Initial Dredging Pipe Placements on Friday 25 July In St Francis Bay
This Friday, 25 July, will see the initial delivery of dredging pipes alongside Shore Road. These pipes are 15m in length with a diameter of 315mm. This pipe delivery marks the start of the Long Term Coastal Protection Scheme (LTCPS). The scheme will dredge sand from the Sand River Delta and other priority areas on The Kromme to various discharge points along the beachfront for beach nourishment, extending up to Main Beach.
The final pipeline will comprise pipes ranging in length from 15 to 90m. Due to their length, the pipeline will be assembled onsite. This process begins with the delivery of the pipe (week 1), and then the subsequent welding will take place over the following 6 weeks (week 2-week 7). Until this is completed, the parking along Shore Road will be limited.
The third phase will involve moving, placing and joining the pipe in its final location. The majority of the pipeline will be floated into position to minimise any impact. With the exception of the canal crossings, the pipeline will remain above ground to allow for cleaning in the event of blockages.
The dredging process is estimated to commence three months from the initial placement of the piping.
Miller Engineered Solutions is the appointed contractor for the dredging.
Stay Informed
Further details, updates, and progress reports are available on the St Francis Property Owners Association website under the SFPO NPC (SRA) menu.
All three Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club members are pupils at Woodridge College. All three reside and train in St Francis Bay.
The SA Presidents Team is the SA National Junior Team.
Jessica Harcus – South African Presidents Team
Individual events
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPION- 100m Manikin Carry
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPION- 50m Manikin Carry
Team events
– 2025 CWG CHAMPIONS – TEAM SA – 4x25m Manikin Carry
Jessica Harcus 2025 CWG Champion
Liam Schweitzer – South African Presidents Team
Team events
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPIONS- TEAM SA – Line Throw
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPIONS- TEAM SA – 4x50m Manikin Carry
– 2025 CWG SILVER MEDAL – TEAM SA – 4x50m Medley Relay
Gian Moolman – South African Presidents Team
Team events
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPIONS- TEAM SA – Line Throw
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPIONS- TEAM SA – 4x50m Manikin Carry
– 2025 COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHAMPIONS- TEAM SA – new SA Record – 4x50m
Obstacle Relay
– 2025 CWG SILVER MEDAL – TEAM SA – 4x50m Medley Relay.
Gian and Liam 2025 CWG Champions
Final Standings:
National Team – 2nd place overall
President’s Team – 3rd place overall
What an incredible campaign – records broken, medals earned, and national pride on full display. Congratulations to every athlete, coach, and supporter and especially to the Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club.
I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with the public participation meeting held on 22 July 2025 at the Sea Vista Community Hall regarding the proposed survey activities in offshore Block 11B/12B along South Africa’s South Coast. As a local resident who cares deeply about this region, I attended the meeting with the hope of engaging in a meaningful and transparent dialogue about the project’s potential impacts.
Instead, what I witnessed was a disappointing and disheartening display of vagueness, evasiveness, and patronising behaviour from the facilitators, leaving me with serious concerns about the integrity of this consultation process and the future of our coastal environment.
The meeting, conducted by SLR Consulting and NMA Effective Social Strategists on behalf of Main Street 1549 (Pty) Ltd, offered little more than vague promises and half-answers to crucial questions. The proposed surveys – including sonar mapping, seafloor sampling, and ROV inspections – are being pitched as “downscaled” but are being pushed forward without adequate clarity or respect for the environmental risks they pose. I, along with many others, left the meeting feeling belittled and deeply troubled.
Critical Concerns
Instead of addressing critical concerns, such as the true potential harm to marine life or the risk of oil spills, the facilitators resorted to rambling, uncoordinated responses that made us feel as though our voices didn’t matter.
Environmental Risks and Disrespect for Local Concerns:
The ocean off our coast is not just a body of water; it is a vital, living entity that supports marine life, fisheries, and the livelihoods of many families. Sonar surveys – the ones planned for this project – can disrupt marine animals and cause lasting damage to our fishing industry. Yet, during the meeting, these risks were glossed over and no real, actionable solutions were offered to protect the fragile marine environment. This disregard for our home is not only infuriating, it’s irresponsible. We deserve a thorough, transparent explanation of the risks and the concrete measures to mitigate them, not vague promises.
Community Exclusion and Economic Impact:
The Southern Cape relies on sustainable industries like fishing, tourism, and agriculture. An oil spill or industrial accident could devastate these industries, jeopardising the livelihoods of many families. Yet, despite this, we were given no clear assurances that these critical sectors would be protected. The community was largely excluded from this process. Many residents in surrounding towns and areas were unaware that the meeting was taking place, and even fewer could attend. Multiple meetings in the same small room, along with associated language and listening barriers, created additional obstacles. The information provided was inconsistent between the handouts received and those displayed in the room. It is painfully clear that our voices are being ignored.
It is heartbreaking to think that our children and grandchildren may inherit a degraded coastline. Or face economic collapse because we were too eager to sacrifice long-term prosperity for short-term profit. This offshore exploration, undertaken in 2025, appears to be at odds with the world’s growing push for sustainable energy. Even the major oil companies have pulled away, recognising the high risks. So why should we, the community living on the frontline, carry the burden of this risk? This project isn’t about us; it’s about them. Our future is not a price tag to be negotiated.
I left that meeting feeling not only frustrated but betrayed. We are the ones who live here. Our families, our communities, our future is inextricably linked to this coast. If this project goes ahead without proper scrutiny, we will suffer the consequences, not the companies behind it. We have every right to demand better than what was presented – and we will not be silenced.
I call on the authorities and developers to halt this project until genuine transparency, proper public consultation, and rigorous environmental safeguards are put in place. We must be given the chance to be heard, to protect our homes, our businesses and our future. Our coast is too precious to risk. We are not asking for much – just the respect, information and consideration we deserve as the ones who will bear the weight of this decision.
Sincerely
Trevor Gascoyne
Concerned resident of SFB and Member of FOSTER Environmental Committee
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