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Frustrations are mounting over delayed efforts to protect parts of Oceanway Road in Gonubie, where storms and high seas have ravaged the once-popular walkway, washing it away and regularly tossing stones onto the road surface.
But Buffalo City Metro says the delays can be explained, and in fact, progress has already been made on a R500,000 protection project.
More than six years ago, an environmental impact report commissioned by BCM was completed and submitted by an independent environmental consultant, Control Civil Services.
BCM proposed to reinstate and protect the seaward edge of Oceanway Road through the use of revetment structures, with a particular emphasis on the area between Gonubie Point and Black Rock Beach. High seas following the 2009 tsunami and severe storms in other years have caused significant erosion, with parts of the walkways washed away and the wooden fence alongside it collapsing.
Infrastructure such as pipelines have been exposed.
BCM’s intention was to prevent further damage, and it was proposed that a protection structure of 400m in length and 3m in width be established.
The environmental report, dated August 16 2013, proposed several design alternatives:
- Geotextile bags filled with sand: Sand bags would be placed under or adjacent to eroded areas to form temporary “headlands” to protect strategic points.
The bags would ultimately be stabilised by vegetation. And additionally;
- EnviroRock geocontainers: These are filled with sand, soil, gravel, recycled materials or a combination – used as alternatives to rocks.
- Rock revetment wall, or rock walls: These structures comprise interlocked, quarried armour stone laid on an embankment. But since the submission of the report six years ago, little has happened, says Gonubie ward councillor Andre Swart.
“It has been one hell of a hold-up. When I was head of the local ratepayers association, I constantly asked what was happening with these plans, but to no avail.”
Swart said the walkway used to be very popular among older residents, but since many parts had been “washed away”, it was no longer safe for them to use it.
“If BCM is serious about attracting tourists to East London, they should look at establishing a proper path here where people can walk and cycle,” he said.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the project was ready for implementation in the 2019/2020 financial year.
“The enviro bags have already been purchased. However, the environmental authorisation EIA has to be extended,” he said.
“The main reason for the delay is the period of time it has taken to obtain the sea shore lease agreement in terms of the Sea Shore Act, which was only obtained towards the end of 2018.
“It was then budgeted for in the 2019/2020 financial year. But now the EIA approval has to be extended,” Ngwenya said.
Excluding roadworks, he said the protection works were estimated to cost about R500,000.
“The protection of the seaward edge is important to the municipality for services, access and tourism,” Ngwenya said.
“However, it must be done within the legal provisions and according to environmentally acceptable methods to maintain the natural beauty of the area.”
Gonubie Ratepayers and Residents Association chairperson Valerie Knoetze said the Oceanway Road project was “just another example of BCM showing they don’t care”.
“It’s terrible. We keep trying to follow up on the project and we are just ignored. We have a number of older residents in wheelchairs who would love to use the path, and moms with babies too, but we are ignored, even though we are paying rates to fund these things,” she said.
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