IT has been two months since the heavy rains caused a section of promenade along the eMdloti coastline to collapse.

During the storm the heavy seas had not only shifted some of the loffelstein retaining blocks, and damaged sections of the promenade, but has also shredded the protective mesh and wire foundation blocks.

Approximately 250 metres of North Beach Road had been narrowed into a single lane following the collapse.

According to ward councillor, Geoff Pullan, the repairs were slightly delayed because the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) had insisted that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) be conducted at the site.

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Pullan, however, contacted the DEA and argued that an EIA was not necessary as the work would be done on an existing structure and that an EIA had to have been secured prior to the original construction at the site. The department concurred and the repairs were given the green light, explained Pullan.

Unfortunately, the delays had given the relentless battering waves time to do additional damage to the site, he added. The sand underneath the road, opposite the restaurant, had been scoured.

When Northglen News inspected the site on Thursday last week contractors were in the process of reinforcing and stabilising the site with sand bags. Once this process has been completed and the rubble has been removed the repairs to the sea wall can begin.

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Contractors at the site estimated that the repairs would be completed within six months, however Pullan said the City hoped to finalise the repairs by Christmas for the peak holiday period.

Pullan estimates that the cost of the repairs will be in the region of R10 million rand.

“To ensure that the repairs are secure the contractors will have to start from the foundation, so it will be a lengthy and expensive project,” said Pullan.

The eThekwini Municipality had not commented at the time of publication.

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