Broom buggies clean up Umdloti Beach

Umdloti is under new watch as beach buggies have come to the rescue helping to keep the beach and forest clean and safe.

Over two tonnes of rubbish has already been removed from the forest and beach by the team buzzing around in their smart all-terrain vehicle (ATV) – a service provided by the Sibaya Coastal Precinct Conservation Trust since the beginning of December.

Under the experienced eye of passionate environmentalist Mazwi Ngubane who has been working in the Umhlanga and Hawaan forests for five years, the team have been servicing the stretch of beach between Umdloti and the Umhlanga estuary.

“The last month has seen our team focused on beach cleaning, dune rehabilitation, snare search and removal and control of alien vegetation,” said Ngubane.

Sibaya Master Management Association manager Gray Braatvedt said the funding comes from levies raised from developments in the new Sibaya Precinct and thus will ensure the long-term sustainability of the structure.

“The programme has the full support and cooperation of the municipal and provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Ezemvelo as well as the necessary authorisation from the Parks Department to use a 4×4 ATV vehicle on the beach to patrol and transport the refuse to a collection point and to use a 4×4 quad for rapid response,” said Braatvedt.

This is a dream come true for Umdloti UIP manager Terry Rens who has been working towards this for a long time.

Also read: New hope for Umdloti forest

“After many years of meeting, planning, negotiating and committing, the Sibaya Precinct have effectively ensured our beautiful pristine coastal forest and beach is maintained and secured,” said Rens, who is passionate about nature conservation.

“The team will ensure that anyone using this stretch of beach do so within the bylaws and Sea Fishery Act. Mussel collecting and fishing will be monitored and only those with valid licences will be allowed to continue their recreational activities. You can also now safely walk between Umhlanga and Umdloti thanks to the security presence and the removal of vagrants in the forest.”

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