Pollution threat for Sheppie beachfront
Questions as to why the contractor never completed this section of the beachfront development have been raised with the municipality.
AN incomplete section of the Port Shepstone beachfront upgrade is not only an eyesore but an environmental hazard.
It’s a sad state of affairs for those visiting the popular stretch of beachfront.
For months, dirty stormwater, along with filth and litter, have been flowing over the stacked gabions straight onto Port Shepstone beach and then out to sea.
The pungent stench of the water is also unpleasant for beachgoers.
The roadside area surrounding the stacked gabions also appears to be collapsing.
Questions as to why the contractor never completed this section of the beachfront development have been raised with the municipality.
It has also been suggested that a stormwater ‘litter catchment’ should have been erected to prevent litter being washed onto the beach.
Hibiscus Coast Muncipality’s spokesman Simon Soboyisa said that after consultation with the relevant department it has been established that the tender to reinstate the damaged culvert at Princess Elizabeth Drive was advertised on October 16, 2013 and closed on November 15, 2013.
“The process (tender) is currently at the evaluation stage. It is anticipated that the contractor should be on site at the end of January 2014,” he confirmed.
Mr Soboyisa said the scope of works for the tender include demolishing the existing fractured culvert and reconstructing a more suitable structure which includes the management of the stormwater at the culvert outlet.
He added that an in loco inspection was also conducted.
“Filthy water coming out of the culvert was recognised and a water quality test will be conducted to establish if there is any illegal effluent is being deposited into the stormwater system,” he said.
