.

“We need to save our beaches, with extremely high seas predicted in coming years, getting the dunes in good shape is vitally important,” he said.

De Wet Geldenhuis, from the uMhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), praised the efforts of Edwards and Horn and said the precinct had embarked on their own dune rehab project from the Breakers Hotel to the uMhlanga lagoon.

“Since we started, there has been at least a 30cm increase in the dune heights which is just incredible. Strong healthy beaches need strong healthy dunes,” Geldenhuis said.

Edwards and Horn added they would like to extend the programme to residents in Homeford Drive, Lady Ellen Crescent and eventually link up with the Virginia Promenade. For more information contact Trevor on 083 654 6548.