Support Dune Defence project’s sand dune rehabilitation
Their goal is to obtain strong community interest and involvement, which is invaluable in successfully completing and maintaining a dune rehabilitation project.
THE Winklespruit Dune Defence project requested assistance from Taylor EnviroWaste Consulting to prepare a report on their initiative and the progress they have made over the last 15 years.
The conservation project is based on the beach near Winklespruit and operates from a beachside property in Ellcock Road, owned by Jan and Zeele Pauw, who initiated the Dune Defence project 15 years ago, along with Warren Freese and their team of workers.
This has required dedication and hard physical labour on their part, as well as a considerable financial outlay over the project’s existence.
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Several property owners along Ellcock Road have understood and appreciated the efforts and benefits of the Dune Defence project. However, there have also been detractors, who have opposed the extension of the project past their properties.
It is for this reason that the initiators of the project commissioned a report from Laura Taylor, an environmental consultant from Taylor EnviroWaste Consulting.
“Dunes are an integral part of our coastal environment. Not only do they provide a reserve supply of sand for use by waves during storms, they are the basis of important ecosystems, supporting valuable communities of plants and animals,” said Taylor.
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Unfortunately, many coastal dunes have been degraded over the years due to residential development, recreational activities and other activities. The resultant dune instability and sand drift remains a serious problem along many parts of our coasts as wind-blown sand may advance inland, threatening both natural and built environments.
She said, “Extensive sand mining, both legal and illegal, upstream in the Illovo River is depriving the local beaches of much needed sand, which further complicates the situation and makes the need for dune protection even greater.”
Their goal is to obtain strong community interest and involvement, which is invaluable in successfully completing and maintaining a dune rehabilitation project. “We are anticipating that with greater knowledge of the importance of the sand dune rehabilitation, more people will want to get involved both financially and physically,” said Taylor.
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The report will be distributed to residents and property owners in Ellcock Road, followed up with a public meeting to address the issues, in an attempt to bring consensus to the area regarding the importance of the Dune Defence project, while appealing for financial support towards it.
The meeting will take place on Saturday, June 4, at the St Mary’s Anglican church hall at 12:00. All community members are welcome. In addition to dune defence, the project also cuts and maintains the road and railway verges in the area.
This relies on considerable voluntary community service and costs and makes a noticeable difference to the neatness of the area and the shopping district in Warner Beach.
For more information, contact Laura Taylor on 083 626 3785 or VOIP 065 894 4116 or email taylor.enviro.waste1@gmail.com. Additionally, Zeele Pauw can be contacted on 072 677 2727.
To view the report online, visit https://envirosus.wordpress.com/reports/ or, https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/28canll5ob8hyz3g1ogfj/Web-version-Dune-Defence.docx?dl=0&rlkey=8ehwqlsbc6oxpdn4vfzwrp69t
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