AN urgent beach repair plan is underway to ensure that the Richards Bay shoreline is ready for the influx of bathers and tourists during the festive season.
This comes after the City of uMhlathuze approved an amount of R7.5-million during its Exco sitting on Tuesday, which will see geo-fab bags being used as a ‘sleeping defence’ against the encroaching sea.
Recommended by the City’s contractor and specialist engineers, the bags are susceptible to UV degradation and abrasion from the surf zone and will be placed at the landward end of the beach and covered by sand.
According to a beach erosion report, which served before Council, beach sand can be sourced within a 500m radius. Serving as a medium-term solution, the construction period would be 30 days to allow for completion before the peak festive period.
The municipality will also look at appointing specialist consultants in the next financial year to conduct studies to find permanent solutions to curb similar incidents of erosion, including the development of alternative bathing areas.
As a short-term solution, Transnet has been requested to continue dredging sand onto the beach area to accommodate the high number of bathers in December.
The high sea conditions last month caused considerable damage to Alkantstrand, affecting the dune rehabilitation programme and washing away almost the entire area, leaving only a thin line between the lifeguard tower and the sea.
‘Between 18 and 26 October, each high tide consumed about half a metre of beach. Fixed structures that lay under the dunes for almost 15 years was exposed, showing the vast quantity of sand being consumed by the sea,’ said the report.
Upgrade
Meanwhile phase 1 of the Alkantstrand upgrade and expansion comprising the landscaping of Newark Beach has been complete, which provides a larger area for picnickers ahead of the festive season.
Expanding the usable area of Alkantstrand from 26 000 to 90 000 square metres, City Development intends on incorporating 14 000 square metres (next to the restaurant/dune areas) into the precinct, as well as Newark Beach extending another 50 000 square metres.
