by SFT | Jul 22, 2024 | SFPO
A regular column where we dig a little deeper into what is happening with the groyne field project in St Francis Bay.
Our first column consists of some straightforward questions to Wayne Furphy, who is the Chairperson of the St Francis Property Owners Association and the SFPO Non Profit Company.
Many questions have been floating around about the progress of the Long Term Coastal Protection Solution in St Francis Bay. Most of the questions pertain to whether we will actually see this groyne field project come to fruition, what the groynes will be constructed out of, and when we can expect the construction to start.
SFT: Are we going to see the groynes being constructed?
WF: Groynes are used around the world to protect and preserve beaches. A groyne field consisting of six groynes forms the basis of our Long Term Coastal Protection Solution in St Francis Bay. The groynes will be constructed using rocks. We start with the two groynes on the Spit, then move to Anne Avenue where we construct the third groyne. We will then nourish the beach between the two groynes on the Spit, as well as Main Beach to the south of the Anne Avenue groyne.
When will construction begin?
WF: We expect to be ready to start construction in September this year. This will depend on (1) the price tendered falling within the cost estimates calculated by Worley (the Coastal Engineers who designed this solution) and the funds we have available at this point in time, and (2) the time required by the contractor to mobilise for this project, i.e. moving their equipment from their current location to St Francis Bay. We expect the construction of the three groynes and the sand nourishment on the Spit and Main Beach to take approximately 14 months. The remaining groynes and sand nourishment will be undertaken once we have additional funding available to do so.
The fundraising update can be found here
Some examples of groyne fields
Maputo
Lisbon
by SFT | Apr 2, 2024 | SFPO
Wayne Furphy, Dr Gillian Adendorf, Lyn Aitken, Richard Fulford
Local R20k Donation
A big thank you to the contributors to the Camera 57 project in St Francis Village for a local R20k donation. They recently handed a cheque for just over R20 000.00 to Wayne Furphy (Chairman) and Lyn Aiken (Admin Manager) of the SFPO NPC for the Long Term Coastal Protection project. The contributors were represented by Yamaha SFB’s Richard Fulford and award-winning architect Dr Gillian Adendorf.
Camera 57
A few years ago, residents within this section of the Village were fed up with the spike in crime in the area. Assisted by SFPO Director responsible for the CCTV installation, Dave Truter and local security companies, the group raised money to fund camera 57 to provide round the clock surveillance on the corner of Ralph and Saxe Roads.
Much Appreciated Gesture
The project was oversubscribed, and the group agreed that the excess monies collected should be used for the beach restoration project, which will benefit all residents of St. Francis. This is a much-appreciated gesture!
For more details, go to the St Francis Property Owners Association website
here
by SFT | Feb 6, 2024 | SFPO, St Francis
Fundraising Update
To accelerate the construction of the
“Long Term Coastal Protection Solution”
In St Francis Bay
(Restoration of our River, Spit and Beach)
February 2024
Introduction
The SFPO NPC appointed Advisian to design a Long Term Coastal Protection Solution for St Francis Bay in 2017, and completed the Preliminary Design in February 2018. This solution formed the basis of the application for the Environmental Application and its subsequent approval in April 2022. The SFPO NPC launched a fundraising drive in 2021 to accelerate the construction of the Long Term Coastal Protection Solution to restore our beach in St Francis Bay.
We announced the fundraising drive at our AGM on 20 December 2023.
In terms of our EIA approval, we are required to have the funds available before we commence the construction of any phase.
Fundraising Update
Target – Rm
Total – R160m
Phases 1 & 2 – R110m
Phases 3, 4 and 5 – R50m
Raised to date (5 February 2024)
Total – R86.5m
Consisting of:
Existing cash – R34m
Riparians – R6m
River Comm/Estates – R2m
Donations – R5.5m
Loans – R39m
Still to be raised.
Total required – R160m
Raised to date – R86.5m
Still required by Phase – R73.5m
Phases 1 & 2 – R23.5m
Phases 3, 4 & 5 – R50m
CONTRIBUTION OPTIONS
The Fundraising team have spent the past month, since the SFPO AGM, talking to many property owners about their participation in funding the acceleration of the Long Term Coastal Protection Solution. This interaction with property owners is ongoing, and we welcome participation and engagement from any property owners willing to support this fundraising initiative.
The quicker we can restore our beach, the sooner we will experience and enjoy the recreational value of our beaches once again, continued growth in the value of our properties, and reduction in the cost of maintaining the rock revetments currently defending the canals and many properties overlooking the beach.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Wayne Furphy:
e. wayne@furphyventures.com
t.083-375-4517
Brett Dawson:
e. brett@campan.co.za
t. 082-370-3306
Murray Stewart:
e. murray@highstreetholdings.co.za
t. 082-372-1980
Garth Wright:
e. garth.wright@wrightsecurity.co.za
t. 082-800-2929
Click To Download The Updated Progress
by SFT | Jan 19, 2024 | SFPO
St Francis Beach Update -St Francis Property Owners Association (SFPO) Special Ratings Area (SRA) Update, as published by St Francis Chronicle
The Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the High Court Ruling, declaring the SRA and levy unlawful. Further, the judgment was received on December 1 2023. The SRA levy will continue to be collected going forward.
