SURFERS, bathers and – above all – lifeguards, were elated this week as the municipality began a massive clean-up of the debris on Alkantstrand beach.
More than 50 concreted poles had fallen victim to storm surges, spring tides and rising ocean levels that caused the erosion and collapse of the dune barrier, and tumbled onto the beach.
Using a TLB machine, staff from the City of uMhlathuze’s Technical Services division are towing the dangerous obstacles from the littered beach at a fast rate, and expect to be done by Friday.
‘This is wonderful – and it is thanks to the pressure you guys placed by graphically exposing the situation,’ one surfer told the Zululand Observer on Wednesday.
‘And by reporting on the matter when it was raised in council, this also led to this action.’
Not only does the debris – often submerged at high tides – pose great risk to swimmers and surfers, it also threatens deep sea boats that run the threat of propellers and hulls being damaged.
However, lack of sand on the Blue Flag beach continues to leave it vulnerable to further dune erosion and further degradation of beach amenities can be expected.
Limited dredging has taken place, but the beach will at least look far more presentable when the SA Bodyboarding Champs are held in early October.
