Action needed before beach disappears

THE cost of remedial action to stop the slow and steady erosion of the blue flag beach at Alkantstrand is going to escalate the longer it takes to be addressed.

So far, ‘band aid’ measures – dumping sand-filled bags to absorb the force of incoming waves – have proved futile.

Those bags, along with fencing, concrete slabs, tiles and other bits of infrastructure that have fallen down due to tidal erosion, now form part of the debris scattered on the beach and in the water.

Already, swimming at extreme high tides is virtually impossible as there is no exposed beach for bathers.

Global warming and the forces of nature aside, Alkantstrand is a typical example of the ‘prevention is better than cure’ adage.

When the Port of Richards Bay was built, it was known that the breakwaters (piers) would prevent the natural northward drift of sand, and that ongoing replenishment of beach sand pumped via dredger pipelines would have to take place continuously.

And it would have to entail vast quantities of sand: at least one million cubic metres per year.

Sadly, there has been minimal or zero pumping of dredge spoil onto the beach at Alkantstrand over the past two years.

Whatever the reason – and Transnet NPA’s dredging services should provide the answer – the effects can clearly be seen.

Old timers can remember when the beach extended halfway to the end of the dolosse at the northern breakwater.

At this rate, the ocean will soon encroach up to, and beyond, the lifeguard building.

Dredging must resume immediately. And even then, it may be ‘too little, too late’.

Local government must put pressure on TNPA to act.