So, work on the Beach Restoration Project officially restarted on December 5, 2023, leading to the construction of Phases 1 and possibly 2 (if we have sufficient funding) in 2024.
WHY THE SRA
The SRA was proposed for the following reasons:
Restoring our property investments requires restoring our river, spit, beach, roads, and security.
Our Municipality had neither the financial nor political will to restore our infrastructure.
We decided to do something ourselves rather than do nothing.
88% of all votes received were in favour of the SRA
The SRA was approved by the Municipality and started on July 1 2018.
SFPO NPC and the Municipality are working in the spirit of a Public/Private Partnership.
Current Status: 2024
Investor confidence restored in St Francis Bay.
Also, an unprecedented demand for holiday and permanent residential properties has continued in St Francis Bay.
The construction boom continues in the greater St Francis area.
Santareme (Santareme, St Francis-on-Sea, the Port and Otters Landing) property values have followed the upward trend of the Village, Canals and The Links.
St Francis is one of the few South African towns experiencing this level of property investor interest.
This didn’t happen by mistake. It is a direct consequence of the confidence that existing and new property owners have in the future of our town, enabled by a well-run DA Municipality, and the clear and visible benefits that our SRA has delivered for restoring our security, roads and beach.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Long-Term Coastal Protection Solution.
Work planned for 2024:
We have commenced with the implementation of this project.
Step 1 is the preparation phase, from December 2023 to March 2024.
Step 2 is the construction phase, running from April/May 2024 for 4-8 months, depending on a timely tender process and contractor availability.
St Francis Beach Update: Work completed to date:
Advisian completed the preliminary design for the long-term coastal protection solution (i.e., Groynes and Sand Nourishment) in 2018.
The EIA for Long Term Coastal Protection Solution was approved by DEDEAT (07/04/2022).
The multiple breaches of the Spit have demonstrated the need for our Long Term Coastal Protection Solution, i.e., to restore our 2.7 km of beach from the Kromme River mouth to Main Beach. This beach is vital to the long-term well-being of St Francis Bay.
Completion of the Emergency revetment for the Spit by KLM:
The Emergency revetment provides a short to medium-term (3-5 years) protection solution. Further, none of the revetments offer a long-term solution as the beach erodes, and property owners and KLM continue paying to repair these revetments.
For more information, please go to www.stfrancispropertyowners.com
Contact details:
Telephone: 042 294 0594
Email: info@sfpo.co.za
Physical Address: (Office): 9 Philippa Place, St Francis Bay,
Postal Address: PO Box 18, St Francis Bay, 6312
See also: Elke M Update
by SFT | Dec 22, 2023 | SFPO, St Francis
The Annual General Meetings of the SFPO Association followed by the SFPO Non Profit Company took place at St Francis Links on Wednesday evening.
Both meetings were very well supported by both St Francis Bay property owners and representatives of Kouga Local Municipality including Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman, Municipal Manager Charl du Plessis, Ward 12 Councilor Lorraine Maree and PR Councilor responsible for Planning & Development, Shena Ruth.
SFPO Chairman, Wayne Furphy gave presentations on the past year’s projects for both organisations, with the focus on the commencement of the Long Term Coastal Protection Plan in 2024. He thanked the community of St Francis Bay for their ongoing support and added thanks to the Municipality for their commitment to the implementation of the plan to restore our beach, river and spit as well as resolving the issues around service delivery and improving our roads infrastructure.
The meetings closed with well wishes to all for a happy and safe holiday season, and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024.
The presentations and minutes of both meetings with voting results will be available at www.stfrancispropertyowners.com
by SFT | Oct 23, 2023 | SFPO, St Francis
St Francis Bay © @gumbootcamera
Date: 23 October 2023
Over the past few weeks, the extreme coastal conditions have severely damaged our coastline in general and have had a major impact on the St Francis Bay beach and Spit area. This has highlighted the urgency to proceed with the restoration of our beach.
We continue to raise and accumulate funds from donations and the Special Rating Area levy to fund the NPC Business Plan, including the Beach Restoration Project.
The details of the Beach Restoration Project have been widely communicated by the SFPO as an integral part of the overall Business Plan.
Unfortunately, litigation has stood in the way of fully implementing and progressing the Business Plan. To this end, the Supreme Court of Appeal will hear the case on 13 November 2023. The outcome of this litigation is expected early in 2024.
The SFPO fully understands the urgency of the situation and continues to work towards a positive outcome for all residents of the greater St Francis Bay area.
For details of the full Business Plan, Project plans, SFPO updates and financial statements, please refer to the St Francis Property Owners Association website here- https://www.stfrancispropertyowners.com/
Please direct all queries to the SFPO office on
email: info@sfpo.co.za or
phone: 042 294 0594
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