A further R2-million has been set aside for emergency repair work to the St Francis spit in Kouga Municipality’s draft budget for the 2020/21 financial year.
Kouga Community Services Portfolio Councillor, Daniel Benson, said emergency repairs to the spit have been under way for the past two months after evidence of a breach was found in April by an inspection team, consisting of the municipality and St Francis Property Owners (SFPO).
“An emergency plan for the spit was developed last year in preparation of a possible breach,” he said.
“The plan was activated when evidence of a breach was found. The spit was first bolstered with sand and rock protection is currently being placed in the most vulnerable areas, as recommended by coastal engineers.
“The plan is to protect the full length of the spit in this way while the SFPO finalises the plans and funding to install groynes as a long-term solution.”
He said both the municipality and SFPO were working closely with the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) to ensure compliance. In a recent progress report the SFPO expressed its gratitude to the municipality for its “immediate and effective intervention when the spit was breached”.
According to the report, the emergency repairs will provide temporary protection to the spit while approval from DEDEAT is being secured for the long-term groyne scheme and funds are being collected for its installation.
The draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed long-term coastal protection scheme was made available for public review during December 2019 and January 2020.
The SFPO said input received from property owners, residents, government institutions, the surfing community and other affected and interested parties has resulted in adjustments to the groyne layout.
“The Eastern Cape DEDEAT was particularly concerned about the effect that the coastal protection scheme could have on the northern banks of the Kromme River mouth and beaches north of the project.
“Following advice from our environmental consultants, CES, and DEDEAT, we have decided to extend the EIR process by some six months to address these concerns.
“It made sense to combine modelling to assess the adjusted groyne layout and its impact on beaches north of the river mouth with modelling of the estuary to determine the effects on the northern banks of the river mouth.”
The organisation said coastal engineers, Advisian, have been commissioned to carry out the necessary modelling and that updated survey information would be used for this.
A supplementary modelling report, inclusive of an updated cost estimate, will be prepared to update the EIR.
“The updated EIR will be released for public review before finalisation of the report and submission to DEDEAT for approval. We expect this to happen before the end of the year.”
The SFPO said funding for the long-term protection scheme was being steadily accumulated through the Special Rates Area (SRA) levies, but that sufficient funds would not yet be available by the end of the year to start with construction. “We believe that environmental approval will assist us in expediting the sourcing of external and additional internal funding to ensure that implementation commences as soon as possible.”
The SFPO said it remained fully committed to maintaining the healthy working relationship that it has with the municipality, as well as the Kromme Joint River Committee (KJRC) and the St Francis Bay Riparian Home Owners Association (Riparians).
