TIDAL surges during the weekend’s storm conditions have eaten away another huge chunk of the fragile Zululand coastline.
This was especially so at Alkantstrand on Saturday night, when the high tide eroded more than five metres of sand barrier from in front of the lifeguard house.
It also took out fencing, concreted poles and brickwork from the edge of the recreational area.
Casuarina trees from further up the coast also drifted into the surf at Alkantstrand.
‘The lifeguard house itself has been designed for this, so we are in no danger of losing it,’ said beach manager Shakier Hiraman.
‘But something must be done urgently to protect the beach itself.
‘It needs a rapid rate of sand replenishment from the dredger pipeline and perhaps a gabion wall must be built to absorb the power of the waves.’
Hiraman estimated that the beach has receded about 100 metres from the time he started working there 18 years ago.
‘There used to be a big lawn that also got eaten away by the relentless advance of the ocean and this is becoming more of a problem with global warming and rising seas.’
It is sad to see the beach getting washed away the beach is like my home!! Bodyboarder for life…* BAY BOYZ!!