As you read this, it will be the fifth day of the Cape St Francis Dune Stabilisation Project, and controversy reigns supreme.
The Kouga Local Municipality issued this press statement on Friday.
DUNE STABILISATION PROGRAM FOR BARCELONA PLACE
Kouga Local Municipality would like to inform the public of current dune stabilization taking place at Barcelona Place. The dune stabilization is done in accordance with the Cape St Francis Maintenance Management Plan for the coastal area, EC08/C/LN1&3/M/32-2022.
The project is funded by the Barcelona property owners and ECO is Sandy Msweli from Imbewu Community Solutions. The method statement is in accordance with the approved CSF MMP.
The Department of Environment is aware of the rehabilitation taking place. No sand mining is taking place.”
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The beach carpark conversations over the weekend were ‘lively” to say the least. Feel free to drop a comment on this program and voice your approval or concerns.
For a bit of background and to see how far we’ve come, revisit this article that was published in The Daily Maverick in October 2020
Find more history on the CSF beach from 4 years ago, still available at https://www.capestfranciscivicassociation.org.za/save-a-beach.html The fundamental point is that increased sand retention results in a shrinking beach.
About 40 years ago the P E municipality flattened a sand dune at Pollok beach, The beach took about 20 years to recover. What is happening in Cape St Francis is a huge mistake. This is not about rehabilitation. This can only be about misinformed homeowners seeking a better sea view. Bloody disgrace. Leo.
If you go back a few years the beach was much wider. Before the homeowners artificially stabilised the dunes in front of their homes. What goes around comes around. I’m delighted the dunes are being bulldozed back to what they were, the sand banks will return better, we’ll have a wider beach again. All at the expense of the people who caused the problem in the first place.
It’s a win all round. Apart from a few days of ugly but see how much better the beach will be come summer.