Doonside’s 2017 storm washaway repairs on track

Repairs to the storm-damaged Dick King Place will be completed prior to the start of the festive season. That is the word from ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge, who said repairs to the road and embankment were adapted from the original design which, similar to the current repair at the Warnadoone Skiboat Club, included stabilising the embankment with geo sandbags.

“The use was, however not approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation and as a result, the design was adapted to include re-routing and lengthening the stormwater outlet originally designed to disperse onto the ground bags,” said Cllr Beetge.

“There are still a few finishing touches before the project is accepted as being complete. This includes a request to remove some of the alien invaders that clog up the river and the remnant of the footbridge that collapsed due to a previous storm, the replacement of which was not part of the current contract.”

Once the re-designed pipe is in place, the embankment will be planted with indigenous dune vegetation and the top sections will be grassed.

READ ALSO: Baggies Beach bank erosion tackled

“We are currently in discussions with relevant stakeholders about the reinstatement of the Dick King stone which was removed by then Warnadoone chairman Jacques Coetzee and I, prior to the collapse of the embankment. It has since been kept secure.

The repairs are set to be completed prior to the festive season, depending on a renewed request to the Department of Water and Sanitation to reconsider the use of geo bags towards the lower end of the embankment close to the water’s edge.”

READ ALSO: Council meter survey underway